PM Yingluck Will Brief The Press Twice A Week

[tlansford]

She insisted it was not a mistake to choose Surapong Towichukchaikul as Foreign Minister. She thought it was fine that Surapong used an interpreter when giving interviews to foreign media. He would want to make his message clear.

Seems a pity that the foreign minister couldn't have been one with the ability to speak English. If the government was a private company, fluency in languages, most especially English, would surely be top of the requirement list for the post.

She is absolutely correct in the statement regarding interpreter usage.

Ministers of European countries regularly use interpreters with foreign media, even when they are fluent in English or the language of the interviewer.

[rubl]

Instead of bitching and moaning (which I normally leave to my wife btw), let's just have another joke. American, sorry, but with Ms. Yingluck's government and the other Pheu Thai MP's who like to talk, we will soon be able to make similar jokes. That's assuming the government gets round to doing something that is, about now rather than "we'll clarify later"

"Great day today! Obama didn't speak. Congress didn't act. Experts on vacation. And the Dow soared 400 points. There's a lesson in there." —Jay Leno

[rubl]

She insisted it was not a mistake to choose Surapong Towichukchaikul as Foreign Minister. She thought it was fine that Surapong used an interpreter when giving interviews to foreign media. He would want to make his message clear.

Seems a pity that the foreign minister couldn't have been one with the ability to speak English. If the government was a private company, fluency in languages, most especially English, would surely be top of the requirement list for the post.

She is absolutely correct in the statement regarding interpreter usage.

Ministers of European countries regularly use interpreters with foreign media, even when they are fluent in English or the language of the interviewer.

Since PM Yingluck selected her cabinet from capable people, either speaking English was not on the checklist for the FM, or the requirement was 'speak two languages' and k. Surapong speaks the Isaan language as well as Thai

[rixalex]

She insisted it was not a mistake to choose Surapong Towichukchaikul as Foreign Minister. She thought it was fine that Surapong used an interpreter when giving interviews to foreign media. He would want to make his message clear.

Seems a pity that the foreign minister couldn't have been one with the ability to speak English. If the government was a private company, fluency in languages, most especially English, would surely be top of the requirement list for the post.

She is absolutely correct in the statement regarding interpreter usage.

Ministers of European countries regularly use interpreters with foreign media, even when they are fluent in English or the language of the interviewer.

All I am saying is that it's a shame that from 60 odd million people, there's not one qualified and with English fluency, to do the job of foreign minister for the country. Obviously you don't think it is, for the reason that other countries also have foreign ministers incapable of communicating well in English. OK. Good reasoning.

[HeavyDrinker]

She is absolutely correct in the statement regarding interpreter usage.

Ministers of European countries regularly use interpreters with foreign media, even when they are fluent in English or the language of the interviewer.

I've read some dribble on here in the past but that is close to the best of it.

Don't you find it odd though that even in many menial jobs in Thailand, a degree of English language ability is required...but apparently not in a post in the Cabinet dealing with foreign affairs?

[whybother]

Hey, guys, don't you have better things to do than sit at your keyboards bitching and moaning?

And here you are ...

And I support GKs comment earlier as well - at least one sane person comments here regularly...

... but it's not GK.

[Kananga]

Grow up. It's 2011 and outside of the beer bars, women are not chattel nor domestic servants anymore.

You obviously don't live here or if you do then you live with your head in a bucket.

a chicken bucket at that.

[lazygourmet]

PM Yingluck twice a week press briefing:

[MAJIC]

Hey, guys, don't you have better things to do than sit at your keyboards bitching and moaning?

This is nothing more than another Nation opinion / propaganda piece dressed up as a "real news article".

And I support GKs comment earlier as well - at least one sane person comments here regularly...

Really!

[dominique355]

Reading some of the comments, I am struck by the common characteristic of resentment and bitterness. The article is about the PM stating that she plans to meet with the news media 2X a week. The PM has been accused of not being accessible by the same people now ridiculing her for being accessible.

If one finds the sexist and ignorant remarks about "flouncing" and "lipstick" acceptable it explains why some people have failed marriages, have failed in the workplace and failed at managing or leading.

Grow up. It's 2011 and outside of the beer bars, women are not chattel nor domestic servants anymore.

Right, and the cost of a daily phone call to Dubai is getting too high.

Failed marriages seem to be Geriatrickid's favorite subject when criticizing posts unfavorable to the Thaksin clan.

[OzMick]

Reading some of the comments, I am struck by the common characteristic of resentment and bitterness. The article is about the PM stating that she plans to meet with the news media 2X a week. The PM has been accused of not being accessible by the same people now ridiculing her for being accessible.

If one finds the sexist and ignorant remarks about "flouncing" and "lipstick" acceptable it explains why some people have failed marriages, have failed in the workplace and failed at managing or leading.

Grow up. It's 2011 and outside of the beer bars, women are not chattel nor domestic servants anymore.

Please tell me that your avatar is not "young Mr. Grace" and his accompanying bimbos. 1970's sexism at it's best........................not too different to Thailand today.

[OzMick]

Reading some of the comments, I am struck by the common characteristic of resentment and bitterness. The article is about the PM stating that she plans to meet with the news media 2X a week. The PM has been accused of not being accessible by the same people now ridiculing her for being accessible.

