Yingluck's Big Week

[webfact]

Yingluck's big week

By The Nation

Pheu Thai set to confirm her as its PM candidate today; to appear in public on Wed

Elusive Yingluck Shinawatra faces a week in the public spotlight. She is scheduled to introduce herself to Pheu Thai members as their prime ministerial hope today and then meet a greater audience yet on Wednesday to speak about her political plans and visions.

The first public appearances by Thaksin Shinawatra's youngest sister will come against the backdrop of an almost contemptuous challenge by the Democrat Party. Abhisit Vejjajiva's party has dared Yingluck to a public debate with him so voters can see who is more qualified to lead Thailand out of its severe political trouble.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutarak, said yesterday the Democrats welcomed Pheu Thai's move to unveil Yingluck as the No 1 on its party candidate list, a position that makes her Abhisit's rival for top office.

"It's good for people to see choices available to them," he said. Buranat said Abhisit was ready to face Yingluck on any debating stages because both are candidates to be prime minister and their policies will shape the country's future.

Prompong Nopparit, Pheu Thai Party spokesman, said both parties had best focus on policies rather than debate. Debating would not serve the public, but policies would, he claimed.

He said Pheu Thai Party members would endorse their candidate for the No 1 slot on the party-list and the party's candidate for prime minister today by a party vote.

Pheu Thai MP Surapong Tovichakchaikul also said there was no need to rush into a public debate with Abhisit. However, Surapong insisted that Yingluck was a successful businesswoman and she would definitely go to join a debate when she was ready.

Surapong admitted that Yingluck was not an experienced debater. If Abhisit wanted a debate, they could send Natthawut to the stage. "We know Abhisit is very eloquent but his performance is poor. His talking impresses, but his working does not."

A source said Yingluck would attend a general meeting today of the party executive board, which will recommend only one name - her's - for the No 1 slot on the party-list.

After, Yingluck will speak about her political vision, and on Wednesday she will make a public appearance when she reveals her political vision at the Sheraton Grand on Sukhumvit.

If the election ballot was to take place today, the Democrats would defeat Pheu Thai in proportionate votes due to the strength of its campaign policies and the party-list of candidates, Abac Poll said after releasing a nationwide survey yesterday.

In polling of 2,447 respondents in 17 selected provinces representing a nationwide sample, Abac found the Democrats had a clear lead despite a margin of error of about 7 per cent.

The approval rating for the Democrats' record for promoting the merit system soared to 57 per cent, while Pheu Thai scored 35.7 per cent.

The poll found almost 60 per cent were in favour of the Democrat's road map for reconciliation, while 36 per cent opted for that of Pheu Thai.

In regard to policies to quell violence in the South, almost 56 per cent voiced confidence in the Democrats compared to about 37 per cent for Pheu Thai.

About 56 per cent also said the Democrats had better policies on children and youth. Some 38 per cent said they would prefer Pheu Thai's platforms.

The Abac poll gave the Democrats a huge lead on economic policies based on the theory of a sufficiency economy by mustering the support of 58 per cent.

Pheu Thai received a mere 5.9 per cent of the respondents' vote on this.

Some 54 per cent approved Democrat policies related to the armed forces.

Close to 39 per cent were in favour of Pheu Thai military policies.

Almost 53 per cent were in favour of the Democrat's anti-graft policies, followed by about 40 per cent for Pheu Thai's.

On the universal health care scheme, the poll found the Democrats led Pheu Thai by 10 per cent. And they were ahead by more than 10 per cent in regard to policies on energy and farming.

The Abac poll said the Democrats received 45.5 per cent support for its party-list candidates, compared to Pheu Thai's 36.4 per cent.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said yesterday he was confident the Democrats would secure a victory at the ballot under the leadership of Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Prime Minister Abhisit had far more experience than his Pheu Thai rival Yingluck Shinawatra, Suthep said.

"For the past two years, Abhisit has proved capable of steering the country to overcome economic and political crisis while Yingluck has not done anything except appear on the red-shirt rally stage," he said.

Rebutting Suthep's remarks, barred party executive Sudarat Keyuraphan said she believed a female prime minister would have an innate ability to foster compromise and reconciliation.

Sudarat also dismissed speculation that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would evade a jail term if Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory, saying everyone was equal under the law.

-- The Nation 2011-05-16

[Buchholz]

I see the contemptible former Bird Flu Minister Sudarat makes two points that are both staggeringly absurd.

One is a reverse sexist comment about women and the other being Thaksin would still go to prison if PTP wins.

[whybother]

A source said Yingluck would attend a general meeting today of the party executive board, which will recommend only one name - her's - for the No 1 slot on the party-list.

She will be democratically elected afterall.

