Abhisit: at what price?

[trisailer]

Every election is a choice of "lessor evils" the idea that change will come from not voting is ridicules. So is voting for minor parties who don't stand a chance of being elected.

The PTP won with a landslide and now their going to have to step up and manage things. The international business community isn't worried about the choice and the PTP has a mandate from the people of Thailand to change direction. Change is a difficult thing. There are a lot of powerful influences in this process and if we look at historical examples of societal change, especially big change like this obviously is, it's going to look messy. That is the democratic process. It is messy. It was messy in the west when they did it and it will be messy here.

The thing that Thailand has going for it is that the Thai people have not yet been "educated" to vote against their self interest. They still rely on their common sense and no amount of marketing of false ideas was able to change that this time.

Abhisit was appointed to maintain the status quo in spite of a loud and clear message from the Thai people that the status quo is no longer acceptable. That Abhisit's administration allowed the violence last year to occur and may have facilitated it for political reasons should disqualify him from ever serving again. In fact if a legitimate investigation were allowed to occur he will likely be charged, along with the generals, with murder. Whatever side you are on the inescapable fact is that the demonstration last year was peaceful until the military incited violence. I'm no expert on security, but I know that it could have been prevented and there is no explaining away the fact that soldiers murdered unarmed citizens. This issue will have to be put to rest in an acceptable way before the country can move forward.

[Eric]

Tohwae asked if Ahbisit can become PM again. Surinfarm thinks probably. I think there is no way Ahbisit can become PM due to these facts:-

1. Demography - as shown in the election, even with 100% support for the Democrat Party in the South, they still can't win a simply majority. Ahbisit should have done more in the North and North-East during his tenure to gain more support but he didn't. He relays on BJT too much and thought they could deliver. That's history now.
2. The Rajaprasong incidents have further alienate the North and North-east folks. They will never forgive Ahbisit for the dreadful mistake of allowing the military free rein to use excessive force; whether rightly or not. He did have a chance to intervene and set matters right but could not do anything.
3. The election campaign hitting and attacking the Reds as monster back-fired bigtime. He should be hold back on the fiery rectoric. He may win some votes in Bangkok but loses out in the nation. Still his Bkk win is only 100,000 more on popular votes which mean that his campaign method was a total failure. He will always be remember by the North and North-East people as the monster and will be hard to shake off that image.
4. History has shown that the Democrat Party has not won an election for the last 20 years and likely for the next 10 years or more. By then, Ahbisit may be too dis-illusion to be in politics. He has over times talk about an education career.

In fact the fear is that with the Truth Committe continuing with the probe, he may be implicated together with Sutherp and some military commanders. What will be the sentence will be his fact.

No doubt, Ahbisit is a intelligent and ethical man and will be a very good contribution to the development of Thailand. However if he continue to stick with the Democrat Party, he is unlikely to have a chance to be PM.

[chemistusa]

Thank for your quote....He have no heart and just "old money" he is caring for himself and rich people in Bangkok. He does not know what is poor to him. I love you what you said. I am chemist in USA and born in Korat where is many poor people I know who does not have money to go to school. Go Issan I support all poor people, farmer. UN is better watch Abhisit now.

I don't think he can solve this country problem.
I believe he won't stand for long.
Red shirt is coming after him.
He just a plain looking handsome men but inside his hearts he don't care what people are suffering. He only care for himself and in front of everyone he is nice.
The country will be worse than before he is to become PM

[chimp]

This man is openly admitting himself to be an Englishman and not entirely proud to be a Thai man. How can a foreigner became a Thai PM and politician? How can his motives be purely in the interests of Thailand and real Thais? When is Thailand be governed by REAL Thais? The situations in these recent years seemed to show that Thailand isn't ruled by Thais. Is Thailand an English, a Chinese, and or ... colonies? I feel your pains...keep on smiling Thai people in Amazing Thailand.

[surinfarm]

This man is openly admitting himself to be an Englishman and not entirely proud to be a Thai man. How can a foreigner became a Thai PM and politician? How can his motives be purely in the interests of Thailand and real Thais? When is Thailand be governed by REAL Thais? The situations in these recent years seemed to show that Thailand isn't ruled by Thais. Is Thailand an English, a Chinese, and or ... colonies? I feel your pains...keep on smiling Thai people in Amazing Thailand.

Chinese, Khmer, Lao, Mon, et al = Thai

[chimp]

Some people just don't get it or simply all about political pandering. I'm talking about an admitted English citizen involving in Thai politic and took the position of MP and PM. No where elses could happen...only in Amazing Thailand. In the US, Obama's citizenship is still in limbo and still not 100% verified by the legal channels, since he and his DP are trying very hard to railroading the American public. Obama isn't a natural bornt US citizen and his parents weren't in the US Foreign Service or US military. Abhisit is also a draft dodger according to report by the media and in public record. According to Thai law, a person has to be over the age of 45 y/o before be free of the military service obligation.

[drake]

Some people just don't get it or simply all about political pandering. I'm talking about an admitted English citizen involving in Thai politic and took the position of MP and PM. No where elses could happen...only in Amazing Thailand.

Abhi never did claimed his UK citizenship, though it was automatic at the time UK does not recognize him as her subject and never did.
It's one of those things, they had 20 years to raise this issue but never did until after he's the PM so it's just a mud fight.

In the US, Obama's citizenship is still in limbo and still not 100% verified by the legal channels,

Wha? You don't like that .pdf birth certificate ?
NOBODY is going to stick their neck out on this one and allow the challenge to proceed.
Might accidentally get killed in a 7-11 hold up or a carjack, you know.
The only thing realistic is to kick him out in 2012 but the opposition is pretty darn fractured still.

since he and his DP are trying very hard to railroading the American public.

ARE railroading the American public.

Obama isn't a natural bornt US citizen and his parents weren't in the US Foreign Service or US military.

Nobody want to look under that rock, bro.
Mom was not qualified since she hasn't lived in the US for 5 (6?) years as an adult, dad was definitely NOT a citizen,
but don't you like that .pdf birth cert ? It's so....modern.

Abhisit is also a draft dodger according to report by the media and in public record. According to Thai law, a person has to be over the age of 45 y/o before be free of the military service obligation.

Well, here you can simply ask for deferment and the draft board will sign it off if they've got enough warm bodies, which is always the case. The reason for deferment can be as simple as "I'm living in Timbuktu, sorry, can't come." After 30 (35?) they put you on reserve and you are pretty much off the draft list unless war broke out and they ran out of warm bodies. So, technically, he's just privileged.
Not a sin is it ?

[Voice]

Abhisit price has drop out as people didn't see his value. I feel sorry for those who stood behind him with story of corruption and many others bad news that follow. If he really love Thailand as he tired to proves himself before the best thing I could suggest is to start again with new people stay away from the old people he thought he could trust.

[Eric]

Abhisit is trying to stay relevent by finding every opportunity to speak out against the current government. However the constant is still his fixation on Taksin. Is this the right strategy for him? If the landslide election is an indication, he should be smart enough to conclude that most people don't view Taksin as a problem. In fact, those who voted for PT knows full well that Yingluck and PT is Taksin and that's the platform that PT runs the election. So what's the point of being the champion of a cause that most don't even care. Either Ahbisit is stubbornly ignoring party advise and behaving selfishly or he is playing a dangerous game trying to arouse the Bangkokian middle class to start another demonstration. I sincerely hope he is not thinking of this.

[MarkmBha]

Quite simply: NONE !