Junta Isn’t Poaching Politicians (but could): Prawit

[webfact]

Junta Isn’t Poaching Politicians (but could): Prawit

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

 

Prawit Wongsuwan walk alongside Prayuth Chan-ocha to a Cabinet meeting on Jan. 21, 2017.

 

BANGKOK — Deputy junta leader Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan said Monday the junta is not luring politicians to support its return to power after elections.

 

With a growing list of declarations and defections that appear to be stacking the deck in favor of the junta leader serving post-election as an unelected prime minister, Prawit denied the junta is pulling the strings.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/04/30/junta-isnt-poaching-politicians-but-could-prawit/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-05-01

[cornishcarlos]

If Toad Boy says it's black, you can guarantee that it will be white...

Not an honest bone in his little, lard covered, body !!

[colinneil]

Those 2 should  be on the stage, what a great comedy act....the 2 stooges.

[Darcula]

Quote

Prayuth denied he was enticing politicians and denied that the junta was like a vacuum cleaner.

 

How come so full of crap then?

[bluesofa]

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

Junta Isn’t Poaching Politicians

Instead of poaching, perhaps it's the junta that should be heavily battered, rather than just a roasting.

 

[Samui Bodoh]

"...Last week, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva led the criticism by saying that efforts are being made to lure politicians into supporting the regime as assistants to ministers. This was followed by similar allegations made by Pheu Thai members. By Friday, during his weekly televised monologue, Prayuth denied he was enticing politicians and denied that the junta was like a vacuum cleaner..."

 

This is valid criticism, but making a single press release or a single comment somewhere is not an effective response. If you want to make this an issue (and you bloody well should), then you need a sustained campaign; accuse the government of corruption in giving plum government jobs to supporters, scream that the fix is in, shout loudly that they aren't qualified, hint strongly that you and your party might launch a campaign to de-legitimize the electoral process, publicly name and shame the people directly making the offers, etc, etc, etc.

 

If you sit on your butt and say things like "Ooh! That is bad!" then people will just laugh at you and not take you seriously. If you are going to fight, then you need to get started soon. 

 

Political parties; the Junta is talking about elections because they need some legitimacy. That legitimacy comes from, among other places, the political class. If the political class is willing to deny that legitimacy, then you have some power. But, only if you are willing to use it.

 

A tiny, squeaky, meek response will be too little, too late.

 

Edited April 30, 2018 by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

[jonclark]

The Junta isn't poaching politicians, Premchai isn't poaching Black Leopard and Prawit isn't wearing expensive watches ....

 

Good glad that is all cleared up. Now sod off back to work you plebs. 

 

 

[Sir Dude]

[yellowboat]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Junta Isn’t Poaching Politicians (but could)

This is why Thailand does not enjoy a great reputation. 

[metisdead]

A troll post has been removed. 

[tracker1]

They don't have to poach any Politicians they are slowly doing away with any opposition ! Must be following Cambodias role model of Democracy and how to win an election !!!!!

[robblok]

The junta is poaching politicians, that much is clear the only reason its unfair is because others are not allowed to campaign. But otherwise its no different from what the political parties do themselves promise politicians jobs in were they can enrich themselves. When the democrats formed the coalition with Newin his party they gave them all the good ministeries. The PTP often moves its ministers around giving many a chance to steal money.

 

The way I see it the only unfair thing is that others are not allowed to campaign right now so the playing field is not level.

[candide]

52 minutes ago, robblok said:

The junta is poaching politicians, that much is clear the only reason its unfair is because others are not allowed to campaign. But otherwise its no different from what the political parties do themselves promise politicians jobs in were they can enrich themselves. When the democrats formed the coalition with Newin his party they gave them all the good ministeries. The PTP often moves its ministers around giving many a chance to steal money.

 

The way I see it the only unfair thing is that others are not allowed to campaign right now so the playing field is not level.

You are right. And It's only one unfair thing in a long list of others, such as appointing the Senate and the EC, sending civil servants to campaign, and the future restrictions to campaigning that they will likely impose after lifting the ban.

[robblok]

7 minutes ago, candide said:

You are right. And It's only one unfair thing in a long list of others, such as appointing the Senate and the EC, sending civil servants to campaign, and the future restrictions to campaigning that they will likely impose after lifting the ban.

Yes the playing field has been unfair, the party in power always has an advantage of course (PTP did in the past) being able to spend government money to boost their popularity just like the junta is now doing. But at least during the time of the PTP the democrats could campaign too. Making the field a little more equal. No denying that the junta certainly stacks the deck in its favor. I would hate to see Prayut returning but the chances are growing. 

 

Still they need a lot of votes to make that happen (far from a majority but still quite a lot). I wonder how many votes these things (defecting politicians, junta popular policies) are going to steal from PTP and Democrats. It will be an interesting election to say the least. 

[candide]

18 minutes ago, robblok said:

Still they need a lot of votes to make that happen (far from a majority but still quite a lot). I wonder how many votes these things (defecting politicians, junta popular policies) are going to steal from PTP and Democrats. It will be an interesting election to say the least. 