The PTP members can vote for Yingluck or ... not vote for Yingluck.

[sirchai]

A source said Yingluck would attend a general meeting today of the party executive board, which will recommend only one name - her's - for the No 1 slot on the party-list.

She will be democratically elected afterall.

The PTP members can vote for Yingluck or ... not vote for Yingluck.

She is scheduled to introduce herself to Pheu Thai members as their prime ministerial hope today and then meet a greater audience yet on Wednesday to speak about her political plans and visions.

Of course not what her father had planned.................:jap:

[ToffeEFCpower]

Has this future prime minister woman actually ever spoke to anyone? Like her constituents

[featography]

A source said Yingluck would attend a general meeting today of the party executive board, which will recommend only one name - her's - for the No 1 slot on the party-list.

She will be democratically elected afterall.

The PTP members can vote for Yingluck or ... not vote for Yingluck.

I find it most curious that the polls too often include less than 3000 people in 17 provinces. What are the 17 provinces? There may be a clue there demographically showing selective attitude and mindset.

[krishnak]

yesterday i was listening to the radio and one professor of political sciens in Chulalonkon university said that we should not pay attention to these polls cuz they don't reflect the reallity, he also said that almost all the people know for who they are going to vote in the ellections, so no need of getting stressed about the topic

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I see the contemptible former Bird Flu Minister Sudarat makes two points that are both staggeringly absurd.

One is a reverse sexist comment about women and the other being Thaksin would still go to prison if PTP wins.

Huh.. Did you read them? Both points make excellent sense. First one was to state that Yingluck may actually have a shot at narrowing the political divide. This is not a strange thing to say, keep in mind that everyone could be looking at some of the old dinosaurs. So is it 'absurd' to say that sitting across from Yingluck may be more productive than, say Chalerm or his ilk? You don't have to like or agree with Yingluck, or Sudarat for that matter, I'm pointing out that the statement is objectively not, in your words, 'absurd'. It's a reasonable statement.

And so is the other one. Tell me you would prefer differently from what Yingluck said? Go on.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

yesterday i was listening to the radio and one professor of political sciens in Chulalonkon university said that we should not pay attention to these polls cuz they don't reflect the reallity, he also said that almost all the people know for who they are going to vote in the ellections, so no need of getting stressed about the topic

Of course. And not just polls either, it's any kind of statistic ever done on anything in this country.

[Buchholz]

I see the contemptible former Bird Flu Minister Sudarat makes two points that are both staggeringly absurd.

One is a reverse sexist comment about women and the other being Thaksin would still go to prison if PTP wins.

Huh.. Did you read them? Both points make excellent sense. First one was to state that Yingluck may actually have a shot at narrowing the political divide. This is not a strange thing to say, keep in mind that everyone could be looking at some of the old dinosaurs. So is it 'absurd' to say that sitting across from Yingluck may be more productive than, say Chalerm or his ilk? You don't have to like or agree with Yingluck, or Sudarat for that matter, I'm pointing out that the statement is objectively not, in your words, 'absurd'. It's a reasonable statement.

And so is the other one. Tell me you would prefer differently from what Yingluck said? Go on.

The first absurd statement from the Bird Flu Cover-up Minister:

barred party executive Sudarat Keyuraphan said she believed a female prime minister would have an innate ability to foster compromise and reconciliation.

What is the genetic chromosome that determines "compromise and reconciliation"? To say that females are innately better at it than males is absurd and sexist.

The second absurd statement from her:

Sudarat also dismissed speculation that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would evade a jail term if Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory, saying everyone was equal under the law.

Does anyone really belief that is the case? That if PTP wins, Thaksin will still go to prison when he returns. Go ahead, pull the other leg.

[animatic]

Of course they can raise their hand for her or not. But those who don't will no doubt be on video and photo not voting for her and will feel big bros rath in someway shortly there after.

Democracy at it's finest.

Prompong Nopparit, Pheu Thai Party spokesman, said both parties had best focus on policies rather than debate. Debating would not serve the public, but policies would, he claimed.

Oh yes this guy is definitely leadership oriented.

Forget discussing the points of policy Thaksin has told us what they are.

Debating the points of policy would even more greatly serve the public interest. Allowing discussion by the public and pundits of the important issues affecting their lives for the next 4-10 years or multiple generations. Noting that decisions made now can have long term affects

Others have admitted she is not going to do well in a debate vs Abhisit, she will do so when she is ready to, they say... like well after she has been in office awhile and Thaksin is back.

The poll results above even allowing a 7% error do not bode well for PTP's policies in the publics eyes, so maybe they better focus on thinking about them instead of focusing on trashing Suthep every 4th sentence..

