gerry1011

The silly part of this is you can insult the current PM by telling the truth, and it's still defamatory.

It's very true. Truth is sometimes taken as an insult, some people really can't swallow the truth. I don't understand why !?!?!?

It's like if someone said that most farangs in Thailand are cheap losers who could not achieve anything in their country, ended up here in order to better survive, continuously rant about the high price of the local beer, and the people, and everything else, while thinking of themselves as they belong to the upper class, because their modest revenue allows them to still find a young girl to save their self esteem and put at least a little bit of joy in their depressing empty lives...

I am sure that some people would take this as an insult.

Not that I personally would say that, of course.

I would not even say what was said about the PM.

It's a question of education... Everybody deserves respect. The cheap charlie as much as the PM. But many people like to speak, read or write the truth apparently. At least "their truth"...

The" history you say Yingluck intentionally distorted is the version of the history which you decided to believe is the truth. And I respect your choice.

A lot of people believe other versions, or the version of the present government, to be more truthful.

For what I can see, it seems that since a few years Yingluck's version is the one that the international community prefers to believe.

It is up to us to make our own opinion, which is also influenced by our environment (south vs north vs Bangkok vs those who live abroad). It is also influenced by our circle of friends and aquaintances, our own past, or even the number of years we have been in Thailand. I hear some people make comments about the past while they "live" here since only two or three years. In fact these ones just swallowed the version presented to them by The Nation without thinking further... Up to them, the way they think will not change anything anyway.

Whatever version of "the history" we want to believe, I notice that one side is trying to walk towards reconciliation, while the other side puts all his efforts in keeping reconciliation away.

I personally see much more hatred coming from the anti governement group, but you probably do not notice that one. One side is accomodating and patient, while the other side never loses time to come with the usual stories "Thaksin is bad" etc..., in order to block whatever idea is originating from their oponents, or rather ennemies.

While I am sure your are moderate person and that you can explain in detail why you have your own opinion, why you think the way you think, why you support the ones you support, why you believe this guy is good and that guy is bad, ... I think that, in this case, you have been really quick in writing that the speech had the purpose to incite hatred. This is not really moderate... I even find it quite extreme, and this is why I took a few minutes of my time to reply to your comments.

However, I do not want to go further into a - most probably heated - conversation. It would be useless.

I wish you all the best

Khrap

Just one thing - the distorted history is that her brother was PM when he was ousted. Regardless of my opinions/beliefs/whatever, that is not true. As for the rest, I agree that we can agree to differ and return your goodwill.

Sorry to come again... I don't get that one.

Yingluck's brother was not PM when he was outsted?

Not sure I understand your phrase (because of my average English maybe...)

To become Prime Minister according to the constitution at the time, the 1997 one to which Peua Thai would like to revert, there is a sequential process. This process was not followed so, when Thaksin resigned in mid-2006 following multi-party boycotts of the 2006 election and promptly decided to install himself as caretaker PM unconstitutionally and illegally, it is a distortion of history to say that Thaksin was the legitimately elected PM when he was ousted. He was not.

Umf...

Abhisit sounded a lot better to an international audience. She sounds like the birds that takes my beer order.

The problem with Abhisit is that he only "sounded" better. He has a cute little face (though he looks tired and he seems to put on weight a bit lately), but Yingluck is much more charming.

Maybe her English (Thai) accent and her mistakes make her even more charming in the eyes of the international community. Good for her...

While both are politicians, it seems that the world is more willing to listen to Yingluck than Abhisit... What is sure is that she is invited everywhere.

She is better percieved (for several reasons), she seems more legitimate than her predecessor, and, it is important in the eyes of many, she is the one who talks about reconciliation and the future of the country, while her oponents are stuck in the past, obsessed by only one man, with no project for the future and show resistance to any idea to settle the present problems.

It is not difficult to understand why the international community likes her. She is just playing smarter politics than her oponents.

