Democrats Push For Abhisit As Leader Again

[webfact]

Democrats push for Abhisit as leader again

By The Nation

The Democrat Party's acting executive board has come out in support of Abhisit Vejjajiva being party leader again, party spokesman Buranaj Samutarak said yesterday.

"We agreed that Abhisit is still performing well as party leader and national leader. He also played an important role in helping our party win 11 million votes (in the party-list system)," Buranaj said after the board meeting.

Abhisit resigned as party leader after losing the election to Pheu Thai. The Democrat Party then had to select a new executive board. It will meet on August 6 at the Miracle Grand Hotel to formally pick its "new" leader and board.

A high-ranking Democrat, who asked not to be named, said the party agreed Abhisit should return as leader, but the decision rested with him.

"What is his ultimate goal [for returning]? Eyeing [the] prime minister [position] again? I don't think he will return," he said.

The source also said that Chuan Leekpai might be the best choice to replace Abhisit for a period of time, at least until the next election.

Banyat Bantadtan, party adviser, voiced support for Abhisit's selection as party leader, saying the outgoing PM was an appropriate choice for opposition party leader.

"It's about continuity. As a prime minister who became an opposition leader, Abhisit could tell what the new government should do or shouldn't do," Banyat said.

Acting party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who has also resigned, said he would join the new board.

-- The Nation 2011-07-20

[hammered]

The PTP will love it if he does return.

The democrats need to look at themselves: their failures, their mistakes in not even mildly opposing a coup, mistakes in linking too closely to extra-parliamentary shadowy power players, allowing long term faction based in two regions to dominate party structure, and generally why they are unelectable. Just blaming everyhting on bad luck, bad economy or Thaksin is going nowhere. This is probably a difficult thing for them to do but if they genuinely value democracy and the country it is needed as every country needs a viable alternative to the ruling party. Right now that TRT/PPP/PTP continually win elections, even after or maybe because powerful elites try to stack everything against them, and look to be getting stronger and stronger and while at the moment that obviously reflects a strong will of the people, in the longer term it isnt healthy if people feel there is no option to turn to. That is where we are right now with the democrats. They need to face up to this, and need to face up to becoming a more modern conservative party that clearly stands on its own away from establishment forces outside parliament and a party that will stand for democracy too even if within a conservative agenda.

[newtronbom]

I truly believe that Abhisit is a good man, an honest man, who really tried to govern for the betterment of this country. He was very unlucky though, that he was surrounded by corruption , greed and the power plays by many of his associates(and the powerful people behind those associates). The "Rich Elite" will always play a big part in this government, as it does in most countries. Take America and "the Kennedy family" as a typical example. The "greed for power" by some of the super rich here though, makes the Kennedy family look insignificant by comparison. Given time, I believe Abhisit could have sorted this out quite a bit, but time was one of the big things he didn't have. I hope he continues his fight as an opposition leader, meanwhile working at getting the "right people" together to have around him when it's time for the next elections. He needs to have a lot of "strong clean support" round him next time too. There is still the possibility of course, that he will be needed before then too, as the present party has many big hurdles to overcome as well.

[patjem]

The PTP will love it if he does return.

The democrats need to look at themselves: their failures, their mistakes in not even mildly opposing a coup, mistakes in linking too closely to extra-parliamentary shadowy power players, allowing long term faction based in two regions to dominate party structure, and generally why they are unelectable. Just blaming everyhting on bad luck, bad economy or Thaksin is going nowhere. This is probably a difficult thing for them to do but if they genuinely value democracy and the country it is needed as every country needs a viable alternative to the ruling party. Right now that TRT/PPP/PTP continually win elections, even after or maybe because powerful elites try to stack everything against them, and look to be getting stronger and stronger and while at the moment that obviously reflects a strong will of the people, in the longer term it isnt healthy if people feel there is no option to turn to. That is where we are right now with the democrats. They need to face up to this, and need to face up to becoming a more modern conservative party that clearly stands on its own away from establishment forces outside parliament and a party that will stand for democracy too even if within a conservative agenda.

That may be the case with the Thai perception. Truth is, change that succeeds often needs a softly-softly step-by step approach. The Chinese seem to recognize this. Rome wasn't built in a day, though many here seem to be suckered in by get rich quick promises that WILL fail.

Pity really, right man, wrong time for where social development & understanding is for Thailand.

[Crushdepth]

The PTP will love it if he does return.

