Thaksin's Rural Red Shirts Swarm The Capital

[ballpoint]

Does anyone have a link to any red leader actually using the term "million man march" prior to all their promises to get a million protestors? It seems to me that first they stated they would definitely get a million people ("More than one million red-shirts will certainly take part in a mass rally aimed at bringing down the government, United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)leader Jatuporn Promphan claimed on Tuesday". - Reported 9th Feb by the Bangkok Post, my emphasis on "certainly"), and then the snappy catch phrase was coined. As Jatuporn, Veera, Woravat Auapinyakul and others are all on record as promising at least a million participants, it does look as though UG's "a sucker is born every minute" quote is true of the red shirts, and I'd expand it to include any Thaksin supporter. What next, the twenty thousand monk promise actually meant twenty novices and a temple dog?

[shawndoc]

* what's the singular for feces? ....fece?

I believe like with sheep, feces is both singular and plural.

Drop this muppet and the red shirt movement would actually stand a chance of being granted their chance at the election polls.

But where would the money come from? The red shirt movement was created by Thaksin to restore Thaksin to power. The calls for more transparent government, less corrupt elections, etc, were tacked on in the same way you coat a pill in sugar to make it easier to swallow. Once you pull Thaksin out of the equation, the red shirt movement will fall apart as they'll lose both funding and the driving force behind the movement.

[rametindallas]

There are too many threads on this topic. Every time a Red Shirt throws a feces*, or each time Thaksin tells another lie (numerous times per day; where he's flying to, where he has not been kicked out of, etc. ad infinitum), there's a new thread. Too much monkey business.

* what's the singular for feces? ....fece?

What is a pant, is that one leg of a pair of pants?

....or a trouser or a dungaree, or a short?

Why are all things men wear between their waists and their ankles plural?

because we have three legs

[kraxlhuber]

I admire everyone's imagination and clairvoyance of future events.

Meanwhile, political protests can and do happen in any part of the world without the need for martial law and rumors of coups. For example, today in Italy.

And hey, guess what, even color coding a protest isn't exclusively Thai.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8565265.stm

Back to drama-queening guys.

Some of our dear mambers posted the quip,

"why Foreigners are soo concerned what happen in Thailand with the political situation.

Well The world ,particulary UK,USA Fance etc DID appease Hitler,didnt pull the break-handle.

Some say,in order to prevent the apple from becoming a fruit ,you have to nip the bud.

I ,and others may agree,the reds must form their own political party, and have leaders from their own stock,dump the old lying polititian's change the color to somehow a friendlier color and have a partyplatform which nowadays NONE has,Farmers are promised this and that and free lunch,which isn't.

Now the word is out,

You might be singing and dancing and wining and dining on the way to the Red_Walk, and go home bloodied and on crutches if at all.

The fear is out,the silent mayority is armed to their teeth,ready to take THEIR beloved Thailand back from the red-thugs,

Long live the Kingdom of Thailand.(not the red animal farm)

[brahmburgers]

He may have the final meltdown live on TV. Wouldn't that be a sight? Carried off by the guys in white coats as the whole (red) world watches

yeah, .....like James Brown being escorted off the stage after falling to his knees while singing ''please please please, please me." ....while the back up singers (the Reds) are crooning, "you don't have to go"

Edited March 16, 2010 by brahmburgers

[Ricardo]

Hmmm they didn't think ahead when they planned a "MILLION" man march,

Of course they did. What a catchy name. What great marketing.

However, they probably did not think that anyone would be dumb enough to think that they would know exactly how many protesters would actually march on Bangkok.

Obviously not that they thought their followers were dumb enough to believe it ? But why did the UDD-leaders keep repeating it, if they thought it was not true, isn't that what us non-marketing types call 'misleading advertising' or 'lies' ?

How could they possibly know in advance how many people would show up in Bangkok? The Million Man March was just a clever slogan. It looks like it is true that there is a sucker born every minute.