By the way, since my own mother language is not English, it would be very easy for any British or American (probably also Filipinos) to "sound" better than me too... which is not a big problem since, for sure, it is very far from being what is important. If we take the language skills apart, the "English native guys", who feel so strong on this forum, might find themselves far behind on a number of other subjetcs. Certainly compared to Yingluck too...

But when I read that "Yingluck's brother was not PM when he was outsted", I wonder if the level of expertise of the people on this forum regarding the political game in Thailand goes further than her language skills (as well as birds and beer, maybe).

The" history you say Yingluck intentionally distorted is the version of the history which you decided to believe is the truth. And I respect your choice.

A lot of people believe other versions, or the version of the present government, to be more truthful.

For what I can see, it seems that since a few years Yingluck's version is the one that the international community prefers to believe.

It is up to us to make our own opinion, which is also influenced by our environment (south vs north vs Bangkok vs those who live abroad). It is also influenced by our circle of friends and aquaintances, our own past, or even the number of years we have been in Thailand. I hear some people make comments about the past while they "live" here since only two or three years. In fact these ones just swallowed the version presented to them by The Nation without thinking further... Up to them, the way they think will not change anything anyway.

Whatever version of "the history" we want to believe, I notice that one side is trying to walk towards reconciliation, while the other side puts all his efforts in keeping reconciliation away.

I personally see much more hatred coming from the anti governement group, but you probably do not notice that one. One side is accomodating and patient, while the other side never loses time to come with the usual stories "Thaksin is bad" etc..., in order to block whatever idea is originating from their oponents, or rather ennemies.

While I am sure your are moderate person and that you can explain in detail why you have your own opinion, why you think the way you think, why you support the ones you support, why you believe this guy is good and that guy is bad, ... I think that, in this case, you have been really quick in writing that the speech had the purpose to incite hatred. This is not really moderate... I even find it quite extreme, and this is why I took a few minutes of my time to reply to your comments.

However, I do not want to go further into a - most probably heated - conversation. It would be useless.

I wish you all the best

Khrap

Just one thing - the distorted history is that her brother was PM when he was ousted. Regardless of my opinions/beliefs/whatever, that is not true. As for the rest, I agree that we can agree to differ and return your goodwill.

Sorry to come again... I don't get that one.

Yingluck's brother was not PM when he was outsted?

Not sure I understand your phrase (because of my average English maybe...)

From the looks of his post, he already has. Have you? If so, did you also notice the falsehoods which she laboured to doctrine as history?

Personally I think that the speech itself had 2 purposes: 1) to whitewash Thaksin; 2) to incite hatred amongst Thais. Therefore translating it and circulating it is a big mistake, but not necessarily made in error (if that makes sense).

I think that whatever would have been said in the speech you would have made your same 1) and 2) conclusions.

You must be really passionate by the political game in Thailand to say that this speech had the purpose to incite hatred.

There are several points she made in her speech that are worth listening too, mostly common sense, things that you would welcome in your own country, but it seems that your own hatred completely blocks your views. As well as the views of most people on this forum.

The speech should be taken for what it is.

These are her views (I already expect a passionate reply on this one) and the views of her government, explained to an international audience.

Complicated problems, difficult history and a vision for the country concentrated in just a few minutes... explained in a quite good English by a charming prime minister that the world seems to like quite much. Nothing much more than that.

Besides te speech, I personally think that it is quite smart from her to counter her opponents' attacks from outside Thailand...

I try very hard to focus on the message, not the messenger - but, like us all, sometimes we let our own standards slip. However I don't think this is the case here.

Yinglak made a conscientious decision to attempt to distort history - a particularly highly-charged piece of recent history in Thailand - at an international conference between democratic countries. This decision, for me, is a decision to incite hatred amongst Thais, especially given the coincidental timing with her support of the UDD's intimidation of the judiciary, PTP's open support of this flagrant assault on democratic values, and a new amnesty push for her brother.

And why did she do it if it was for her brother's personal gain? She harps on about "for the good of the country" and all, but then what's the problem with telling the truth???

