Pm Vows Reconciliation In 8 Months

[webfact]

jeezz.... not this "argument" again! PLEASE!

I still see people mention Khun T every 15 minutes. How can I stop posting?

I was addressing this part from your posting <quote>He has not done his 4 year term yet.<end quote>

[HagenvonTronje]

LET IT BE

We must not let witch-hunt sidetrack reconciliation

By: Suranand Vejjajiva

Published: 1/05/2009

Newspaper section: News

While leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), or the red shirts, are in retreat, the government of PM Abhisit Vejjajiva is caught at a crossroads between moving towards reconciliation and starting a witch-hunt to eliminate key supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

First is the apparent olive branch. Last week, PM Abhisit looked sincere enough in asking Parliament to consider setting up two special committees, a fact-finding one to investigate the riots instigated by the red shirts during Songkran and another to set the course for political reform. PM Abhisit also lifted the emergency decree, as promised.

In addition, he sent out strong signals that a constitutional amendment would be essential for national reconciliation, with a trial-balloon statement of a possible amnesty for the banned politicians. All in all, it seemed PM Abhisit was determined to take the helm of political leadership after his ratings increased due to his calm handling of the recent upheaval.

However, the prime minister's initiatives have received a double setback. The meeting of joint whips of the House of Representatives from the government and the opposition, as well as the Senate decided upon only a national reconciliation committee. It was felt that a committee to investigate the crackdown on street demonstrators and rioters would be too sensitive; that it might easily be turned into another forum for accusatory statements and finger pointing which ultimately could even embarrass the government. The opposition Puea Thai party was unhappy and threatened to boycott the national reconciliation committee if their demand to set up an investigation committee was not met.

...

continue

--Published: 1/05/2009

[ballpoint]

jeezz.... not this "argument" again! PLEASE!

I still see people mention Khun T every 15 minutes. How can I stop posting?

I was addressing this part from your posting <quote>He has not done his 4 year term yet.<end quote>

Indeed, he has not served any of his prison term yet.

[dbrenn]

May I remind that Mr. Abhisit won his confidence vote in parliament. Even some votes came from the opposition.

So, he got a mandate from your political brothers and sisters as well, right? I know it is hard to lose face and admit you have failed not only in parliament but in the entire country.

So Abhisit didn't get kicked out by a no confidence motion? So what? It's reconciliation on the streets that AbhisIt promised us. Where is it? Why doesn't Abhisit get the peole to give him a vote of confidence?

No he said country, not streets.

There many many more people involved than just the street renegade brigades.

It is the division within PTP that points this out the most.

There are still PTP members who voted their consciouse

and backed the government because

nothing was proved by their OWN PTP LEADERS.

The PTP hardcore Thaksin leadership is the red shirt controler,

but that doesn't go for ALL the PTP MPs.

By driving a wedge of good intentions and good actions,

between the red controlers and the moderate PTP members,

the MAJORITY can reach some form of reconciliation.

The exreme fringes NEVER will be reconciled,

just as there are STILL Red Communists looking for a resurgence even 30 years later.

Reconciliation on the streets is not the aim,

but the majority of the body politic taking

a live and let live stance should be the real goal.

The country, the streets, what difference does it make? Where is this reconciliation?

I had a laugh at your labelling people who refuse to believe Abhisit and his military cronies as 'extreme fringes'. It's pretty obvious just talking to people that the red movement has a lot more sympathy than that. Feelings are running high in the general population, and you are comparing the red shirts to an almost Al Quaeda-esque tiny minority? Open your eyes and look beyond the pages of the Bangkok Post and the Nation.

It's hard for Thais to to believe Abhisit has the popular support that he will need to undertake the monumental task of glueing Thailand back together again, at street level, when he is too unsure of himself even to hold an election and get a mandate from the general public. Relying on the army cronies that installed him into power to keep him there wil only make his task harder.

Meanwhile he makes promises just like all the Dem PM's who came and went before him.

Edited May 2, 2009 by dbrenn

[dbrenn]

That's all that successive Democrat governments could ever do - promises, vows, assurances

Anyone wonders why people voted for a person who does not talk well in both Thai and English?

Because he works well. Khun Thaksin is most suitable for the PM position. Abhisit is best to be a spokesman or head of opposition party.

after reading this post I must admit I am not able to relate to your postings anymore.

Ain't got now idea what do you want to achieve or "say" with these confusing postings!

