Do You Want Thaksin Back As Prime Minister?

[Jingthing]

Many see the PPP, the current PM, and the current government as a thinly veiled proxy government for exiled/convicted Thaksin.

So my question today is: do you want Thaksin back as PRIME MINISTER?

I know many also want him back to go to prison, but that is not the question ...

Edited November 26, 2008 by Jingthing

[Sarge]

yes I do!

[TexasRanger]

Yes, me too.

[davethailand]

Have to say that I don't think it would be a bad thing.

[Ulysses G.]

He - or his proxies - keep getting elected over and over again, but the old money PAD won't allow him to finish a term and force him out again and again, only to start the process once more.

They say to judge a man by his enemies, so he is starting to look better and better.

[Ricardo]

Excellent idea ... for a poll.

Can't wait for the first post, to tell us farangs that it's none of our business, and to bugger off home !

[WinnieTheKhwai]

As long as Thai people elect him I'd applaud it.

My only concern would be that he's obviously very divisive. A national unity government including BOTH Thaksin and the Dems I'd applaud even more.

I mean it's obvious the rural poor want Thaksin, there should not be the need to play charades with people-who-would-be-suspected-to-be-proxies.

let's get it out in the open and work for the country for a change.

[DP25]

Of course not. Mass murderers belong behind bars. The UK should have arrested him like they did with Augusto Pinochet.

[Ulysses G.]

Who belongs behind bars?

Ever heard of a guy called General Suchinda? He makes Thaksin look like an angel and is living in Thailand like a Lord.

[tmd5855]

You either believe/agree in democracy that the majority wins, or you do not.

If the majority of the people vote for the "Little green men from timbuctoo"? Then the will of the people should be carried out.

Not decided by a previous power group that no longer can gain the majority vote.

In that event, they rule as an unelected body, who can do what they wish.(Tyrants)

Churchill had it right when he commented on the failings of democracy, but when you looked at all the alternatives, it was the only good option.

[Mosha]

Unfortunately in this "democracy" it's not the will of the people, but the will of the Baht.

[Ta22]

if you are a legal farang not doing any illegal or fishy stuff , you should love to have thaksin back .

whhahah a

and to add , i wonder if we start a POLL on how many people who say NO to THAKSIN if their from UK

whahhahaha

KARMA - working

[toptuan]

Unfortunately in this "democracy" it's not the will of the people, but the will of the Baht.

Vote-buying: PAD's ongoing urban legend.

[Tyree D.]

if you are a legal farang not doing any illegal or fishy stuff , you should love to have thaksin back .

that eliminated 95% of us

[ubonjoe]

Yes

Along with about 99.9% of the people that live in the same village as me.

[Richb2004v2]

I have no real understanding of the whole Thaksin situation, but probably as much as many others on here. It seems to me that Thailand is corrupt and will be corrupt for some time to come. Those before Thaksin were corrupt and carried out illegal activity's. Those that come after Thaksin will probably do the same. Thaksin was at least making improvements and putting Thailand on the right track. I voted yes.

[OriginalPoster]

Of course not. Mass murderers belong behind bars. The UK should have arrested him like they did with Augusto Pinochet.

So what should be done if there's another coup, after awhile another election is held, and another person sympathetic to Thakasin is voted in as PM? Should he be hanged too? Why should "protestors" have more say than the electorate?

[Gravelrash]

I believe it was Taksin that started the crackdown on bar trading hours. That if nothing else would explain his unpopularity on TV. As for the corruption etc anyone who has been here a while knows that was SOP for any government and had nothing to do with his ousting.

His drug crackdown is also cited as why he should have gone. Both my ex wife and girlfriend claim that the drug problem was better under control in those days and the streets safer. Personally don't have answers for that.

[grandpops]

I believe it was Taksin that started the crackdown on bar trading hours. That if nothing else would explain his unpopularity on TV. As for the corruption etc anyone who has been here a while knows that was SOP for any government and had nothing to do with his ousting.

His drug crackdown is also cited as why he should have gone. Both my ex wife and girlfriend claim that the drug problem was better under control in those days and the streets safer. Personally don't have answers for that.

Right about the bar hours and also he made the first move to tighten up Visa on Arrival and work permits. They needed tightening up and it was a scandal how bars were allowed open round the clock and girls made to man them and pole dance etc. Cleaned that up and it needed it.

Lot of shady falangs hate him for reasons that make him acceptable to most ordinary folk here.

[Mosha]

Unfortunately in this "democracy" it's not the will of the people, but the will of the Baht.

Vote-buying: PAD's ongoing urban legend.

You need to get out more

[tigerboy]

If he does make it back to Thailand, and does succeed in getting back into politics, just how "farang friendly" do you expect he will be after his perceived wrong by the UK? I would foresee him doing a Hugo Chaves, and running most all the round eyes out.

They'd quickly be replaced with Chinese, and perhaps even some of his buddies from Burma too.

I used to be a believer in him when he started but his true colors have since been revealed, red for blood, green for envy and jealousy, and black for evil and deceit.