I've always thought she was an airhead, but I never actually disliked her until she made this decision... I have been pulled up many times by Thais across the South (and many folks on here too) for my moderate opinion of Yinglak!

The" history you say Yingluck intentionally distorted is the version of the history which you decided to believe is the truth. And I respect your choice.

A lot of people believe other versions, or the version of the present government, to be more truthful.

For what I can see, it seems that since a few years Yingluck's version is the one that the international community prefers to believe.

It is up to us to make our own opinion, which is also influenced by our environment (south vs north vs Bangkok vs those who live abroad). It is also influenced by our circle of friends and aquaintances, our own past, or even the number of years we have been in Thailand. I hear some people make comments about the past while they "live" here since only two or three years. In fact these ones just swallowed the version presented to them by The Nation without thinking further... Up to them, the way they think will not change anything anyway.

Whatever version of "the history" we want to believe, I notice that one side is trying to walk towards reconciliation, while the other side puts all his efforts in keeping reconciliation away.

I personally see much more hatred coming from the anti governement group, but you probably do not notice that one. One side is accomodating and patient, while the other side never loses time to come with the usual stories "Thaksin is bad" etc..., in order to block whatever idea is originating from their oponents, or rather ennemies.

While I am sure your are moderate person and that you can explain in detail why you have your own opinion, why you think the way you think, why you support the ones you support, why you believe this guy is good and that guy is bad, ... I think that, in this case, you have been really quick in writing that the speech had the purpose to incite hatred. This is not really moderate... I even find it quite extreme, and this is why I took a few minutes of my time to reply to your comments.

However, I do not want to go further into a - most probably heated - conversation. It would be useless.

I wish you all the best

How many times does Abhisit change his underwear daily.

Every time someone mentions DSI ?

Loved this one. Thanks for the laugh

I love Suvarnabhumi.

Nice design, plenty of nice shops to go to when I am too early, clean airport, great check-in, smiling staff, no queue, swift immigration, and very nice lounge. Perfect for me.

One of the funniest ideas yet from these idiots. Not least because of the financial impact on local car sales. No one in their right mind will want to buy a car until this is resolved.

"As of 1 January 2014 all cars sold in Thailand will need to have the

steering wheel on the left side. Old normal cars can keep their steering

wheel on the right, but owners cannot sell these cars."

So all those people who have been encouraged to go into debt to buy cars are now going to find they have a worthless investment that they cannot sell without an expensive modification.

I wonder how the manufacturers feel about this, they will have huge stocks to sell, what happens to those cars?

Reality, this will not happen anytime soon, it is simply not feasible by Jan 2014. Change every single signpost in the country? All the traffic lights that need to be re sequenced? Seriously, Jan 1st overnight change when so many are already drunk! Accident rates will go up dramatically to start with, I certainly wouldn't want to be on the roads for the next few days, it would be total chaos.

Another outstanding and totally laughable plan from the man in Dubai.

So who is the fool then?

I think we should give the first prize to this one

Because nobody on this forum has a clue on how their basic, easy or simplistic ideas or rethoric should be implemented to deliver even the slightest beginning of a result...

So, let's keep this place as the moaning forum and let the serious people keep doing what they do... (it is funnier too, by the way )

Sorry Gerry but my idea of not issuing Visa (or extensions) to foreigners would be easy to implement.

All foreigners would be gone in a year.

Indeed, that's a very good and easy idea

None of the TV members is capable of doing 1/100th of what Yingluck and the government is doing.
Everyone on TV is much much much better at moaning, criticizing, insulting, giving lessons, murmuring, rumoring, spreading this and that, ...
As some might say, it's not the "same league"

Something happens...
Everyone on this forum barks at the government or a minister...
Everyone on this forum moan and moan and moan... (Well, not everyone. Some still sometimes write something interesting)
You ask TV members what should be done...
TV members tell you that this corrupt goverment should do this or that... that everyone in the governemt in incapable, all corrupt, all bad, all looking only for their own interest, etc, etc, etc...

