JAG

1 hour ago, robblok said:

In your mind Thailand had a democracy and that is different.. while in reality they did not have a real democracy and in both cases the leaders were bleeding the country dry with corruption and breaking laws. Just because they got voted in make their crimes any better. Voting is just 1 of the things in a democracy, its not called a democracy if you don't follow all the rules of one. 

zzaa09 replied:

25 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

I've always astounded [not really] towards those whom consider that they truly understand Thai society/affairs - yet, they clearly haven't a clue. Very prominent and common character trait within this austere venue...

I wouldn't say that I am astounded, although I have for some time found it irritating (now becoming tedious) that you repeatedly suggest that you (effectively alone) understand what is happening/has happened in the Thai political scene, and regret that others, including some long serving and thoughtful TVF commentators "don't have a clue". Yet to my knowledge you have never offered to share your wisdom or insight into what is happening. I have said it before, and I will say it again, I think you are an "empty vessel", intent only on creating the impression that you are so much wiser and better informed than the rest of us.

I have known "roblock" on this forum for quite a few years now. I frequently, no, almost invariably, disagree with his interpretations, as he does with mine. We have clashed many times, and are in many ways poles apart, certainly in our political views, and from what I have discerned in our backgrounds as well. Yet neither of us has ever described the other as not having a clue, (although I did once call him a Teutonic pedant!); when we disagree we always offer our interpretations, and debate them. We don't rely upon enigmatic suggestions that we alone have the secrets...

By the way, an austere venue is an uncomfortable, spartanly furnished place. Are you sure that is what you mean?

3 hours ago, bendejo said:

Piers Morgan coming to the US is the most egregious act by the UK against the USA since the War of 1812.

My dear chap, I know, and many of us who hold the USA in high regard, are somewhat embarrassed that it has happened.

However, the chance to get rid of him from the British " conmentariat" was really too good to miss, and honestly, having looked at the current state of affairs in and around The White House we didn't really think anyone would notice!

Sorry...

41 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley on Friday faulted the news media for "giving credence to a convicted criminal," and called Cohen "a self-admitted liar."

Well yes, he is a convicted criminal, umh, convicted of crimes which he committed on behalf of the occupant of The White House ...

8 hours ago, DM07 said:

The pro-lifers will be out in huge numbers, making their outrage heard, I bet!?

If being a pro-lifer means objecting to 7 year old children dieing in custody from entirely preventable causes, then I am proud to be so accused.

And you should be utterly ashamed of your comment.

7 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

 

agree, both the border on the green Island and

Gibraltar-Spain border deserve some more light shed on them

 

but to the title of this thread,

seems to me it suggests that UK cannot unilaterally revoke Brexit,

or more to the point - decide to go for a no deal Brexit

 

would be interesting to see some legal justification for that

 

1

I don't think there is any legal justification.

A hard border between Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland is undesirable.

Neither country seems to want it.

But Ireland cannot actually forbid it.

The UK is a sovereign country (that is rather the whole point of the exercise) and therefore another country cannot tell it what it must do.

And before anyone gets too excited, and accuses me of wanting a hard border, I don't, I think a solution can and should be negotiated. But I also think that the whole matter is being manipulated to become a reason to prevent or deny Brexit, both within the EU and within the UK!

15 minutes ago, Topdoc said:

No confidence letter from OP

The penultimate paragraph - mentioning an alternative proposed deal, still on the table - is a bit of a relevation isn't it?

I do hope that if Mrs May falls she takes Mr Hammond with her. I suspect he is the moving force behind the desire to effectively "stay in at any price"

5 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Why? Why? Why? This makes no sense!

It makes a great deal of sense, Somtamnication. Look at it from the point of the junta, those named by the protestors. Largely due to the efforts of this extraordinarily brave and determined lady the murder of her daughter has not been forgotten, she has not been confined to the list of those who (to believe some of the more shameful posts here) brought it upon themselves! As long as this murder remains in the public consciousness, then those responsible will always be looking over their shoulders. They want to silence her. They have to silence her to create as part of their drive for legitimacy. They will try the only way they know, threats  and bullying.

She may not get justice (I very much hope that she does, but I doubt she will), but at least she is ensuring that her daughter is not forgotten. All power to her.

12 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

All about Thainess. 

 

Study it.

Learn it.

Comprehend it. 

 

...if you dare.

 

 

Oh I would suggest quite a lot of us:

study it,

learn it,

comprehend it.

I for one, and I suspect a number of what may be called "the usual suspects" on this forum don't regard it as "Thainess", but rather as a regime and philosophy (in a limited sense  of the word) imposed upon the Thai nation and people by a venal and grasping self centred group, who have used their wealth to engineer control of the country, and are now exploiting and consolidating that control to further increase their wealth at the expense of the country. 

If unchecked, it will ultimately only have one ending. That won't be what is conventionally regarded as "Thainess" either. This regime is destroying "Thainess".

4 hours ago, webfact said:

With an election on the horizon, however, it is now the turn of political parties to put forward rival visions, determination and concrete plans to tackle the gross inequality. In so doing they can offer a brighter future and greater social justice for us all.

An election that will either: be forstalled or rendered void by the Junta should it look like changing something/anything, or if by some miracle a reforming government is elected and comes to power, will lead to another coup to "restore stability" within three years.

No need to invoke special powers whatsoever.

Just as long as everyone knows what is expected...