It seems very clear what Koo is saying. Koo is saying that work is more important than talk. Governments work. Opposition talks. Abshisit, ny talking and getting nothing done looks more like he is in opposition than in power.

[dbrenn]

This government do command a majority in parliament as shown by their easily winning the censure vote with an increasedmargin over what the PM was initailly slected by.

Wrong. The Democrat Party occupies only 173 seats. By any definition of basic mathematics, that's a hung parliament, not an overall majority. Hung parliaments in Thailand have always played out the same way: powerless coalitions that veto real progress for the man in the street, in favour of petty intrigue and factional, often personal interests. None of them has ever lasted a full term.

Speaking volumes is the simple fact that Abhisit still hasn't managed to achieve anything concrete since he was installed by his military masters, other than making vows and assurances. Making promises is something that the Dems have had a lot of practice in doing over the years.

May I remind that Mr. Abhisit won his confidence vote in parliament. Even some votes came from the opposition.

So, he got a mandate from your political brothers and sisters as well, right? I know it is hard to lose face and admit you have failed not only in parliament but in the entire country.

May I remind only after a military coup, a judicial coup, losing a general election, a junta, banning as many of the opposition as possible, airport closures, militant protests etc, etc, etc.

Right - only by a prolonged interference by the military and judiciary, did Abhisit get installed. His opponents that had been chosen by the people were banned from politics. He would never have made it in a free and fair election. That makes him look like a lame duck, for all his lofty promises, vows and assurances.

Edited May 2, 2009 by dbrenn

[dbrenn]

Catch the ones who blocked airport first. Cannot? Because they helped Abhisit to get power.

The one whose wife bought a land with their own money.

And the ones who caused the huge lost from closing 2 airports in 8 days. Not to mention a dozen of other damages they did before that.

Who are worse?

True! Abhisit has chosen his words wisely, but that's all he can do. He only speaks. Was he the one who said "We will not use violence to the reds"?

That's Abhisit's problem - he comes across as a hypocrite who preaches reconciliation in theory while applying a double standard in practice.

[animatic]

May I remind that Mr. Abhisit won his confidence vote in parliament. Even some votes came from the opposition.

So, he got a mandate from your political brothers and sisters as well, right? I know it is hard to lose face and admit you have failed not only in parliament but in the entire country.

So Abhisit didn't get kicked out by a no confidence motion? So what? It's reconciliation on the streets that AbhisIt promised us. Where is it? Why doesn't Abhisit get the peole to give him a vote of confidence?

No he said country, not streets.

There many many more people involved than just the street renegade brigades.

It is the division within PTP that points this out the most.

There are still PTP members who voted their conscious

and backed the government because

nothing was proved by their OWN PTP LEADERS.

The PTP hardcore Thaksin leadership is the red shirt controler,

but that doesn't go for ALL the PTP MPs.

By driving a wedge of good intentions and good actions,

between the red controlers and the moderate PTP members,

the MAJORITY can reach some form of reconciliation.

The extreme fringes NEVER will be reconciled,

just as there are STILL Red Communists looking for a resurgence even 30 years later.

Reconciliation on the streets is not the aim,

but the majority of the body politic taking

a live and let live stance should be the real goal.

The country, the streets, what difference does it make? Where is this reconciliation?

I had a laugh at your labelling people who refuse to believe Abhisit and his military cronies as 'extreme fringes'. It's pretty obvious just talking to people that the red movement has a lot more sympathy than that. Feelings are running high in the general population, and you are comparing the red shirts to an almost Al Quaeda-esque tiny minority? Open your eyes and look beyond the pages of the Bangkok Post and the Nation.

It's hard for Thais to to believe Abhisit has the popular support that he will need to undertake the monumental task of glueing Thailand back together again, at street level, when he is too unsure of himself even to hold an election and get a mandate from the general public. Relying on the army cronies that installed him into power to keep him there wil only make his task harder.

Meanwhile he makes promises just like all the Dem PM's who came and went before him.

I meet a large cross section of working thais from

most all strata's of society and regions of the land.

The amount of actual red supporters is fractional.

This is based on meeting many, many thais in daily life.

Both here and Phuket recently and Bangkok.

And far from only those from 'the south'

we have people from Chaing rai to Satun

and many from the east north east.

The red supporters are a negligible percentage.

So you must live in a Bangkok red enclave.

Lots of taxi drivers as your sources maybe?