Quite, the sucker in this case being the absent boss, to whom the local leaders were spinning the tale.

Thinking about it, this is certainly not the first time, I have seen local-management inflate sales-targets & business-forecasts, to fool a far-away Head-Office into keeping the loss-making/declining local-operation running for just a little bit longer. Although it all still ended in tears, that time, too.

Perhaps one reason, for Thaksin's increasingly out-of-touch expectations & diatribes, is that he's being fed a misleading picture by the locals, of what is actually happening here, and what they might achieve with a Million Man March ? One might speculate as to why they might do such a thing ? But it certainly would help explain his recent decisions.

[Old Man River]

Has Thaksin phoned in yet? Maybe he forget to bring a recharger that works in Montenegro.

yes, the very old looking and very exhausted old young man phoned in....

his 6 star hotel room looked very bare....

the furniture in his room looked very much like the 800 baht a piece stuff....

the curtain looked like from walmart or big c quality....

the vase in his room looked very much like something used in 999 hotel....

he said that he needed to put on a sweater because it was very cold in european country....

yes, he was timely informed that many redshirts from isaan have already been driving back to isaan....

but he encouraged every redshirt to stay and fight on....

he encouraged his former friends and political alliances to switch side now.... before it is too late....

he encouraged top brass in biz and military to leave their posts to protest against the current govt for its inability to govern....

he promised that when true democracy being handed back to the people.... the redshirt supporters would not be forgotten.... and that

they will be in the fore to be rewarded amply, more than they can ever imagine....

he encouraged the redshirts to stay and fight on until the victory is won.... however long, however difficult and however damning....

the redshirts must win.... they must win at long last, regardless of circumstances....

and he promised to be right behind them every step of the way.... to reclaim the former glory for the farmers and the poors....

he would be awaiting good news from the redshirts.... in europe.... with his family members closed by, all accounted for....

and he wished the redshirts--victory.... and victory at all cost.... and victory at long last....

and redshirts must seize victory as soon as possible at whatever cost.... so true democracy may be restored to the people....

-------

well, i was speechless and benumbed for a long time.... before i could recapitulate the above in bits and pieces....

believe what you may....

but the male escaped from thai justice prisoner appears to have aged considerably.... he appeared to look like 65 in his video....

Apparently, from what Siam Report is saying, in Thaksin's final tweet last night he said he had had to go to bed because he has an appointment today to decorate a hotel he just invested in with a friend. It sounds like the Red Shirt's boss will be busy today.

[Old Man River]

According to what Giles Ji Ungpakorn wrote yesterday, "hundreds of thousands of Thai Redshirt pro-Democracy demonstrators took to the streets of Bangkok and other cities over the weekend."

Somebody should buy this guy a calculator.

[animatic]

the redshirt supporters would not be forgotten.... and that

they will be in the fore to be rewarded amply, more than they can ever imagine....

Well theres the bribe

and threat to put all Issane disctricts before all non-Thaksin supporting districts,

a la 2005. We know how well that went down nation wide.

"...he encouraged his former friends and political alliances to switch side now.... before it is too late...."

But noticeably the bribe offer isn't there. Before it's too late for whom?

"...and he promised to be right behind them every step of the way.... to reclaim the former glory for the farmers and the poors...."

"...he would be awaiting good news from the redshirts.... in europe.... with his family members closed by, all accounted for....

and he wished the redshirts--victory.... and victory at all cost....

When exactly did these poor farmers have and then lose their glory?

Or is it Thaksins glory he wants to reclaim, for the farmers?

'If I am glorious I will make you glorious too!' What an ego run amok....

Leading from the Rear, "right behind them", not daring to lead from the front.

Oh poor people I've got your back, from Europe with all my family safe and sound,

and 'accounted for...'

But hey, you all go get victory no matter the cost to you: I'm behind you.

Blood lost; no problem, child abuse; no problem, stinking seating heat; no problem.

