November 22, 2008	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 23, 1429

TOKYO, Nov 21: Prime Minister Taro Aso’s top aide urged him on Friday to watch what he says, the second straight day that the Japanese leader was warned after a series of gaffes that have left some analysts wondering about his grip on power.

In the space of a few days, the outspoken 68-year-old Aso has managed to offend doctors, insult parents, upset reformers and irk ruling party barons with ties to road construction.

“I think what is necessary ... is for the prime minister to keep quiet and then take responsibility and make the final decisions,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told reporters when asked about Aso’s latest controversial remarks.

“He’s looking like a prime minister who has only several months to go,” said Sophia University professor Koichi Nakano.

“He’s the pilot of a plane that has lost control. There is turbulence after turbulence and passengers are getting nervous.”

Kawamura had already chided Aso on Thursday for saying doctors “lacked common sense”, a remark that outraged physicians who have long backed his ruling LDP.

Also this week Aso, apparently thinking he was addressing a teachers’ group, told an audience mostly of parents that it was mums and dads who needed to be scolded rather than kids. He also made comments raising doubts about his commitment to postal privatisation.—Reuters