bamnutsak

Interesting that, after eight-ish years the PM, to whom the RTP report, decided to actually do something.

For some reason I assumed Srettha Thavisin was an MP. He is not. (Yes, I understand that the PM does not have to be an elected MP.)

This would take a lot of research and analysis, but my best guess is that there were some shenanigans (not money as some have postulated). UTN got an unusually high number of party-list votes, which, at the time, raised some eyebrows. So BJT may have encouraged some/all of their voters to vote for UTN on the party-list side.

I think, at this point, it is more about having a significant majority in Parliament for passing legislation. (The PM thing will be sorted by the Senate, with Prawit or Anutin.) And knee-capping MFP, and any progressive legislation they might introduce. So the two leading parties, MFP and PTP have pretty much been decapitated in this slow-moving judicial/legislative coup. All PTP voters get out of this is the return of Thaksin, and a few ministerial troughs. The blow-back on Monarchy reforms has been resounding, even though public sentiment for changes may be greater than can be discussed.

Good luck herding this clowder of cats. Going to have to teach them to share the "revenue". This is probably worse than a military-led government. They'll be arguing (about money, positions, power) 95% of the time, and solving the people's problems 5% of the time. Ugly.

Again, responsibility for this debacle falls squarely on the weak, incompetent Speaker. Yes, MFP messed up by not getting the Speakership first, rookie mistake. They were lulled into supporting Wan Noor, who has proved to be complicit in the slow-moving judicial and legislative coup, although he is probably too dim to realize what he has done. A competent Speaker could have gaveled that session closed. Then gaveled a "new" session in, and a second nomination of Pita for PM could have been considered. That the CC ruled not on principle, but on standing, is another embarrassing failure, but totally expected.

Now the Chinese woman driver is claiming that she was at fault by stopping unexpectedly. She wants to pay for any damage to the pick-up truck.

Seeing some reports in the Thai press that she did a runner because she doesn't speak Thai. She has sent her lawyers to sort this out with the police.

I think their defense is that they are advertising a "Club" and not the special 25th anniversary Chang Cold Brew Lager. ???? You'll see they are advertising an "experience", a cool, chilling lifestyle. And there is no beer actually shown, just enclosed Yetti-like tankards. It's a specious defense, but not unlike their use of their water and other sponsorships to indirectly advertise beer. I suspect their legal team approved this based their ability to mount a defense. That said, if I were the MFP chap I'd be assembling any/all of these sorts of advertising, while emphasizing one's ability to speak freely, a right guaranteed by the Thai constitution.

Well, according to the local rumor mill that's because the driver doesn't want anyone asking questions about why a "Chinese Woman" was driving a RR. Tip of another "iceberg"? I'm reminded of the Tuhao kerfuffle last year. What a mess that was, and not a lot of follow up. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/chuwit-vs-the-triads-still-blowing-his-whistle https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/11/10/fake-chinese-embassy-car-and-police-escort/

Knives Out Part 2. Weird that the powers that be prefer Paetongtarn, if they do. Maybe they're just picking them off one at a time until the last person waddling is Prawit.

Next up... https://aseannow.com/topic/1296866-the-pita-effect-craft-spirits-sold-out/ The problem here is that there are laws which can be applied against anyone doing anything at anytime. And the laws are misused and abused. There are thousands of local craft beer reviews here on FB DAILY. But very few charges are brought. Thousands of tourists share photos while enjoying local beers. The daily silliness here can soon become a national joke. He shared a photo of a beer on Facebook. Thailand fined him more than US$4,000 https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3218229/he-shared-photo-beer-facebook-thailand-fined-him-more-us4000

On the plus side they didn't call it Tops's Daily

I did not call you a "hater". Why do you feel this is important? Where? Yeah, you're not a hater. You just like calling people anti-social.

It sounds so much better when you hear him say it... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeYDPjT5zTg I love how he struggles to say "11,780".

So by deduction, his investigations into Hunter Biden are "political". I'm thinking that Jared is wishing and hoping the investigations into Hunter Biden go away soon, before people start asking questions about what he did when he worked in the White House.

On January 6 Jared Kushner was jetting back from Saudi Arabia. And after leaving his White House job on January 20, he started a private equity fund. 'What was Jared doing?': MSNBC panel stunned by sources of Kushner's $3.1 billion cash haul As Ratner noted, Kushner has zero experience as a hedge funder having only worked in real estate -- and notably not good at that -- before going to work in the White House. "He worked in the White House and worked very hard, it is less clear what he worked hard at," the analyst began before explaining, "Because after he left the White House, he raised $3.1 billion -- that's billion with a 'b' -- for a private equity fund and he is not a private equity guy, he is a real estate guy. So where does the money come from? We know that he raised $3.1 billion and only about $30 million of it actually came from investors in the United States all the rest of it is foreign money. And of that foreign money, $2 billion came from the Saudis." https://www.rawstory.com/jared-kushner-2663695210/