Edited May 16, 2011 by animatic

[animatic]

I see the contemptible former Bird Flu Minister Sudarat makes two points that are both staggeringly absurd.

One is a reverse sexist comment about women and the other being Thaksin would still go to prison if PTP wins.

Huh.. Did you read them? Both points make excellent sense. First one was to state that Yingluck may actually have a shot at narrowing the political divide. This is not a strange thing to say, keep in mind that everyone could be looking at some of the old dinosaurs. So is it 'absurd' to say that sitting across from Yingluck may be more productive than, say Chalerm or his ilk? You don't have to like or agree with Yingluck, or Sudarat for that matter, I'm pointing out that the statement is objectively not, in your words, 'absurd'. It's a reasonable statement.

And so is the other one. Tell me you would prefer differently from what Yingluck said? Go on.

The first absurd statement from the Bird Flu Cover-up Minister:

barred party executive Sudarat Keyuraphan said she believed a female prime minister would have an innate ability to foster compromise and reconciliation.

What is the genetic chromosome that determines "compromise and reconciliation"? To say that females are innately better at it than males is absurd and sexist.

The second absurd statement from her:

Sudarat also dismissed speculation that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would evade a jail term if Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory, saying everyone was equal under the law.

Does anyone really belief that is the case? That if PTP wins, Thaksin will still go to prison when he returns. Go ahead, pull the other leg.

It's yanking the middle one... methinks.

[sausageandmash]

Taksin's her brother, not her father.

A source said Yingluck would attend a general meeting today of the party executive board, which will recommend only one name - her's - for the No 1 slot on the party-list.

She will be democratically elected afterall.

The PTP members can vote for Yingluck or ... not vote for Yingluck.

She is scheduled to introduce herself to Pheu Thai members as their prime ministerial hope today and then meet a greater audience yet on Wednesday to speak about her political plans and visions.

Of course not what her father had planned.................:jap:

[rubl]

Interesting ABAC poll, this time the Dem's will clearly win. Between now and the elections we'll probably see polls with results swinging back and forth wildly. Most likely in the spirit of reconciliation giving all parties equal chances of winning (in a poll) :-)

[sausageandmash]

No, it's not a reverse sexist comment about women. Sorry to burst the PC bubble, but there are some things that women are better at than men. The idea behind PC is that everyone is the same, which of course, is not true.

I see the contemptible former Bird Flu Minister Sudarat makes two points that are both staggeringly absurd.

One is a reverse sexist comment about women and the other being Thaksin would still go to prison if PTP wins.

[hyperdimension]

Taksin's her brother, not her father.

During her testimony in the assets seizure case, she stated with teary eyes that Thaksin was like a father to her (i.e. like a sugar daddy).

[Buchholz]

I see the contemptible former Bird Flu Minister Sudarat makes two points that are both staggeringly absurd.

One is a reverse sexist comment about women and the other being Thaksin would still go to prison if PTP wins.

No, it's not a reverse sexist comment about women. Sorry to burst the PC bubble, but there are some things that women are better at than men. The idea behind PC is that everyone is the same, which of course, is not true.

It has absolutely nothing to do with PC. It has all to do with biology.

To say one sex is better than the other at a human characteristic of development such as "compromise" is patently absurd (and, indeed, sexist).

in·nate

   [ih-neyt, in-eyt]

–adjective

1.existing in one from birth

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/innate

[WinnieTheKhwai]

The first absurd statement from the Bird Flu Cover-up Minister:

barred party executive Sudarat Keyuraphan said she believed a female prime minister would have an innate ability to foster compromise and reconciliation.

What is the genetic chromosome that determines "compromise and reconciliation"? To say that females are innately better at it than males is absurd and sexist.

Not sure if you got the memo, but in this country it's still not against the law to admit that men and women bring unique qualities that are both valuable, yet different. But yes, if this was Manhattan then a statement like the above people would tend to avoid to make in public.

Out of curiosity, this is the second time you've given her the title 'Bird Flu Cover-up Minister'. Were you around during the bird flu hype? You do realize that it all amounted to nothing, with fewer people dying than from any seasonal flu in any given year? Not that I want to debate this here, but 'cover up'.. you mean there are a million bird flu victims buried somewhere? In that case do tell. If not, then let's drop this angle.

The second absurd statement from her:

Sudarat also dismissed speculation that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would evade a jail term if Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory, saying everyone was equal under the law.

Does anyone really belief that is the case? That if PTP wins, Thaksin will still go to prison when he returns. Go ahead, pull the other leg.

