Democrats worry about Pheu Thai election gains in Bangkok

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Dems fret over Pheu Thai gains

Sukhumbhand, party told to lift their game

Published: 5 Mar 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The large vote gains made by the Pheu Thai Party in the Bangkok governor election are a sign the Democrats have much more work to do, party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva says.

Bangkok governor-elect Sukhumbhand Paribatra gives a thumbs up to voters as he and key Democrat figures take a city tour to thank Bangkok residents for their votes in Sunday’s election. From left to right, Korn Chatikavanij, Apirak Kosayodhin, Wallop Suwandee, MR Sukhumbhand, Ong-art Klampaibul, Abhisit Vejjajiva and Panich Vikitsreth. APICHART JINAKUL

Democrat candidate and poll victor Sukhumbhand Paribatra won 1,256,349 votes, the highest ever recorded in a city election.

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subcoman
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Discussion 43 : 05 Mar 2013 at 18.3343
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Discussion 41, Englishbob "If Peua Thai , if Sukhumbhand, the Dems candidate fielded with enemies ..." We know your suppositions and others presumptions who have declared us since years about how the PT is declining and how the Dem is a THE popular party.

But I will tell you something very clear that is neither suppositions or presumptions but facts and in total contradiction with what you are writing here since years (check in the Bkk forum annals about your "predictions" only a year ago, it's laughable) : the Dems is the declining party and the PT is rising since years, including in the last 18 months.
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spiceman
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Discussion 42 : 05 Mar 2013 at 18.2042
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BKPoster #27, yes, "done more" but "done what?" And are the poor or Thailand better off today than they were after the first term of TS as Thai PM? As I recall, they're still poor and desperate as ever? I am sure the ruling political party in Greece has "done more" for the poor over there, but are they or their country better off today than before? Why don't you be the judge, OK? About TS being better politicians than the rest, who do you compare him to? For sure, Richard Nixon loved the US far more than TS loves Thailand, don't you think? Remember "Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country." (JFK)
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englishbob
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Discussion 41 : 05 Mar 2013 at 17.4941
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Disc40 Majority... You are making a simple and naive assumption (that's ok... you do it often). You are assuming that any change in voting pattern will be repeated in four years' time.

Peua Thai have failed to implement a single workable policy in the last 18 months (I challenge you to prove me wrong). Dems fielded a candidate with enemies. Peua Thai fielded their most popular candidate. And they still lost. And Dems won with a record number of votes.

In four years' time, if Peua Thai have continued to mislead, lie and ruin the economy, if Sukhumbhand performs or if Dems nominate a solid candidate the result might well be another l
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majority
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Discussion 40 : 05 Mar 2013 at 17.2340
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Divide and conquer, and the fear platform still work in Bangkok and can still fool many Bangkokians. Hardly for most people to believe that those who won the election with such unconstructive tactic, would ever work for the people constructively. The past 4 years of poor performance and incompetence have proved that perfectly.
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hillfarang
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Discussion 39 : 05 Mar 2013 at 17.1639
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Yea, the Dem's won (this) battle... but they are losing "the war."

A few years ago, no one would have predicted an election this close in the Dems stronghold.

While many voters were anti-TS, many other were anti-incompetency / inaction.
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majority
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Discussion 38 : 05 Mar 2013 at 16.4438
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4 years ago, it was 900,000 over 600,000, a margin of 300,000. 2 days ago, it was 1,250,000 over 1,070,000, a margin of 180,000. To anyone who did not fail in his or her math course during the elementary school time, a much smaller margin on a much greater turnout means no longer a stronghold anymore for the DEM to claim, but a place where they are losing ground at a destructive and alarming pace. Like in many other part of Thailand, the future in Bangkok for the DEM is very obviously doomed. Salute to those nearly half a million of new votes of disapproval of the DEM.
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ATNN
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Discussion 37 : 05 Mar 2013 at 15.5237
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That's one way of looking at it. The way I see it, almost everyone that voted for Sukhumbhand did so as a direct condemnation of PTP. While PTP is able to dupe people with unsustainable promises, those voting against PTP have an enduring, deep understanding of the threat they pose to this nation, an understanding that is slowly but surely spreading.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 36 : 05 Mar 2013 at 14.2536
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@red majority #19: you complain about all the things which did not improve in Bangkok. In part you are right, but why do you blame this on the DEMs? Take your comment and replace Bangkok with Thailand and many things are the same. Or what did the Shinawatras improve outside of Bangkok in 10 years they are in power? I still feel most comfortable in Bangkok and every time I have to go up county it feels like going back in time a few decades.
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watchdog
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Discussion 35 : 05 Mar 2013 at 13.5335
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The Dems did win the election, but they have lost ground in Bangkok. The legitimacy of their last time in power at the national level is questionable at best. The PTP has ties to the man in Dubai (the Huey Long of Thailand), which also taints its legitimancy, but it does seem to be more effective political operation and it does have members who are legitimately concerned about Thailand. Why don't those members of PTP who don't really care for the man in
Dubai join up with the few Dems who really do care about Thailand to form a new party?
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blobber
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Discussion 34 : 05 Mar 2013 at 13.3634
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I'm sure PTP are sweating about how with their best candidate possible and a widely dislike opposition candidate they could still not get close to winning Bangkok.
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