[animatic]

TAN Network: INN:

Jatuporn calls on Pheu Thai MP's to resign in order to pressure gov't to dissolve House;

will spill blood on Gov't House this evening

So lets see Jatuporn be the FIRST MP to resign... then he can be prosecuted!

So by reducing the oppositions numbers even further,

this some how puts on more pressure?

Can't see how.

What I CAN see it doing is removing the mandate for EVERY voter who voted for any of those resigning MPs.

But why quibble with such a brilliant thinkers bright idea!

[scotbeve]

According to what Giles Ji Ungpakorn wrote yesterday, "hundreds of thousands of Thai Redshirt pro-Democracy demonstrators took to the streets of Bangkok and other cities over the weekend."

Somebody should buy this guy a calculator.

On the People's Channel broadcast (TVU) this morning, a list was read out of how many vehicles from each province were headed to / in Bangkok and the amount of money donated in each province.

Old Man River (keep on rollin'.... Missi...... sorry, got carried away),

How many people do you think are participating in the protest in Bangkok? Give us a number...

[venturalaw]

Thai protesters give blood to pour on streets

Hosted by Back to Google NewsThai protesters give blood to pour on streets

By DENIS D. GRAY (AP) – 29 minutes ago

BANGKOK — Anti-government protesters started donating their own blood Tuesday as part of a plan to splatter the Thai government headquarters in a symbolic sacrifice to press their demands for new elections.

Hundreds of red-shirted demonstrators formed long lines to have their blood drawn by nurses, a day after their leaders vowed to collect 1 million cubic centimeters of blood — the equivalent of 1,000 standard soft drink bottles — to spill at Government House by Tuesday evening.

As many as 100,000 so-called Red Shirt protesters converged Sunday on the Thai capital to demand that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva agree to dissolve parliament by midday Monday. Abhisit refused and blanketed the capital in security, but said his government was open to listening to what else the protesters have to say.

Frustrated, the protest leaders announced the "blood sacrifice," a tactic slammed by the Red Cross as wasteful and unhygienic.

Weng Tojirakarn, a protest leader and doctor, said the plan would test Abhisit's conscience.

"This blood belongs to fighters for democracy. What is its color? Red!" an announcer shouted as Weng and other leaders were having their blood drawn on a stage near a white tent where lines of blood donors formed.

Several orange-robed Buddhist monks, who are forbidden by law from taking part in political activities, were among the first in line with one proudly showing off a syringe filled with his blood.

The Red Shirts include supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and other activists who oppose the 2006 military coup that ousted him for alleged corruption and abuse of power. They believe Abhisit came to power illegitimately with the connivance of the military and other parts of the traditional ruling class who were alarmed by Thaksin's popularity.

On Monday, thousands of protesters departed from their encampment in downtown Bangkok to besiege an army base on the edge of the capital where Abhisit has partly been based during the protests. He also is believed to have departed the base several times by helicopter.

The protesters beseeched soldiers from outside the gates of the 11th Infantry Regiment, but withdrew later without even seeing the prime minister. Soldiers played songs composed by the Thai king in a bid to keep things calm.

Abhisit told a nationwide television audience that his government's goal is not to "remain entrenched" but that it would not step down in response to the protesters.

"The government must listen to the demonstrators. Although the demand can't be met by noon, we are willing to hear what they say," he said.

Charnvit Kasetsiri, a distinguished Thai historian, said that the government has not come out ahead in the episode.

"The fact that the prime minister has to resort to staying at the military base and nobody is aware of his whereabouts now indicates that the situation isn't looking good," he said. "The Red Shirts' plan to pour blood is both symbolic and dynamic. They won't back down that easily."

Two soldiers were wounded Monday by four grenades that exploded inside the compound of the 1st Infantry Regiment, known as the King's Own Bodyguard, army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said. He did not blame Red Shirt demonstrators, who were not in the area, but said there has been intelligence that some elements had been planning such attacks.