Thaksin actively co-opted great groups of people in Bangkok,

and some have yet to revert to reality.

I don't buy it at all.

The VAST majority of Thais wish all the street protests would stop,

that is the ONE prevailing theme.

So yes there is a HUGE difference between The Street and The Country.

As to asserting that only those who don't beliieve Abhisit and the Army implicitly,

must be extremes, is nothing that I said. Not all go re-read if you can't properly grasp my meaning.

It also is ignoring the fact that the two are different entities, even as they must interact together.

The two are not interchangeable parts.

Edited May 2, 2009 by animatic

[animatic]

Catch the ones who blocked airport first. Cannot? Because they helped Abhisit to get power.

The one whose wife bought a land with their own money.

And the ones who caused the huge lost from closing 2 airports in 8 days. Not to mention a dozen of other damages they did before that.

Who are worse?

True! Abhisit has chosen his words wisely, but that's all he can do. He only speaks. Was he the one who said "We will not use violence to the reds"?

That's Abhisit's problem - he comes across as a hypocrite who preaches reconciliation in theory while applying a double standard in practice.

But no where NEAR the hypocrisy of his opposites;

Thaksin and Chalerm and Jakorapop and Jastuporn.

A mere amateur, dabbler, dilettante in hypocrisies in comparison.

[dbrenn]

I meet a large cross section of working thais from

most all strata's of society and regions of the land.

The amount of actual red supporters is fractional.

This is based on meeting many, many thais in daily life.

Both here and Phuket recently and Bangkok.

And far from only those from 'the south'

we have people from Chaing rai to Satun

and many from the east north east.

The red supporters are a negligible percentage.

So you must live in a Bangkok red enclave.

Lots of taxi drivers as your sources maybe?

Thaksin actively co-opted great groups of people in Bangkok,

and some have yet to revert to reality.

I don't buy it at all.

The VAST majority of Thais wish all the street protests would stop,

that is the ONE prevailing theme.

So yes there is a HUGE difference between The Street and The Country.

As to asserting that only those who don't beliieve Abhisit and the Army implicitly,

must be extremes, is nothing that I said. Not all go re-read if you can't properly grasp my meaning.

It also is ignoring the fact that the two are different entities, even as they must interact together.

The two are not interchangeable parts.

It's not important whether or not you buy anything really. It's what the people buy that matters. Abhisit should put it to the test - call an election. If the people really do like Abhisit and vote him in, more power to his elbow!

Why is he too timid to go to the people, preferring instead to gas-bag about how he can do this and that?

[dbrenn]

Catch the ones who blocked airport first. Cannot? Because they helped Abhisit to get power.

The one whose wife bought a land with their own money.

And the ones who caused the huge lost from closing 2 airports in 8 days. Not to mention a dozen of other damages they did before that.

Who are worse?

True! Abhisit has chosen his words wisely, but that's all he can do. He only speaks. Was he the one who said "We will not use violence to the reds"?

That's Abhisit's problem - he comes across as a hypocrite who preaches reconciliation in theory while applying a double standard in practice.

But no where NEAR the hypocrisy of his opposites;

Thaksin and Chalerm and Jakorapop and Jastuporn.

A mere amateur, dabbler, dilettante in hypocrisies in comparison.

That's your opinion, which you are entitled to in a democratic society. Let the people decide.

Do you get to vote?

[dbrenn]

Wow! Now the Dems are going to solve the unemployment problem. Blah blah blah blah

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1601...rkers-keep-jobs

Here's an idea to tackle global warming using unimited renewable resources - harness Abhisit's / the Dems hot air promises, vows and assurances for electricity generation

Edited May 2, 2009 by dbrenn

[animatic]

I meet a large cross section of working thais from

most all strata's of society and regions of the land.

The amount of actual red supporters is fractional.

This is based on meeting many, many thais in daily life.

Both here and Phuket recently and Bangkok.

And far from only those from 'the south'

we have people from Chaing rai to Satun

and many from the east north east.

The red supporters are a negligible percentage.

So you must live in a Bangkok red enclave.

Lots of taxi drivers as your sources maybe?

Thaksin actively co-opted great groups of people in Bangkok,

and some have yet to revert to reality.

I don't buy it at all.

The VAST majority of Thais wish all the street protests would stop,

that is the ONE prevailing theme.

So yes there is a HUGE difference between The Street and The Country.