[Jingthing]

I am not enamored of either side, but to my view wishing Thaksin back as PM seems akin to praying for cancer (not a cure, the disease).

[Livinginexile]

As long as Thai people elect him I'd applaud it.

My only concern would be that he's obviously very divisive. A national unity government including BOTH Thaksin and the Dems I'd applaud even more.

I mean it's obvious the rural poor want Thaksin, there should not be the need to play charades with people-who-would-be-suspected-to-be-proxies.

let's get it out in the open and work for the country for a change.

Exactly

The people elected him and/or his party.

Democracy should prevail.

If PAD had their way there would be no more free elections, only old ruling class cronies would run the government.

PAD = men with guns. They should not rule.

[jasreeve17]

I voted no.

I'd like all of the scumbags out of Thai politics, and let the youngsters have a chance to make a better fist of it.

The Dem leader is badly failing at this time (his deals with the Army and PAD are disgraceful; support us as we blatantly wreck and ignore all democratic processes and we'll make you PM...), but maybe with time (I hope) he'd make a good leader (rich Bangkok-Chinese family, help the poor ethnic Tai masses, maybe not!).

[mazimus]

hey the guy was caught lining his own pockets,so what.There are many PMs and govt officials all over the world doing the same thing,only in it for the money.I think Thaksin should be re-instated he did a lot of good for Thailand

[sabaijai]

If Thaksin were to return, we'd see violence here in Thailand that makes what we've seen since he left look like English cricket on a Sunday afternoon.

[billp]

Well, after the events of the last few days, he's looking better and better. At least he tried to do something for the rural poor. While he was in power, I thought there was a positive, forward-looking atmosphere in Thailand. Since he was deposed the country has been in a terrible mess.

And as for him being so corrupt, well, first of all he was a billionaire when he took office. That was from being a successful entrepreneur, not from politics. The biggest thing everybody seems to hold against him was selling off his company in a way that didn't draw any taxes. But I really think that was primarily a miscalculation stemming from a clever accountant, and Thaksin - unwisely - just signed off on it.

And, after 2 years of investigation, the only illegal act they've been able to pin on him is a conflict of interest in allowing his wife to make a lowball bid on a piece of property? Give me a break! In the civilized world, this would be seen as a midemeanor meriting, maybe, a fine or a slap on the wrist, not 2 years in jail. And if they're prosecuting that, why aren't they equally prosecuting the corrupt police colonel who somehow has amassed a vast fortune on a salary of 15,000 baht a month? Or the civil servant who periodically shows up in his private cove on his yacht with his 5 mia nois?

Thaksin is beloved by the rural poor because he made a real difference in their lives. Certainly a cut above the profoundly undemocratic thugs illegally occupying (and trashing) Government House for months at a time, beating and killing their fellow countrymen in streets with iron bars and guns, and now showing their ugly face to the world by shutting down the country's most important airport.

My question is, why the elected prime minister does not or cannot order out the troops and the water cannons and disperse these subversive terrorists. Why are the leaders not being arrested and tried for treason?

[tijnebijn]

Many seem to forget how hard we all were complaining when thaksin still was in power ,

all those visa changing standards etc , those were the threads of the year , untill the coup .....

I was relieved with his demise ......and I'm not even talking about all those timetable goals he had .

Utter arrogance from bottom to top .....

I voted NO , very clearly .

Although I am absolutely not a yellow shirt supporter , very much the contrary !

I say Thailand needs change like the US , luhk khrung perhaps , an outsider who's got a message

with 2 little cute daughters who will save the country and the image to the international world ?

[Jingthing]

Many seem to forget how hard we all were complaining when thaksin still was in power ,

all those visa changing standards etc , those were the threads of the year , untill the coup .....

I was relieved with his demise ......and I'm not even talking about all those timetable goals he had .

Utter arrogance from bottom to top .....

I voted NO , very clearly .

Although I am absolutely not a yellow shirt supporter , very much the contrary !

I say Thailand needs change like the US , luhk khrung perhaps , an outsider who's got a message

with 2 little cute daughters who will save the country and the image to the international world ?

That's funny, thats just what I was thinking! To solve their conflict here, they need someone who isn't too close to EITHER side. That leaves Abhisit out as he is probably seen as being a yellow sympathizer. Obama is taken. How about Tiger Woods? Or how about a Thai pop star? An Elvis impersonator? The KFC mascot seems popular? Beckham (he seems to be willing to move anywhere for the right amount of money)? Sarah Palin (she tried Pad Thai once with moose meat)? Joran Van der Sloot, he is a looker and maybe already in Thailand? Schwarzenegger clearly wants to be the leader of some country and the US won't let him ... Anyone?

Edited November 26, 2008 by Jingthing

[jdinasia]

I wonder how many of the "Yes, I want him back" people are married to Isaan women from poor families? (not flaming but that is where the majority of his support comes from)

The other burning question is how many of the people are basing it on the "elected government" argument even though that has been shown to be flawed?