Govt Leaders Assigned Annual Nicknames

[george]

Govt leaders assigned annual nicknames

BANGKOK: -- To maintain their year-end tradition, journalists at the Government House here have assigned 'annual nicknames' to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his cabinet members, and even the Thaksin administration itself for the year 2004.

The Thaksin administration was this year nicknamed the "Lottery Government", given the fact that many of the government's populist projects for the grass-roots and underprivileged people had been funded by the Government Lottery Office (GLO), while business conglomerates liaised to cabinet members were seen a rise in their fortunes, seeming that everybody clings hopes on winning a government lottery in one form or another.

Mr. Thaksin, himself, was assigned the "Fast Food Leader" nickname for his style of being a leader who think fast and act fast, seeming that he had cared only how fast the food was served, not how it tasted.

Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was nicknamed "A Fading Warrior", as he was retiring from handling national security affairs--the task he was assigned last year to take care of, particularly in the country's troubled deep South as a former army commander who had helped quell the insurgency in the past.

Deputy Prime MInister Suwat Liptapanlop was nicknamed "The Starving S", as he decided to dissolve his Chat Pattana Party to join the ruling Thai RaK Thai Party to be rewarded the post of a deputy prime minister after being once kicked out from the Thaksin administration.

Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piumsombun was assigned "A Good Man Who Forgets the World" nickname for his style of uncompromising leadership, causing conflicts with his working teammates and liaised organizations.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin was nicknamed "Weeping Cowboy", as he was reportdly weeping when he was recently transferred from the post of Agriculture and Cooperative Minister to the less active deputy prime minister although his "million oxen and cows" project had been on the public interest.

Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Newin Chidchop was nicknamed "The Follower at Your Disposal", as he decided to leave the Chat Thai Party, in which he was a key leader, to become a new member of the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party and had come to rescue in many of Mr. Thaksin's crises.

Commerce Minister Watana Muangsook was given the "Ua Athorn in-law" nickname, as his work at the Ministry of Commerce was seen to protect the interest of his father-in-law's businesses--the country's wellknown CP conglomerate.

Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan was nicknamed "Brighter-face.com", as she had recently introduced sets of government-supported whitening facial cream made from Thai traditional herbs.

Industry Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal was assigned the "Mr. Blusterer" nickname, as he was a best teammate of Prime Minister Thaksin during his eagerly recent move to seek for the purchase of the majority stake of Liverpool--one of the world's most renowned football club, making it be on international headlines for days, but short-lived, and the attempt had finally faded out.

Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik was given 'The Stuck Boat" nickname for his alleged slow progress in handling the government's educational reform.

The Government Press Corp also assigned "Petty Bandits" as the Quote of the Year, satirizing Mr. Thaksin for his description those behind the spate of southern violence during its early stages before later conceding that the masterminds were actually insurgents.

--TNA 2005-01-01

[RDN]

... journalists at the Government House here have assigned 'annual nicknames' to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his cabinet members, and even the Thaksin administration itself ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I take it these "Government House Journalists" daren't say what they really call 'em.

[ProfessorFart]

I could think of a few nicknames for them.......