Agreed. Or the Mods could start a pinned thread here where all these concerned members can post about Cannabis Addiction issues and how to obtain help. Title: I Smoke too Much Cannabis. For the OP, are there Cannabis Addicts Anonymous meeting locations in Thailand? That might have been a good thing to add to the original post? And if there are, do you bring donuts? There is a small, select group here who feel the need to tell everyone how dangerous and addictive cannabis is. I honestly do not understand their reasons for telling other people how to make life choices? They may have their own demons and struggles and this sort of behavior helps them cope with their own challenges. People claim addictions to all sorts of things: energy drinks, too much exercise, sex, porn, Cheetos, food, work, video games, phone/social media. If they want help they can find it. Must stop, Garretts Chicago Mix. Very addictive.

This clown is USELESS. He should resign. The absolute wrong choice, and his continued incompetence will only make matters worse. MFP also messed up by not fighting for the Speakership first.

Sleepy Joe needs to get his paper-towel throwing arm in shape. AFAIK, POTUS responded last week within an hour or so offering any/all necessary assistance. Local Hawaii officials have expressed their appreciation for all that Biden has been able to muster. I need to see the videotape of the question and answer, and understand the context, before I can dial up my outrage. Were several people yelling questions at the same time? From August 9, 2023 Statement from President Joe Biden on the Wildfires in Hawaii Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the wildfires in Maui, and our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses, and communities destroyed. We are grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders who continue to run toward danger, putting themselves in harm’s way to save lives. I have ordered all available Federal assets on the Islands to help with response. The Hawaiian National Guard has mobilized Chinook Helicopters to help with fire suppression and search and rescue on the Island of Maui. The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy Third Fleets are supporting response and rescue efforts. The Army is providing Black Hawk Helicopters to fight the fires on the Big Island. The Department of Transportation is working with commercial airlines to evacuate tourists from Maui, and the Department of the Interior and the United States Department of Agriculture stand ready to support post fire recovery efforts. I urge all residents to continue to follow evacuation orders, listen to the instructions of first responders and officials, and stay alert. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/08/09/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-wildfires-in-hawaii/

EC to Pita: Oops. Sorry we ran you over while you were in the crosswalk. And sorry we backed over you. And yeah, apologies for hitting you a third time. Oh well. You're not dead, yet. The Constitutional Court seems like it could go either way, as they deal in absolutes. IMO, Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, who initially petitioned the EC for this "inquiry" should be sued for damages to the Kingdom, which he caused. Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) is yet to consider the complaint filed by political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, accusing Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat of holding 42,000 shares in the iTV media company which, if true, would disqualify him from contesting the May 14th general election. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/election-commission-yet-to-consider-pitas-alleged-media-share-holding/

In the meantime Hunter Biden's Felony firearm charge (lying on the application) may have been impacted owing to a ruling last week. Appeals court strikes gun restriction implicated in Hunter Biden case Right-wing courts are expanding the Second Amendment. That's good news for the president's son. https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/hunter-biden-gun-drug-charge-ruling-rcna99188 Drug user cannot be barred from owning guns, US court rules Aug 9 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled that a decades-old law prohibiting users of illegal drugs from owning firearms was unconstitutional as applied to the case of a marijuana user, the latest fallout from a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that expanded gun rights. A three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that the federal law violated a Mississippi man's right to "keep and bear arms" under the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment. https://www.reuters.com/legal/drug-user-cannot-be-barred-owning-guns-us-court-rules-2023-08-10/

Seem like the trend on shrooms and opium is strictly medicinal only. Suspect you'd have to be Thai to participate in any trials. A legal market might be years (5 +?) away. Are they available now? My guess would be yes. I see some Cannabis purveyors on line advertising all sorts of things. Cabinet Approves Opium and Magic Mushroom Trial for Medicine 10 Aug 2023 BANGKOK (NNT) - The Cabinet has given the green light to a draft royal decree that permits the cultivation of opium and magic mushrooms for medicinal use on a trial basis. The proposal, presented by the Justice Ministry, received unanimous support from key government bodies including the Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry, Interior Ministry, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, and the Royal Thai Police. The draft decree, upon announcement in the Royal Gazette, will mark the commencement of this ambitious project. Carefully reviewed by the Council of State, an advisory body on legal matters, the decree has been designed to foster innovation and reduce the nation’s dependence on imported morphine and anti-depressants. https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230810105954433#:~:text=BANGKOK (NNT) - The Cabinet,use on a trial basis.

Machinations. Newin Chidchob wants to retain MoT (which his son controls, although he was forced to step down pending investigations) and MoPH, where Anutin rules, and where Cannabis control resides. IMO keeping control of the same ministries is a VERY bad idea.

Clearly this chap got dropped on his head by his nanny too many times. What a moronic suggestion. It is not a multiple candidate winner-take all "election". No one is running against anyone. And it's taken a month just to hold one, single vote for PM.