bamnutsak

Out with a whimper. How predictable.

There are mandatory sentencing guidelines but I can see a judge making exceptions for a (by then) nearly 80 year old ex-president by allowing him to serve his sentence under house arrest.

Hunter Biden business associate testifies he has no knowledge of wrongdoing by Joe Biden Republicans released a 141-page transcript of Devon Archer's testimony on the same day former President Donald Trump was arraigned in Washington, D.C. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/hunter-biden-business-associate-testifies-no-knowledge-wrongdoing-joe-rcna97953 https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Devon-Archer-Transcript.pdf

Strongly disagree. Have you been to a movie recently? My view is that sentiment for change to this law is actually under-represented by MFP's mandate. That's because people are a bit afraid to voice their support for fear of retribution by the powers that be. Thais are taught early on, and throughout their lives, to be subservient, and to respect their betters, or else. There is really only a tiny segment of the population holding firm on any changes to the power dynamics in Thailand. The Ultra-Royalist Thai Pakdee Party gained very few votes: 102,237 party list, and 97,513 constituency. Oof. and ZERO seats, so that should tell you something.

Might as well just ask the people in charge who they want as PM? It would save time. And it won't look any less "democratic" than this selective public defamation/prosecution through cut-outs (Chuwit, Runagkrai) of contenders.

A lot of people have reported - both here and other platforms - that items like this are now being seized by Thai Customs (Lak Si), and not delivered to customers. In some cases Aliexpress do not even let you purchase the item for delivery into Thailand. I was able to get a few units (Airis, AliExpress) in early 2022, from China. Not sure how resellers are getting units into the country now? I assume they have "connections" like those importing other unmentionables. IMO/E it is better to let others bear the risk of importing these items, and then we as consumers pay extra for that "risk insurance".

Two months on from an election where a record 38 million citizens voted and the transition to a new government is held up because potential minor changes to one law protecting one person are out of the question. Hopelessly silly. The needs of the few...

I think you meant "No bias there." Ironically pressumably. Seems to be quite a bit of bias "here", though.

Which indictment? There have been so many. That said, hard to figure why McCarthy is whining about distractions? He should take the whip to Comer and Jordan to get them to continue their "investigation", and begin an Impeachment hearing. More doing, less whining.

Legal pundits say this is because Smith wants a speedy trial. They can be indicted at a later date.

This will be tough to "Sell" to Thai voters. Come in fourth with 3% of the votes (BJT) or seventh with 1.42% of the votes, and voila, rule the country. The "will of the people" becomes the "will of a few people". All this because a law, routinely referred to as "draconian", cannot be slightly amended. Hopeless. The draconian lèse majesté law is back in the spotlight after at least 41 people were slapped with royal defamation charges in relation to anti-establishment protests over the past few weeks. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/30399705

READ THE INDICTMENT https://apnews.com/trump-election-2020-indictment

Interesting that this "interview" was held in a Closed-door Session". Curious. I would think that republicans would want to American public to see/hear this testimony live. Note that Mr. Archer is due to surrender and serve his sentence for his conviction for Fraud. Devon Archer Sentenced To A Year And A Day In Prison For The Fraudulent Issuance And Sale Of More Than $60 Million Of Tribal Bonds Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DEVON ARCHER was sentenced today by the Honorable Ronnie Abrams to a year and a day in prison for defrauding a Native American tribal entity and various investment advisory clients of tens of millions of dollars in connection with the issuance of bonds by the tribal entity and the subsequent sale of those bonds through fraudulent and deceptive means. As established by the evidence at trial: From March 2014 through April 2016, ARCHER, Bevan Cooney, John Galanis, Jason Galanis, Gary Hirst, Michelle Morton, Hugh Dunkerley, and others engaged in a fraudulent scheme that involved (a) causing the Wakpamni Lake Community Corporation (“WLCC”), a Native American tribal entity, to issue a series of bonds (the “Tribal Bonds”) through lies and misrepresentations; (b) deceptively causing clients of asset management firms controlled by Hirst, Morton, and others to purchase the Tribal Bonds, which the clients were then unable to redeem or sell because the bonds were illiquid and lacked a ready secondary market; and (c) misappropriating the proceeds resulting from those bond sales. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/devon-archer-sentenced-year-and-day-prison-fraudulent-issuance-and-sale-more-60-million

Yes, this most recent "election" and the aftermath has been essentially a Thai smooth as Silk soft coup. The resulting "Coalition" amounts to 302 "votes" so they need another 73 Senators. I assume they'll get that if not nearly all Senators. PTP+BJT+PPP+Dem+Chart+Prachachat+ a few twos and ones, but no UTN.

I bought this unit here, from this source. It's a great unit. https://www.greenlungsth.com/product/Xvapefogpro/99?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=19 Like other units this one has a removable 18650 battery. So if sourced in the U.S. simply pack the vape and hand-carry the battery. Or buy it here. There is a huge variety available here, there have been some threads in this forum.

I'd just pack it in my checked bag. I've brought back a few, small pipes, 510 batteries, etc. from the U.S. Have not been caught. How long are you in Thailand for? If longer term just buy a dry-herb vape here, widely available but price is marked up quite a bit. A Taiwanese actress got caught in country with a ecig vape. She had a bit of hassle. Paid a "fine" of 27,000 THB. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-police-admit-extorting-money-from-taiwanese-actress Usually at clubs Thai's aren't hassled by the police for vapes.

He did go "rogue" in May in Malaysia. Think this is the message/punishment?

Does the school get the bar-fines?

He's been a pilot for decades, and has been providing emergency air transport for organ transplants for a while. from 2014 High-flying Anutin delivers with heart - quite literally https://www.nationthailand.com/lifestyle/30250143

"Poof". The sound of progress, freedom/rights, reform and economic balance vanishing for another decade or four.

It seems like it's a done deal. Thaksin trades re-patriation (and side benefits like a full Royal Pardon, for past offenses and anything he does from today) for his ability to reinforce fidelity and loyalty to the Crown. It's a narrow path, but if anyone can "pull it off" it's him. And it's Thai-like. When/if the Thai 'people' realize what just happened - an election magically disappeared - it will be interesting to see their response - Oh! Crap! Maybe make a run to democracy in twenty or thirty year. A lot of pressure on Rama XI.

This Chuwit Khlown has been strangely silent the past few months. Now he's breaking a bit of news nearly everyone already knows about...that a deal has been made to submarine MFP, install a PTP-led "government" (with BJT/PPP/UTN) overseen by Thaksin, which will bolster defenses against progress and reforms, in exchange for a full pardon. Several high-profile 112 cases will be made, just to send a message. Things might actually be a bit worse than they were under the NCPO/Junta.

The Powers-that-be want him back, the devil you know and all that, and he can defend the Monarchy against the MFP and the younger generation. Smart move by the Olde Guard. But it may only offer a brief respite from progress.

He'll only return if he has a Royal Pardon.

Uhm, I think he was relieved of his duties as Minister of Transport...and replaced by Anutin Charnvirakul. Thailand’s transport minister Saksayam ordered to cease performing his duty Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has been ordered by the Constitutional Court to cease performing his duty, effective today (Friday), after the court accepted a complaint from 54 opposition MPs, alleging that the minister is the owner of Buri Charoen Construction Limited Partnership. According to Section 187 of the Constitution, a minister cannot hold a stake in or be involved in the management of a business. Violation of the provision will result to the loss of the ministerial post, as stipulated in Section 170 of the charter. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-transport-minister-saksayam-ordered-to-cease-performing-his-duty/ Arch-enemy of the Chidchob clan, Chuwit Kamolvisit, has been strangely silent over the past few months.