As to asserting that only those who don't beliieve Abhisit and the Army implicitly,

must be extremes, is nothing that I said. Not all go re-read if you can't properly grasp my meaning.

It also is ignoring the fact that the two are different entities, even as they must interact together.

The two are not interchangeable parts.

It's not important whether or not you buy anything really. It's what the people buy that matters. Abhisit should put it to the test - call an election. If the people really do like Abhisit and vote him in, more power to his elbow!

Why is he too timid to go to the people, preferring instead to gas-bag about how he can do this and that?

Not timid, practical.

There is too much that needs doing RIGHT NOW,

than to waste this time with a lame duck caretaker administration

and the sky high expense of a nasty election.

Too much is at stake RIGHT NOW, to do it.

Edited May 2, 2009 by animatic

[dbrenn]

There is too much that needs doing RIGHT NOW,

Too much is at stake RIGHT NOW, to do it.

Couldn't agree more. What's getting done? Nothing. What's getting said? Lots, as usual

Edited May 2, 2009 by dbrenn

[animatic]

Catch the ones who blocked airport first. Cannot? Because they helped Abhisit to get power.

The one whose wife bought a land with their own money.

And the ones who caused the huge lost from closing 2 airports in 8 days. Not to mention a dozen of other damages they did before that.

Who are worse?

True! Abhisit has chosen his words wisely, but that's all he can do. He only speaks. Was he the one who said "We will not use violence to the reds"?

That's Abhisit's problem - he comes across as a hypocrite who preaches reconciliation in theory while applying a double standard in practice.

But no where NEAR the hypocrisy of his opposites;

Thaksin and Chalerm and Jakorapop and Jastuporn.

A mere amateur, dabbler, dilettante in hypocrisies in comparison.

That's your opinion, which you are entitled to in a democratic society. Let the people decide.

Do you get to vote?

No, my Mrs. does for us.

I keep her informed about various trends.

She says she is happy to take the 1,000 baht and then vote as we please.

Of course that is reverse hypocrisy, no denying that, but fair play too.

If they want to cheat to buy our vote, we can cheat and not necessarily vote for them.

The nature of politics is making the best deal, and it is a multi facited artform in Thailand.

a Gordian knot within a conundrum surrounded by shifting sands.

Abhisit holding the chair for most of this year is the best hope for Thailand at this time,

anything less is more wheel spinning and wasted resources of ALL Thais.

It is impossible to realistically see it any other way.

But un-realistic expectations run rampant here, so send in the flame throwers.

Edited May 2, 2009 by animatic

[animatic]

If you can not recognize what IS getting down

especialy in spite of the load of crap stacked on top of

the necessary things, then you will never get it.

[bangkokrick]

Be careful with that Animatic. My wifes family did the same during the last local election. Since then all the households on her road have been given a fish farm, with the exception of the wifes family. The reason is obvious. Corruption rules!

Cheers, Rick

[dbrenn]

That's your opinion, which you are entitled to in a democratic society. Let the people decide.

Do you get to vote?

No, my Mrs. does for us.

I keep her informed about various trends.

LOL ... Your Mrs. votes for both of you? How fortunate - you can't vote. How do you know the Mrs. votes according to your instructions? Does she follow your brainwashing? That's a very authoritarian concept, but the PAD would no doubt agree with it. Is your Mrs:

1) Educated, deserving of full voting powers? Or,

2) Uneducated, only deserving curtailed voting powers, or none at all?

Refer to the little yellow book

Edited May 2, 2009 by dbrenn

[Old Man River]

I meet a large cross section of working thais from

most all strata's of society and regions of the land.

The amount of actual red supporters is fractional.

This is based on meeting many, many thais in daily life.

Both here and Phuket recently and Bangkok.

And far from only those from 'the south'

we have people from Chaing rai to Satun

and many from the east north east.

The red supporters are a negligible percentage.

So you must live in a Bangkok red enclave.

Lots of taxi drivers as your sources maybe?

Thaksin actively co-opted great groups of people in Bangkok,

and some have yet to revert to reality.

I don't buy it at all.

The VAST majority of Thais wish all the street protests would stop,

that is the ONE prevailing theme.

So yes there is a HUGE difference between The Street and The Country.

As to asserting that only those who don't beliieve Abhisit and the Army implicitly,

must be extremes, is nothing that I said. Not all go re-read if you can't properly grasp my meaning.

It also is ignoring the fact that the two are different entities, even as they must interact together.