That you don't believe it does not make it an absurd statement. What she said was that the rule of law will still run it's course, when asked if her brother would earn himself a get-out-of-jail free pass. Feel free to speculate on the future, but as a statement it's not absurd. (You could make a more valid point that it WOULD be absured if she was advocating a pardon for Thaksin. Then you may have a case.)

So instead of calling her statements absurd, perhaps it's just that you don't like her party, and have a different view of the future if she does become the first female Thai PM? If that's the case then just say so.

[animatic]

Taksin's her brother, not her father.

A source said Yingluck would attend a general meeting today of the party executive board, which will recommend only one name - her's - for the No 1 slot on the party-list.

She will be democratically elected afterall.

The PTP members can vote for Yingluck or ... not vote for Yingluck.

She is scheduled to introduce herself to Pheu Thai members as their prime ministerial hope today and then meet a greater audience yet on Wednesday to speak about her political plans and visions.

Of course not what her father had planned.................:jap:

I believe he meant that 'her father' ( also Thaksins father), never intended for her to be a politician, but a wife and/or maybe a business owner.

But now her brother (who's like a father to her) has twisted her destiny to fit his desires, over her personal best interests.

Edited May 16, 2011 by animatic

[WinnieTheKhwai]

It has absolutely nothing to do with PC. It has all to do with biology.

To say one sex is better than the other at a human characteristic of development such as "compromise" is patently absurd (and, indeed, sexist).

DIFFERENT, not 'better'. Jesus man, wouldn't you have a slightly different attitude sitting across from Yingluck compared to Chalerm, Samak (RIP), Snoh or Chavalit?

I think I would welcome a female PM. Breath of fresh air to Thailand. Doesn't have to be Yingluck of course. But I do hope she does some kind of televised debate of some sort, even though I don't think of it as an absolute requirement to democracy.

Edited May 16, 2011 by WinnieTheKhwai

[animatic]

Bird flue cover up was that

they pretended that it wasn't in Thailand, which put many people at risk. They knew, but instead of standard counter-epidemic practice of culling and stopping the spread in it's tracks they tried for a time to 'not panic the farmers and investors' . This in turen created a much greater spread of the disease and caused much greater financial loses as well as lose of face for the agricultural ministries as being there to protect farmers and citizens.

[kathukid]

What a wonderful event. Just think how she'll mesmoreize world leader with her looks.. They'll be look at her legs......

[kathukid]

Taksin's her brother, not her father.

During her testimony in the assets seizure case, she stated with teary eyes that Thaksin was like a father to her (i.e. like a sugar daddy).

She looks young enough to be his daughter.. I lub her! My Darling...

[hyperdimension]

Of course not what her father had planned.................:jap:

Taksin's her brother, not her father.

I believe he meant that 'her father' ( also Thaksins father), never intended for her to be a politician, but a wife and/or maybe a business owner.

Yes I think you may be right, Asian parents traditionally wish their daughters to marry well and have children, not try to lead a country.

But now her brother (who's like a father to her) has twisted her destiny to fit his desires, over her personal best interests.

To Thaksin, politics is family business, so Yingluck is expected to help out.

[JurgenG]

I really don't understand what this is about.

Thaksin is going to win.

"They" going to challenge the results.

The democrat wins, Korn is PM

Why wasting so much time and so much money ?

Korn is PM that's it.

Do Thai people really care so much about democracy ?

[webfact]

Thaksin's sister Yingluck has been voted unanimously by Pheu Thai as No 1 party-list MP candidate. /via@ThaiElection11

[webfact]

Pheu Thai to Field Thaksin's Sister as Number 1 Party List Candidate

The Pheu Thai Party has resolved to field former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's sister Yingluk Shinawatra as their number one party list candidate. This decision puts Yingluk in the race for prime minister. If Pheu Thai is able to win the election, Yingluk will become Thailand's first female prime minister.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-16

[MaiChai]

Funny that. Thailand: the land where no one can keep a secret.

[MrChangers]

TV debates only show who is the best salesman, estate agent, silvery tounged, teller of whoppers etc.

[webfact]

Ex-PM Thaksin's sister is Thai opposition's PM candidate

BANGKOK, May 16, 2011 (AFP) - Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of fugitive Thai ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on Monday said she would run as the main opposition party's candidate for premier in July's election.

Her nomination by the Puea Thai party makes her the first woman to run for Thailand's top political job.

"I am ready to fight according to the rules and I ask for the opportunity to prove myself. I ask for your trust as you used to trust my brother," she told a party meeting in Bangkok, attended by reporters.

Although he lives abroad to escape a jail term for graft, Thaksin -- who was ousted in a 2006 coup -- is widely considered to be the de facto leader of the Puea Thai party.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-05-16

New topic

Ex-PM Thaksin's Sister Yingluck Is Thai Opposition's PM Candidate