You ask TV members what they would do if they were in charge (which they are by far not capable of)...
The answer you get comes in a single phrase...
Then nothing... long silence... nothing...

Because nobody on this forum has a clue on how their basic, easy or simplistic ideas or rethoric should be implemented to deliver even the slightest beginning of a result...

So, let's keep this place as the moaning forum and let the serious people keep doing what they do... (it is funnier too, by the way )

These polls are diametrically opposed depending on which entity does it.

Another one will come out tomorrow saying the Dems are leading.

This is just posturing, why bother to listen?

As to the bad photos, image is more important than truth

and i this case the truth is too painful.

I did not see any poll yet that said the Dems were leading.

I think that little by little PT will grab the whole country.

Somewhere in Chalong bay...

It's a mystery to me too...

But if you come on this forum like you would go to the zoo or Disneyland, ... it can sometimes be fun.

To make it fun, try to post something positive about Thailand (anything, does not matter what), and wait (a few minutes at most) for the negative comments. I bet you can predict what is going to come up. Mostly loads of useless comments. You can even do it in group, and bet, make pronostics, etc... It's a good alternative to Trivial Pursuit You can even do it in family. But not with young children because of the "particular" language used by many TV members who can't refrain from using "words"...

Try it with politics, it works every single time ! Always the same guys posting the same thing though...

Of course, it will soon become boring because the negative posts are nearly always the same. So, the trick is not to come on this forum too often.

It's probable that most people happy in Thailand and happy with their lives don't feel the need to lose time on here...

Uuuhmmm... what am I doing here?

(Now look at the flow of negative posts coming)

Most of the killings seem to happen in the day, how will a curfew help stop this? It will only irk muslims wishing to pray, rubber tappers wanting to tap trees, etc.

Bereft of ideas, this government hasn't a clue about the deep south.

Chalerm should hand his post to someone of higher intelligence

It has been plain for sometime the killers are attempting to make the 3 provinces unliveable for Buddhists.

Does the government wish to prevent this? Perhaps it's time to conduct a survey asking what percentage of the population in the 3 provinces wishes to remain with Thailand. And proceed from the results.

You seem much more intelligent than Chalerm and you seem to have a much better knowledge of what is happening in the south than him.

So, what would be your plan to get out of this long time problem?

Let's say that the government follows your wise advice, makes a survey, and finds out that 50% wishes to remain in Thailand and 50% not. Or 40/60, 75/25, 20/80, 80/20... 95/05... Then what would you propose? What, in your opinion, is the next step to make these killings stop?

I, and everyone else, will be happy to read you well thought analysis about this and hope that your help will finally allow the country to get out of the crisis.

Because, honestly, on my side I cannot be of any help. I feel lost when, for example, I read this in a report on internet: "I...a News reports today that from Jan 4, 2004 until Jan 31, 2011 there were 4,186 deaths of which 1,737 were Buddhists and 2,331 were Muslims."

It looks like "the killers are attempting to make the 3 provinces unliveable for..." both sides...

Oh dear, seems it was a good idea after all................

Hope the TV naysayers aren't choking on their coffee.

Hope their coffee is not too hot.

"... The theme also highlighted that Sukhumbhand would counter the national government's power for the sake of Bangkokians. The Democrats focused on this aspect after it saw that the "seamless cooperation" theme helped to boost Pongsapat's popularity..."

I personally would prefer to vote for the candidate who says he wants to work hand in hand with the government, rather than for the one who openly says that he will counter the government's power. Awkward strategy...

In my opinion there is no way that Sukhumbhand can win this election.

Interesting...

I never thought about calculating how much I spend on average in a month.

I guess I must spend quite a lot on all the things that make my life easy, enjoyable and comfortable, as well as a few toys.

But I save a lot on the family side (I do not have a wife).