They don't need much votes to block other parties. 15% of seats for Junta friendly parties is enough to prevent the election of a PM by the lower chamber (unless the PTP and the Dems make an alliance, but I don't believe in it). Then goes the outsider PM procedure. Thanks to the appointed senate they can also block the election of any other PM too.

And in case of deadlock, I have no doubt the current PM will be ready to sacrifice himself for the country by remaining in power! 

Of course, if they get more than 15% of votes, they will have a bit more legitimacy....

[robblok]

Just now, candide said:

They don't need much votes to block other parties. 15% of seats for Junta friendly parties is enough to prevent the election of a PM by the lower chamber (unless the PTP and the Dems make an alliance, but I don't believe in it). Then goes the outsider PM procedure. Thanks to the appointed senate they can also block the election of any other PM too.

And in case of deadlock, I have no doubt the current PM will be ready to sacrifice himself for the country by remaining in power! 

Of course, if they get more than 15% of votes, they will have a bit more legitimacy....

The whole question is are people bound to a party or bound to a political figure.. Because loads of them have defected from both Democrats and PTP. Would the people still vote democrat / PTP or follow their political figure. It will be interesting not in the least if Prayut gets a lot of votes it shows people don't care about parties but about their local leaders (won't go as far as to attribute this to Prayut)

[candide]

2 minutes ago, robblok said:

The whole question is are people bound to a party or bound to a political figure.. Because loads of them have defected from both Democrats and PTP. Would the people still vote democrat / PTP or follow their political figure. It will be interesting not in the least if Prayut gets a lot of votes it shows people don't care about parties but about their local leaders (won't go as far as to attribute this to Prayut)

Yes, it is quite interesting. I think there will be an "indifference to Prayuth remaining PM" factor. If they follow their political figures, it means they don't mind having Prayuth as PM. If they don't follow it means either that thay are more attached to their party, or that they don't want Prayuth.

[anon467848]

When given an invitation to feed at the trough, and the Thai attitude of me, me, me first, I don't think there will be a shortage of defectors joining the Junta ticket.... Screw the party manifesto, what's my cut?

[holy cow cm]

The real boss is speaking up a lot lately. Feels his watch screw up is past him now. Oust the little idiot with his big fat headed cohort

[robblok]

4 minutes ago, candide said:

Yes, it is quite interesting. I think there will be an "indifference to Prayuth remaining PM" factor. If they follow their political figures, it means they don't mind having Prayuth as PM. If they don't follow it means either that thay are more attached to their party, or that they don't want Prayuth.

Exactly that is the way i see it too. I am curious about the elections how they will go. I don't wan't to see Prayut return, but if he does his power will be more limited than before. He will have a hard time dealing with that he likes full control like the army man he is.

 

But on the other hand if an other party wins they will lose a lot of votes in that year because they will have a lot of unpopular things to do plus a lot of leftover stuff from the junta to deal with. I think being in the opposition would be better for them. Though the parties themselves might not think so as in the opposition no money is to be made. 

[Eric Loh]

Didn’t the junta said that politicians are lacking in ethics and the cause of the nation problems. Now they are sucking them all up especially those politicians who will

prostrate themselves and sell out their democratic values for positions.  

[yellowboat]

4 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Didn’t the junta said that politicians are lacking in ethics and the cause of the nation problems. Now they are sucking them all up especially those politicians who will

prostrate themselves and sell out their democratic values for positions.  

Predators, all of them.  If you want your child to excel in Thailand, do not teach him ethics, rule of law or philosophy, as this will only hold him back.  Teach him not to have a compassion, manners or decency, so that he may rise to the pinnacle of Thai society. 

[Eric Loh]

1 minute ago, yellowboat said:

Predators, all of them.  If you want your child to excel in Thailand, do not teach him ethics, rule of law or philosophy, as this will only hold him back.  Teach him not to have a compassion, manners or decency, so that he may rise to the pinnacle of Thai society. 

Maybe a school for crooks with Prawit as the principal. 

[robblok]

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

Didn’t the junta said that politicians are lacking in ethics and the cause of the nation problems. Now they are sucking them all up especially those politicians who will

prostrate themselves and sell out their democratic values for positions.  

Before this the junta already demonstrated they don't practice what they preach. They only went after corruption of their enemies. Now they do the same they accused politicians of. 

[billd766]

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Maybe a school for crooks with Prawit as the principal. 

 

From what I have seen of Thai politicians over the years he is welcome to poach them.

 

Here are 2 training films for them.

 

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1061238_school_for_scoundrels?

 

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/school_for_scoundrels/

 

 

[Jonmarleesco]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Prawit denied the junta is pulling the strings.

Muppets inside government, muppets outside looking in. Yet no strings.

[chama]

12 hours ago, colinneil said:

Those 2 should  be on the stage, what a great comedy act....the 2 stooges.

Unfortunately that is true. Unfortunate because the country is in deep danger as a result.