After withdrawing from the 11th Infantry base, protest organizers announced they were asking each demonstrator to donate between two and 20 teaspoons — 10 to 100 cubic centimeters — of blood. Their initial goal would be to collect 1,000 liters (264 gallons), which would require donations from between 10,000 and 100,000 people — roughly the protest crowd's peak size.

More blood would be spilled at the headquarters of the ruling Democrat Party and the prime minister's house if the protest demands were not met.

Dr. Ubonwon Charoonruangrit, a senior official of the Thai Red Cross Society, worried about the risks of untrained people drawing blood, as well as the effects on people who have been out protesting in the heat with little sleep.

She added that 1 million cc of blood "can save many lives."

Some 100,000 Red Shirt protesters have been camped out along a boulevard in the old part of Bangkok, though their number had visibly fallen Monday. A force of more than 50,000 soldiers, police and other security personnel has been mobilized in the capital.

For a second straight day, Thaksin spoke to the demonstrators by video, urging them to continue their struggle in a nonviolent fashion. He has cited the struggle against what he calls Thailand's ruling elite, and called Monday for lawmakers, soldiers, policemen, judges and members of the bureaucracy to join the Red Shirt cause.

Thaksin is a billionaire businessman who fled Thailand in 2008 ahead of a conviction on a conflict of interest charge for which he was sentenced to two years in jail.

Thailand has been in constant political turmoil since early 2006, when anti-Thaksin demonstrations began. In 2008, when Thaksin's political allies came back to power for a year, his opponents occupied the prime minister's office compound for three months and seized Bangkok's two airports for a week.

Associated Press writers Thanyarat Doksone, Jocelyn Gecker and Kinan Suchaovanich and photographer David Longstreath contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Add News to your Google HomepagePhoto 1 of 11

An unidentified Thai Buddhist monk shows his blood after making a blood donation Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at an anti-government rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Protest leaders say they will collect "1 million cubic centimeters" of protestors' blood or about 264 gallons (1,000 liters), to spill at Government House in the Thai capital by Tuesday evening. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl..._4EXvwD9EFFLP00

[hammered]

According to what Giles Ji Ungpakorn wrote yesterday, "hundreds of thousands of Thai Redshirt pro-Democracy demonstrators took to the streets of Bangkok and other cities over the weekend."

Somebody should buy this guy a calculator.

On the People's Channel broadcast (TVU) this morning, a list was read out of how many vehicles from each province were headed to / in Bangkok and the amount of money donated in each province.

Old Man River (keep on rollin'.... Missi...... sorry, got carried away),

How many people do you think are participating in the protest in Bangkok? Give us a number...

Lowest offcial number is 46K Yesterday Weng claimed 3 million at the 11th Infantry. Most estimate around 100-120K at peak. Who knows BKK is a big place and some are probably shopping as well and some are sleeping and some are working.

I'd say 3 million was a tad over the top

[zirc]

Lowest offcial number is 46K Yesterday Weng claimed 3 million at the 11th Infantry. Most estimate around 100-120K at peak. Who knows BKK is a big place and some are probably shopping as well and some are sleeping and some are working.

I'd say 3 million was a tad over the top

It's 2,900,000 over the top. But then again, that comes from a supposed doctor who seemily doesn't think there's anything wrong with throwing hazardous blood about.

With many leaving, today's number will most likely not even reach yesterday's 100,000.

Edited March 16, 2010 by zirc

[hammered]

Abhisit has now said he will talk to the UDD about poltics if they want - Veera is a reasonable man - and is heading for the North of Thailand to inspect drought areas. Also said the pouring of blood was symbolic in that it wasnt blood spilled by the government. Going to the North is symbolic and offering to listen to the UDD is very good PR

Odd thing but just as at last Songkhran Abhisit seems very good in a crisis. It would be good if he were as effective at normal times, or maybe it is just crises keep the allies in line.

[scotbeve]

According to what Giles Ji Ungpakorn wrote yesterday, "hundreds of thousands of Thai Redshirt pro-Democracy demonstrators took to the streets of Bangkok and other cities over the weekend."