The democrats need to look at themselves: their failures, their mistakes in not even mildly opposing a coup, mistakes in linking too closely to extra-parliamentary shadowy power players, allowing long term faction based in two regions to dominate party structure, and generally why they are unelectable. Just blaming everyhting on bad luck, bad economy or Thaksin is going nowhere. This is probably a difficult thing for them to do but if they genuinely value democracy and the country it is needed as every country needs a viable alternative to the ruling party. Right now that TRT/PPP/PTP continually win elections, even after or maybe because powerful elites try to stack everything against them, and look to be getting stronger and stronger and while at the moment that obviously reflects a strong will of the people, in the longer term it isnt healthy if people feel there is no option to turn to. That is where we are right now with the democrats. They need to face up to this, and need to face up to becoming a more modern conservative party that clearly stands on its own away from establishment forces outside parliament and a party that will stand for democracy too even if within a conservative agenda.

When are you going to acknowledge that TRT/PPP/PTP and the billionaire Thaksin ARE the elites? Just a different faction is all. Let's not pretend they sell fruit on the weekend and hang out at the local noodle shop.

[nurofiend]

The PTP will love it if he does return.

The democrats need to look at themselves: their failures, their mistakes in not even mildly opposing a coup, mistakes in linking too closely to extra-parliamentary shadowy power players, allowing long term faction based in two regions to dominate party structure, and generally why they are unelectable. Just blaming everyhting on bad luck, bad economy or Thaksin is going nowhere. This is probably a difficult thing for them to do but if they genuinely value democracy and the country it is needed as every country needs a viable alternative to the ruling party. Right now that TRT/PPP/PTP continually win elections, even after or maybe because powerful elites try to stack everything against them, and look to be getting stronger and stronger and while at the moment that obviously reflects a strong will of the people, in the longer term it isnt healthy if people feel there is no option to turn to. That is where we are right now with the democrats. They need to face up to this, and need to face up to becoming a more modern conservative party that clearly stands on its own away from establishment forces outside parliament and a party that will stand for democracy too even if within a conservative agenda.

well Abhisit did oppose the coup against thaksin didn't he?

[rubl]

well Abhisit did oppose the coup against thaksin didn't he?

Not sure why I bother, but just stumbled over this BBC article from the 3rd of July 2011 regarding "Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva":

"Later that year, he opposed the military when it overthrew Mr Thaksin in a coup.

"We cannot and do not support any kind of extra-constitutional change, but it is done. The country has to move forward and the best way forward is for the coup leaders to quickly return power to the people and carry out the reforms they promised," he said at the time."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13298394

[nurofiend]

well Abhisit did oppose the coup against thaksin didn't he?

Not sure why I bother, but just stumbled over this BBC article from the 3rd of July 2011 regarding "Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva":

"Later that year, he opposed the military when it overthrew Mr Thaksin in a coup.

"We cannot and do not support any kind of extra-constitutional change, but it is done. The country has to move forward and the best way forward is for the coup leaders to quickly return power to the people and carry out the reforms they promised," he said at the time."

http://www.bbc.co.uk...acific-13298394

hey Rubl, maybe try re-reading my post with your eyes open this time

[rubl]

well Abhisit did oppose the coup against thaksin didn't he?

Not sure why I bother, but just stumbled over this BBC article from the 3rd of July 2011 regarding "Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva":

"Later that year, he opposed the military when it overthrew Mr Thaksin in a coup.

"We cannot and do not support any kind of extra-constitutional change, but it is done. The country has to move forward and the best way forward is for the coup leaders to quickly return power to the people and carry out the reforms they promised," he said at the time."

http://www.bbc.co.uk...acific-13298394

hey Rubl, maybe try re-reading my post with your eyes open this time

It may surprise you, my dear Nura fiend, but I'm just confirming your question

[Insight]

Wonder if anybody else is prepared to be attacked by hoards of "red shirts" while trying to escape violent demonstrations, have doctored audio recordings made from their speeches, suffer death threats made on "community" radio stations, be the subject of downright bizarre rituals such as having blood smeared all over their house and roof, undergo constant protection from the very real threat of assassination, have their manipulated images of themselves distributed with demon-like attributes, and so-on and so-forth..? While all this time deal with the constant in-fighting within the Democrats originating from the usual dinosaurs, and possibly face complaints from another side of being too gentlemanly and soft.

You could argue it goes with the territory. I'm keen to see parallels, if so.

[nurofiend]

well Abhisit did oppose the coup against thaksin didn't he?

Not sure why I bother, but just stumbled over this BBC article from the 3rd of July 2011 regarding "Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva":

"Later that year, he opposed the military when it overthrew Mr Thaksin in a coup.

"We cannot and do not support any kind of extra-constitutional change, but it is done. The country has to move forward and the best way forward is for the coup leaders to quickly return power to the people and carry out the reforms they promised," he said at the time."

http://www.bbc.co.uk...acific-13298394

hey Rubl, maybe try re-reading my post with your eyes open this time

It may surprise you, my dear Nura fiend, but I'm just confirming your question

well the fact you you opened with "not sure why i bother" seemed to indicate to me that you were saying this as in "not sure why i bother" in trying to prove a point to me, being the troll that you think i am

but fair enough