61724    In that context, we see great significance in the development of the new party concept.

61725    However, we question adorning "liberal" or "democratic liberal" onto the name of this third pole without much thought.

61726    In fact, "liberal" has been in vogue in political circles even prior to the rise of the coalition era.

61727    Mr. Tetsu Ueda of Gokenshinto Akatsuki (literally, the New Guardian of Constitution Party) claimed to be the first "liberal," and there was also the Gokenriberarunokai ("Society of Liberals and Guardians of the Constitution") led by Mr. Hideo Den and other lawmakers.

61728    Former foreign minister Koji Kakizawa founded the "Liberals" while he was a member of the LDP, and it was the "Society for the Creation of the Liberal Administration" established by the members of the LDP and the SDP that played a role in the formation of the Murayama regime.

61729    What is the difference between the "liberal" of the Preparatory Committee and these variations?

61730    While we would rather not get into the true meaning of "liberal," its definition has changed with the times and, by now, it has been given a certain distinct image as a political term in Europe and the US.

61731    To further complicate the matter, the word is used differently in Western Europe and the US; while the liberals have established a firm foothold between Social Democrats and Conservatives in Western Europe, liberals have dubious reputation at the moment in the US due to the Democratic Party's crushing defeat at the latest midterm election.

61732    While those going for the New Democratic Liberal Party say, with self satisfaction, "In that sense, a Japanese-style 'liberal' is possible," it is not as simple as Shinshinto calling themselves the New Frontier since a specific image is attached to the term "liberal."

61733    To begin with, what is making the concept of this new party unclear is that aside from those members who are genuinely considering the third viable political force, there are unexpectedly many members who are trying to win the support of the New Frontier Party due to the situation at their respective ridings, overlapping with the coalition's hidden agenda to quickly patch up the possible split between the SDP and the former Democratic Socialist Party.

61734    Conversely, we get a glimpse of temporizing tactics of changing their colors as a way of survival of the SDP itself.

61735    Speaking of temporizing tactics, we wonder if worst of all would be to use the term "liberal" without defining its meaning?

61736    It almost makes us suspicious that they are intentionally keeping the word "liberal" without the substance for the sake of getting support as anybody can have his or her own interpretation.

61737    While the party was originally called the "Social Democratic Liberal Party," after it was accused of being "too much like the SDP," it changed its name to "Democratic Liberal Party."

61738    One has to wonder what all this means now that another new word, "civil-liberal" has emerged, and the definition of liberal is becoming less and less within grasp.