The two are not interchangeable parts.

It's not important whether or not you buy anything really. It's what the people buy that matters. Abhisit should put it to the test - call an election. If the people really do like Abhisit and vote him in, more power to his elbow!

Why is he too timid to go to the people, preferring instead to gas-bag about how he can do this and that?

Over and over again, posters continue to make the same mistakes about the election laws of Thailand. Voters don't vote for the PM. They vote for MP's who then select the PM. The PM must be an elected MP. Abhisit as an elected MP. He was elected by the people who do vote.

I share the same opinion that has been made several times by others. An election right now is the worst thing that could happen to Thailand. In this economy, this country needs stability which is what national reconciliation would bring.

[bangkokrick]

I am sorry to say that I have yet to find an average Thai that is remotely interested in politics. Whilst watching the recent riots in Bangkok on Thai TV my wife changed channels mid stream to watch a Thai soap. Says it all to me.

Cheers, Rick

Edited May 2, 2009 by bangkokrick

[dbrenn]

Be careful with that Animatic. My wifes family did the same during the last local election. Since then all the households on her road have been given a fish farm, with the exception of the wifes family. The reason is obvious. Corruption rules!

Cheers, Rick

Well observed Rick. Thailand is a corrupt country. Corruption was around long before Thaksin's lot. Ask any policeman.

[dbrenn]

Over and over again, posters continue to make the same mistakes about the election laws of Thailand. Voters don't vote for the PM. They vote for MP's who then select the PM. The PM must be an elected MP. Abhisit as an elected MP. He was elected by the people who do vote.

I share the same opinion that has been made several times by others. An election right now is the worst thing that could happen to Thailand. In this economy, this country needs stability which is what national reconciliation would bring.

Ahhh so the army throwing a coup, then banning the members of one side but not the other - is that what you call 'elected by the people that do vote'? Only the people with guns and uniforms count, right?

[animatic]

Be careful with that Animatic. My wifes family did the same during the last local election. Since then all the households on her road have been given a fish farm, with the exception of the wifes family. The reason is obvious. Corruption rules!

Cheers, Rick

Rick what they don't know that can't do squat about.

It's not quite so:

'look over your shoulder and show us your mark as up north.'

[bangkokrick]

Be careful with that Animatic. My wifes family did the same during the last local election. Since then all the households on her road have been given a fish farm, with the exception of the wifes family. The reason is obvious. Corruption rules!

Cheers, Rick

Rick what they don't know that can't do squat about.

It's not quite so:

'look over your shoulder and show us your mark as up north.'

Animatic I don't full understand your reply, but what I have told you is true. They somehow appear to know who has voted for which party. My wifes family are from Si Sa Ket by the way and are still waiting for their fish farm even though the houses on either side have theirs.

Cheers, Rick

[animatic]

That's your opinion, which you are entitled to in a democratic society. Let the people decide.

Do you get to vote?

No, my Mrs. does for us.

I keep her informed about various trends.

LOL ... Your Mrs. votes for both of you? How fortunate - you can't vote. How do you know the Mrs. votes according to your instructions? Does she follow your brainwashing? That's a very authoritarian concept, but the PAD would no doubt agree with it. Is your Mrs:

1) Educated, deserving of full voting powers? Or,

2) Uneducated, only deserving curtailed voting powers, or none at all?

Refer to the little yellow book

I'll ignore the fact that you insulted my wife, and go on....

I don't brainwash her she has her own mind,

it just happens to trust mine on some matters.

I am better informed on thai politics than she is, in her opinion.

If I live somewhere I want to know the lay of the land,

not sorta float around in the winds and hope.

She basically can't stand politics,

but votes because I ask her to exercise her franchise rights.

I have investment in Thailand.

I have seen FIRST hand what kind of vindictive a leader Thaksin was.

I was victimized by his 'my way or the highway', TRT, malevolence personally.

I do NOT want to risk a repeat. Get it!

Never more, never more, said the raven.

I have also benefited from the foresight of Kuhn Abhisit even as

recently as 5 pm this evening, when I drove over a road he was

directly responsible for getting repaired better than it had been to 5 years.

Not graft, but sidestepping a puyaii graft leech,

and taking action where some was needed.

Which I call getting things done.

Edited May 2, 2009 by animatic

[dbrenn]

Rick what they don't know that can't do squat about.

