This fantastic photo has been doing the rounds in the last few days, and deservedly so.

Melissa Brandt and her partner had set up their camera beside this stunning lake in Canada's Banff National Park, set the timer and taken their position. Just as the shutter went, a squirrel popped up from nowhere and posed for the shot.

To be honest, I have my doubts about the authenticity of the story. I mean, the squirrel is so perfectly in focus and so well framed that I can't help thinking the couple hurried into the shot just as the squirrel took the photo.




The photo was taken this month, the very same month in which Japan goes to the polls.

The forthcoming election is the talk of the towns across the country as history will likely be made, with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) almost certainly winning yet again, making them the longest ruling party ever, breaking a long held record which they already hold and are likely to keep hold of for a very long time indeed.

For some reason, they always win. They've been in power for almost the whole time since 1955. They never lose, even if they try to. They can't not win. They can not not not lose.

However, the main opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), are doing well in the opinion polls. As a result, the DP are starting to believe that they can win this election. But they probably won't. Because the LDP always win.

That said, the election campaign is being fiercely fought. In recent days the DP's leader, Yukio Hatoyama, was out on the streets showing off his party's manifesto....




Not to be outdone, the current prime minister, Taro Aso, has also presented his party's manifesto to the nation.....




A senior member of the DP, Ichiro Ozawa, has also been campaigning across the country, keeping his mouth firmly shut, despite hordes of journalists urging him to say something....


Journalists waited a full 30 minutes before giving up and going home.


So here's a list of the main contenders:

TARO ASO
Liberal Democratic Party

The current prime minister of Japan and likely to be so for some time to come.







YUKIO HATOYAMA
Democratic Party

His gramps was Japan's prime minister in the 1950s.









BILL CLINTON
The Bill Clinton Party

Bill still has a lot to give.







THE SQUIRREL
Squirrel Democratic Party

A fan of nuts and cameras, this squirrel isn't shy and knows how to work the media.






Who would you like to see win the general election at the end of this month?
(poll closes on election day)

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 16, 2009 at 7:00 pm. You can skip to the end and leave a response.