Somebody should buy this guy a calculator.

On the People's Channel broadcast (TVU) this morning, a list was read out of how many vehicles from each province were headed to / in Bangkok and the amount of money donated in each province.

Old Man River (keep on rollin'.... Missi...... sorry, got carried away),

How many people do you think are participating in the protest in Bangkok? Give us a number...

Lowest offcial number is 46K Yesterday Weng claimed 3 million at the 11th Infantry. Most estimate around 100-120K at peak. Who knows BKK is a big place and some are probably shopping as well and some are sleeping and some are working.

I'd say 3 million was a tad over the top

This I will agree with hammered - those are more sensible numbers tho' I would put it at 250,000 at the peak (prior to the Bangkok residents heading home for the evening on Sunday - work on Monday...) We could use some aerial pictures to get a better idea... Anybody seen any???

Edited March 16, 2010 by scotbeve

[zirc]

Does anyone have a link to any red leader actually using the term "million man march" prior to all their promises to get a million protestors? It seems to me that first they stated they would definitely get a million people ("More than one million red-shirts will certainly take part in a mass rally aimed at bringing down the government, United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)leader Jatuporn Promphan claimed on Tuesday". - Reported 9th Feb by the Bangkok Post, my emphasis on "certainly"), and then the snappy catch phrase was coined. As Jatuporn, Veera, Woravat Auapinyakul and others are all on record as promising at least a million participants, it does look as though UG's "a sucker is born every minute" quote is true of the red shirts, and I'd expand it to include any Thaksin supporter. What next, the twenty thousand monk promise actually meant twenty novices and a temple dog?

Closely followed by three million blood drawings proclamations.

Red Math

1,000,000 protestors + 20,000 monks + 3,000,000 blood donors = 0 credibility

and someone actually called it:

"clever slogan and marketing"

[siampolee]

This is the true face of Thaksins toadying acolytes version of DEMOMACRACY.

[Claims of the rally impact on economy restricted by UDD leader

BANGKOK (NNT) – The core leader of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) forbids vendors and the private sector to express their opinion against the rally.

At the stage at Phan Fa Bridge, Mr Veera Musikapong, the UDD’s core leader proclaimed the restriction among vendors and operators around the rally sites including the private sector, in voicing their opinions with the media about how the rally affected trading as well as the country’s economic system and investors’ confidence.

He said the demonstration was taken in accordance with the people's constitutional rights. ]

[anotherpeter]

TAN Network: INN:

Jatuporn calls on Pheu Thai MP's to resign in order to pressure gov't to dissolve House;

will spill blood on Gov't House this evening

So lets see Jatuporn be the FIRST MP to resign... then he can be prosecuted!

So by reducing the oppositions numbers even further,

this some how puts on more pressure?

Can't see how.

What I CAN see it doing is removing the mandate for EVERY voter who voted for any of those resigning MPs.

But why quibble with such a brilliant thinkers bright idea!

If they resign, then there will need to be by-elections, won't there?

Maybe they won't get back in.

[dobadoy]

Abhisit has now said he will talk to the UDD about poltics if they want - Veera is a reasonable man - and is heading for the North of Thailand to inspect drought areas. Also said the pouring of blood was symbolic in that it wasnt blood spilled by the government. Going to the North is symbolic and offering to listen to the UDD is very good PR

Odd thing but just as at last Songkhran Abhisit seems very good in a crisis. It would be good if he were as effective at normal times, or maybe it is just crises keep the allies in line.

I noticed this too. I wonder if its because in crises all the others are happy to hide and let him take the decisions (and the fall, if it shold come), but during the rest of the time he's "not allowed", and has to pussy-foot round so many vested interests. Shame they don't all just let the wonderkind get on with it and sort the country out, which I'm sure he has the intelligence and ability to do if weren' for all the spoilers trying to make sure they get their share of the spoils.

[LindsayBKK]

Red Shirts say they want

Truth = Ok They are getting paid 2000bht , why are they not protesting for free?