It's not quite so:

'look over your shoulder and show us your mark as up north.'

Eh? 'Show us your mark'? Are you talking about the mark of the Beast here? The Beast being Thaksin. Or, are you implying that the proletariat are too stupid to exercise a political opinion, and as such must have it curtailed according to PAD doctrine? You vote by directing your wife to vote, and let's hope she listens to you. Be careful lest she is labelled an inferior being by the shadowy powers that be, for her own good, and her vote is diluted. Your proxy vore via her (if she listens to you), would then be worth even less.

Don't you just love the way democracy works?

Edited May 2, 2009 by dbrenn

[animatic]

Be careful with that Animatic. My wifes family did the same during the last local election. Since then all the households on her road have been given a fish farm, with the exception of the wifes family. The reason is obvious. Corruption rules!

Cheers, Rick

Rick what they don't know that can't do squat about.

It's not quite so:

'look over your shoulder and show us your mark as up north.'

Animatic I don't full understand your reply, but what I have told you is true. They somehow appear to know who has voted for which party. My wifes family are from Si Sa Ket by the way and are still waiting for their fish farm even though the houses on either side have theirs.

Cheers, Rick

What I meant was she was not requiered to show how she voted to anyone,

it went in a box, and many others went on top before she left.

And so they do not know.

We are fortunate that some reasonably nice people are in office here.

And as I understand it the ones that won, were not the highest bidders either.

[animatic]

Rick what they don't know that can't do squat about.

It's not quite so:

'look over your shoulder and show us your mark as up north.'

Eh? 'Show us your mark'? Are you talking about the mark of the Beast here? The beast being Thaksin. Or, are you implying that the proletariat are too stupid to exercise a political opinion, and as such must have it curtailed according to PAD doctrine? You vote by directing your wife to vote, and let's hope she listens to you. ]Be careful lest she is labbelled an inferior being by the shadowy powers that be, for her own good, and her vote is diluted. Your proxy vore via her (if she listens to you), would then be worth even less.

Don't you just love the way democracy works?

Again you insult my wife's intelligence to get a me....

Do a see a pattern here...

What is this beast thing and biblical devil thing you are on about?

Completely irrelevant.

You are trying to twist my words to imply something never said,

what is PAD doctrine, I know not.... I have never met a PAD member,

this is your philosophical rant not mine.

I just know who is less of a cockup in the practical sense as leaders,

based on past experiences.

I ASK my wife to vote, I think she gives me fair hearing,

more than many, such as yourself, here do certainly.

She is not worried about the 'keeping up with the jones'

social climbing / status whining that is typical, she has no hi so airs,

and doesn't think to be a 'superior being', just a nice one,

and anyone who would try to call her inferior,

only shows their own insecurities, not hers.

I happened to be in Chaing mai for the 2005 election,

I watched the VERY aggressive canvassers at work for a month or more.

And while eating election day noticed a line of people voting

and having to show their ballot to some guy with a check list

before putting it in the box at a Wat voting site.

That was my first inkling that TRT was fulla &lt;deleted&gt;.

That was not the case down here.

Fold, put in box, and go home after a bit of social small talk..

Edited May 2, 2009 by animatic

[bangkokrick]

I don't have a mark like all other Farangs in Thailand. We are not Thai so can not make a mark certainly not on a ballot paper. I would like to see an end to the troubles in Thailand for the sake of all Thais and for the good of the Country.

In the past when i mentioned Thailand to people in other countries he reply was usually 'great country, fantastic beaches, lovely people' etc. The replies now are 'red and yellow shirts, political troubles, violence on the streets'

Which do you prefer?

Cheers, Rick

[dbrenn]

I am better informed on thai politics than she is ...

She ... votes because I ask her to exercise her franchise rights

Ah, now I get it. In your view, you are better informed than your wife is, and you franchise your vote out there through her. Even though (unless the PAD gets its way) she has a constitutional right as Thai citizen to vote in any way she wishes, a right that you don't have, it's your opinion that matters most. Now, where have I heard that before? Isn't that kind of manipulation tantamount to vote buying?

I'll bet that the poor girl dare not have a political opinion while you are around. Does she show you her mark before she puts her paper in the Ballot Box, or does she secretly vote for Thaksin's lot while telling you she voted for the Dems to make you happy? How do you know? This is Thailand, and one of the charming traits that the locals have is avoiding conflict wherever possible.

Edited May 2, 2009 by dbrenn