What is sure is that you beat me with the car fuel... In fact you probably beat everyone in this regard

However, when I use my boat it eats 30.000 baht of fuel... every hour (at 20 knots) ... And since I use the boat quite a lot, overall we might be "even"

As you said, the more you earn the more you spend. And I don't see anything wrong with that.

interesting! you own and use a small aircraft carrier for leisure cruises who's engines gobble up 600 liters of premium 95 octane fuel? whom are you trying to bullsh*t man?

i had a 36' powered by two 400HP Volvos which burned around 90 liters an hour at full blast.

Then you should know that a 78' with 2 Caterpillar 1700HP (or anything bigger) burns much more than your 36'...

At 32 knots it burns even more.

Oh, and no, I do not try to "bullsh*t you", it is indeed possible to go at 32 knots with a 78'. But you must know that for sure. You seem experienced...

Did you really need to use the word "bullsh*t" ? You would not lose anything by writing in a more mature manner.

These boats gobble diesel fuel, not premium 95 octane, by the way...'

LIK.

Rent. 150k

House is 70k a month in upkeep 2 staff, bills, electric etc.

School fees are 50k a month (2 kids)

Wife gets 30k personal money.

Gas. 70 to 90k

Going out including dining. 120k

Other misc crap and it adds up.

Why do you think I'm not saving for a rainy day?

I live within my means.

Interesting...

I never thought about calculating how much I spend on average in a month.

I guess I must spend quite a lot on all the things that make my life easy, enjoyable and comfortable, as well as a few toys.

But I save a lot on the family side (I do not have a wife).

What is sure is that you beat me with the car fuel... In fact you probably beat everyone in this regard

However, when I use my boat it eats 30.000 baht of fuel... every hour (at 20 knots) ... And since I use the boat quite a lot, overall we might be "even"

As you said, the more you earn the more you spend. And I don't see anything wrong with that.

There will be reconciliation because it is the only way out.

The strategy of Abhisit, which is just criticizing, trying to destroy whatever the government does and be obsessed by Thaksin instead of thinking about the country and the people... will fade away.

He, and his party, are not behaving like an opposition party, they just fight their own enemies. Whatever hapens, whatever is said, whatever is done or decided, they will always come back with the same old stories.

Every day more and more people in this country (maybe not yet on this forum ) get tired of the Democrat's game.

Thaksin will be back because it is also the only way out. This is what most voters want. They show it in every election. So, the best would be for the Democrats to accept this fact and move forward... Maybe with a new leader... and most importantly a new state of mind.

Yingluck is navigating very well in these dangerous waters. She is never the one who criticize, she is playing safe and smart. Everytime there is an attack from the Democrats or the Yellows she sneaks away from the problem and is percieved by the peolpe like the "compromizing and responsible voice" trying to calm down, understand and unite everyone... while the opponents keep barking.

This is probably the reason why many people like her. Not because she has great leader qualities, but more because she is seen like a reasonable leader who can step back, or even make her own government step back. She is never seen as the origin of a problem or an attack. It's difficult to corner her with anything. It is only a perception, of course. She still plays smart politics... Much smarter than her oponents.

Abhisit should, of course, not be held responsible for the 90 death which occured under his government. And he will certainly not.

But the court cases against him and Suthep are probably just aimed at making them tired of their own game. They never wanted to compromise to reach reconciliation, so let's hope that with hundreds of court cases to fight they will finally calm down and realize that this is not the good way to go.

Reconciliation is the only way to go... And it would have been a great present for the country if we could have seen Abhisit and Yingluck appear together and say that, this year, they would work at making it happen. The popularity of Abhisit would certainly suddenly have gone up sharply.

But they don't seem ready yet... Let's be a bit more patient.

"One day the lions will be tired to fight eachother" (someone important regarding this subject said this one day...)

Now, what would also be nice, but probably impossible on this forum, would be to have constructive and adult comments regarding this needed reconciliation. But I guess the same will come up again ("put him in prison first", "she work for her brother's money", "Chalerm is an idiot", "the reds are this...", "the farmers are that...", bla bla bla...).