Democracy = Ok then Why did their leader change the rules to help himself?

Using Government funds to buy and sell land & not pay taxes.

Why was he going to call Suvarnabhumi Airport district Thaksin City?

Why does Thaksin want to be President of Thailand?

Why are they supporting somebody who is not in this country defending himself?

He is a criminal and first count was supposed to be 2 years jail. Then count 2,3,4,5 so on.

His wife sorry ex-wife is in Hong Kong & kids went to Switzerland.

Edited March 16, 2010 by LindsayBKK

[animatic]

TAN Network: INN:

Jatuporn calls on Pheu Thai MP's to resign in order to pressure gov't to dissolve House;

will spill blood on Gov't House this evening

So lets see Jatuporn be the FIRST MP to resign... then he can be prosecuted!

So by reducing the oppositions numbers even further,

this some how puts on more pressure?

Can't see how.

What I CAN see it doing is removing the mandate for EVERY voter who voted for any of those resigning MPs.

But why quibble with such a brilliant thinkers bright idea!

If they resign, then there will need to be by-elections, won't there?

Maybe they won't get back in.

And of course the whole country loses the EXPENSE of running those unnecessary by elections.

So many things to fix and pay for in a just recovering economic situation, and they want to throw

more money away in making their point.

[anotherpeter]

Lowest offcial number is 46K Yesterday Weng claimed 3 million at the 11th Infantry. Most estimate around 100-120K at peak. Who knows BKK is a big place and some are probably shopping as well and some are sleeping and some are working.

I'd say 3 million was a tad over the top

This I will agree with hammered - those are more sensible numbers tho' I would put it at 250,000 at the peak (prior to the Bangkok residents heading home for the evening on Sunday - work on Monday...) We could use some aerial pictures to get a better idea... Anybody seen any???

I think the red leaders were estimating 250-300,000 ... so I would put the peak at about half of that.

I don't think you will get many accurate numbers that enough people will believe.

[steveromagnino]

This I will agree with hammered - those are more sensible numbers tho' I would put it at 250,000 at the peak (prior to the Bangkok residents heading home for the evening on Sunday - work on Monday...) We could use some aerial pictures to get a better idea... Anybody seen any???

My own red shirt friends in relatively senior positions within TRT estimated that at its peak was Sunday morning, when it went over 100,000; but it was below 100,000 by the afternoon, and tailed off from there. So maybe peaking 120-140k maximum.

Watching the motorcade, I would have put that at something like 1/2 to 3/4 of that number at the absolute most, more likely around 50,000 who made the trip out; slightly less returning.

If you watched as i did for some of it; the number of people supporting on bridges etc was quite carefully orchestrated; a lead group of the motorcade went first, then took up all the spaces on available bridges around 30 min ahead of the motorcade, then moved in a series of rolling waves to maintain a lead group ahead of the motorcade, I presume for safety and protection because otherwise high ground is ideal for pelting down eggs, water, 'blood', faeces etc. They took that first.

Regarding Bangkokians; the number of registered Bangkokians going would have been extremely low; most attending are upcountry folk who work in Bangkok - taxis, tuk tuks, security etc. These are the bread and butter of a protest group because they should be able to attend everyday. Quite quickly however as the heat kicked in and the lack of facilities and planning emerged, the protesters from both upcountry and the city started to drift away; hence the need for the motorcade yesterday; they needed some way to move and mobilise and not lose hope.

Organising a protest is a task like any other with best practise well established in Thailand.

As my TRT friend said - Sua daeng su su....lae reu walah tong lurk

He gave up Sunday 1pm....and said it was over.

[siampolee]

steveromagnino.

Indeed a damm good posting clear concise and to the point, no rants just plain facts from someone in the know.

There is it seems sanity in the middle to higher echelons of the old T.R.T party

Edited March 16, 2010 by siampolee

[animatic]

Steve thanks for the report.

I'll highlight:

....If you watched as i did for some of it; the number of people supporting on bridges etc was quite carefully orchestrated; a lead group of the motorcade went first, then took up all the spaces on available bridges around 30 min ahead of the motorcade, then moved in a series of rolling waves to maintain a lead group ahead of the motorcade, I presume for safety and protection because otherwise high ground is ideal for pelting down eggs, water, 'blood', faeces etc....

Not only is it a high ground control issue for safety a proper military point of view,

but it is also one of perceptions for the press corp,any simple video or picture will

make it look like much greater support exists.

As we know appearances can often count for as much or even more than facts

when dealing with molding public perceptions of an event or a theme.

"Eminence Front; It's a put-on! " to quote social commentators; The Who.

[steveromagnino]

Steve thanks for the report.

I'll highlight:

"Eminence Front; It's a put-on! " to quote social commentators; The Who.

'we won't be fooled again' aye.

Well pinball wizard, I would say that good PR management is the purpose of this campaign, and they are perhaps doing quite ok with the foreign media, or were until the blood fiasco.

The photo ops are good. Nice staged pieces of talking to crowds. Happy faces, kids, emphasis on women is always good to address the past history of violence. And signs in english and Thai always work better with foreign media - lots of english signs around.

As I said in the other thread, they show bursts of good PR management, coupled with idiocy.

Certainly, their key talking points and their demands leading to Thaksin's pardon is quite clever, in linking some rather unlinkable ideas and some rather curious contradictions, into a cohesive argument that both media and red shirters are able to swallow - note that politics is often like this as selling ideas like stimulus packages and FTAs to people who don't understand economics isn't easy.

TRT remember, were the first party to have a true 3 point manifesto.

So they know, when they put their arrogance aside, how to do PR.

They just seem to also have a foot in the mouth and a 3 steps back 3 steps forward to doing almost anything.

Not sure why.

Bad chain of command, arrogance and some lousy advisors, would probably be the main reason.

Desparation is the symptom rather than the cause of the problem resulting in the blood fiasco though.

Edited March 16, 2010 by steveromagnino

[Ulysses G.]

"clever slogan and marketing."

Not one major newspaper that I have seen mentioned anything negative about the number of protesters or anything at all about a million men showing up, or not. Only a few obsessed nut cases on Thai Visa with nothing else to whine about are worried about it.

Edited March 16, 2010 by Ulysses G.

[nakachalet]

"clever slogan and marketing."

Not one major newspaper that I have seen mentioned anything negative about the number of protesters or anything at all about a million men. Only a few obsessed nut cases on Thai Visa with nothing else to whine about are talking about it.

ulyssess g.,

i just hate it.... having to disagree with you on the number--1 mil

on last thursday evening, i was glued to the p-chanel listening in on the j-leader

he repeated the damning.... which also his self-hanging number, the 1mil, repeatedly....

he shouted into the mike.... there would be more than 1 mil of redshirts pouring in to join us here in bkk, from all over thailand....

his two sidekicks, 2 ladies, were supporting him trying to figure out how many vehicles it would take to accommodate the 1mil upcoming marchers....

three of them agreed on stage that.... it would take around 100,000 pickups....

so j-leader went on to announce on air that.... there will be over 100,000 pickups coming to join us....

brothers and sisters.... we will be victorious.... victorious at last.... and we will bring closure on pm apisit by noon tomorrow....

by then i was threatened by my own family members.... to cease and desist.... or else....

there were other 16 family members who were waiting in turn to watch their regular soap opera.... and there was only one 12 inch tv in my thatched hut.... furthermore, there were four other neighboring households who were waiting to watch the program also, through the 4 windows of my hut....

[animatic]

Not a worry about short numbers, more a sign of relief.

The Red ReBranding™ has been somewhat effective for outside consumption,

but like Steve said, until the blood thing. May work somewhat north of Kohn Kaen,

but for the world press it's just blindingly stupid.

Ad hominum attacks abound, but don't sink good arguments UG.

Sorry your dog don't hunt.