Happy New Year everyone anyway

thaksin will never be allowed back unless he takes his punishment. He didn't just break a law or two, he broke the unwritten rule that as a Thai Chinese businessman, you are NEVER allowed to sell to a foreigner.

Make your billions, but don't change the status quo giving foreigners more access to Thailand. Now that really gets very important peoples attention.

Uhmf ...

It is a noble thought that Yingluck and Abhisit could work together, but Yingluck would have to get her brother's approval...

AND that isn't going to happen...

It is wishful thinking, but there is no substance behind it.

Perhaps I am misunderstanding them , but the previous posts would seem to contradict your conclusion.

Indeed...

There will be reconciliation because it is the only way out.

The strategy of Abhisit, which is just criticizing, trying to destroy whatever the government does and be obsessed by Thaksin instead of thinking about the country and the people... will fade away.

He, and his party, are not behaving like an opposition party, they just fight their own enemies. Whatever hapens, whatever is said, whatever is done or decided, they will always come back with the same old stories.

Every day more and more people in this country (maybe not yet on this forum ) get tired of the Democrat's game.

Thaksin will be back because it is also the only way out. This is what most voters want. They show it in every election. So, the best would be for the Democrats to accept this fact and move forward... Maybe with a new leader... and most importantly a new state of mind.

Yingluck is navigating very well in these dangerous waters. She is never the one who criticize, she is playing safe and smart. Everytime there is an attack from the Democrats or the Yellows she sneaks away from the problem and is percieved by the peolpe like the "compromizing and responsible voice" trying to calm down, understand and unite everyone... while the opponents keep barking.

This is probably the reason why many people like her. Not because she has great leader qualities, but more because she is seen like a reasonable leader who can step back, or even make her own government step back. She is never seen as the origin of a problem or an attack. It's difficult to corner her with anything. It is only a perception, of course. She still plays smart politics... Much smarter than her oponents.

Abhisit should, of course, not be held responsible for the 90 death which occured under his government. And he will certainly not.

But the court cases against him and Suthep are probably just aimed at making them tired of their own game. They never wanted to compromise to reach reconciliation, so let's hope that with hundreds of court cases to fight they will finally calm down and realize that this is not the good way to go.

Reconciliation is the only way to go... And it would have been a great present for the country if we could have seen Abhisit and Yingluck appear together and say that, this year, they would work at making it happen. The popularity of Abhisit would certainly suddenly have gone up sharply.

But they don't seem ready yet... Let's be a bit more patient.

"One day the lions will be tired to fight eachother" (someone important regarding this subject said this one day...)

Now, what would also be nice, but probably impossible on this forum, would be to have constructive and adult comments regarding this needed reconciliation. But I guess the same will come up again ("put him in prison first", "she work for her brother's money", "Chalerm is an idiot", "the reds are this...", "the farmers are that...", bla bla bla...).

Happy New Year everyone anyway

These kind of events can be great successes. I think it is a pity that it seems not as successful as they intended.

Probably the timing - New Year - and the place - Phuket - were not going well together for this project.

During this time of the year Phuket is full anyway. All businesses are very busy and everyone is making money. No need for any addtional event.

At the time it was announced that the party would take place in Surin, most of the businesses and hotels were against it because it disturbed their usual new year activities and some customers had made cancelations fearing disturbance. It was understandable.

Since during the peak season the island is full anyway, the event was not bringing much to its business owners, apart from problems.

Patong, that is overcrowded most of the year was an even more difficult location, but I guess othey had no ther choice.

Well, even so, I am sure they will have fun tonight

Happy New Year.

Fireworks, magic show, bboy, free Khom loys ... for the kids and everyone else.

Free beer for the adults (Thanks to some sponsors).

02/01/2013 at Chiangrai Hills Stadium, Maechan, from 18.00 (Free beer is limited to the amount offered by the sponsors, of course)(800 glasses till now).