If one finds the sexist and ignorant remarks about "flouncing" and "lipstick" acceptable it explains why some people have failed marriages, have failed in the workplace and failed at managing or leading.

Grow up. It's 2011 and outside of the beer bars, women are not chattel nor domestic servants anymore.

Right, and the cost of a daily phone call to Dubai is getting too high.

Failed marriages seem to be Geriatrickid's favorite subject when criticizing posts unfavorable to the Thaksin clan.

Maybe he blames Thaksin's divorce on the Democrats.

[JurgenG]

I really like the way she's laughing when looking at the posters on the wall.

[Mosha]

Oh for a Thai version of Spitting Images "The president's brain is missing" .

[orchidlady]

Several posters have said they wished Thailand had a political satire show. Actually they do have a parody on about the THAI PARLIAMENT- it was on while the last Parliament was in session on Saturday nights. I think the time was 11 PM or 11:30 PM. It was on of the free Thai channels...can't remember, maybe ch. 9 or 11.

The shows usually parodied something semi-controversial that had happened in Parliament the week before. One of the funniest episodes was the attempted impeachment of Abhisit. They had the actors showing flip charts with his suspected misdeeds and flipping the pages (their so called proof) so fast you couldn't see what was on them. One was portrayed upside down and the presenter did not realize while speaking his piece. The time when they discussed teen pregnancy/birth control was also quite funny. The parodies involving Jutaporn P. were quite funny also. They had actors portray all of the outspoken Parliament members. They had one individual reaching under the table to drink a glass of wine (was told this portrayed some MP suspected of being an alcoholic by Thai friends). They talk to each other and have converstaions on their mobile phones while the opposition is making a point (same behaviors seen in actual Parliament footage).

They are in Thai but if you follow the events of Parliament you should be able to understand the main idea and parody presented without even understanding Thai. If you understand a little Thai you should be able to understand most of the conversation. I would write down words I didn't understand and ask Thai friends later.

I certainly hope with Chuwit in Parliament the series will continue this Parliament term. He should provide some worthy entertainment value to Parliament and the show.

[ratcatcher]

Alternative Headline:

Yingluck Presses Briefs Twice a Week.

[MILT]

Reading some of the comments, I am struck by the common characteristic of resentment and bitterness. The article is about the PM stating that she plans to meet with the news media 2X a week. The PM has been accused of not being accessible by the same people now ridiculing her for being accessible.

If one finds the sexist and ignorant remarks about "flouncing" and "lipstick" acceptable it explains why some people have failed marriages, have failed in the workplace and failed at managing or leading.

Grow up. It's 2011 and outside of the beer bars, women are not chattel nor domestic servants anymore.

What?

[rubl]

Reading some of the comments, I am struck by the common characteristic of resentment and bitterness. The article is about the PM stating that she plans to meet with the news media 2X a week. The PM has been accused of not being accessible by the same people now ridiculing her for being accessible.

If one finds the sexist and ignorant remarks about "flouncing" and "lipstick" acceptable it explains why some people have failed marriages, have failed in the workplace and failed at managing or leading.

Grow up. It's 2011 and outside of the beer bars, women are not chattel nor domestic servants anymore.

What?

Is it me, or do we have (even) more advertisements for shampoo and conditioner on television since Ms. Yingluck expressed the desire to work for the benefit of all Thai, begin of May? Somehow I also think I see more long-haired women in 'Hillary Clinton' pantsuits on TV

[Rinrada]

Must be National Redneck day ..or summit

[gemini81]

Hey, guys, don't you have better things to do than sit at your keyboards bitching and moaning?

This is nothing more than another Nation opinion / propaganda piece dressed up as a "real news article".

And I support GKs comment earlier as well - at least one sane person comments here regularly...

Hey highly in-demand man, what are you doing right now?!

[kraplung]

It's a smart move on Pheu Thai's part. Yingluck has looked like the fish out of water she is unless there is someone to hold her hand when the press are around.

[OzMick]

When my daughter was quite young, she had a doll with a pull-string. When you pulled the string, it would say one of about 6 phrases, none of which meant very much.

The only statements of any substance that I have heard from the PM concerned her brother and his involvement with her government. As they were (almost) universally taken to be lies, they didn't do much for her record.

As with Surapong's self-assessment, things can only get better. The mayor of Nagasaki said the same thing just before.....................

[daboyz1]

Pretty funny that picture has the wanted poster of her brother in the background.

[MAJIC]

Considering its normal for the press and media interrogation of the government of the day objectives,especially where her brother is concerned,

I wonder how long it will be before she declares:Press questions must be submitted a week prior to her need to answer?

and no spontaneous questions on Press briefing days allowed?

Its usally the case for people who do not possess good debating skills,or in depth knowledge of a subject,which is probably the reason she never took up Abhisits offer of a Televised live debate.

He would have eaten her for breakfast.

Edited for Typo.

Edited August 20, 2011 by MAJIC

[Skywalker69]

Giggle flounce flounce..."I don't know, let me look into the details".

You mean, I have to call my BIG BROTHER and ask first?

[brd]

A wise decision

Holding just two press conferences a week to say nothing is more than enough...

the talk is cheap basically.............................

[Colin Yai]

Considering its normal for the press and media interrogation of the government of the day objectives,especially where her brother is concerned,

I wonder how long it will be before she declares:Press questions must be submitted a week prior to her need to answer?

and no spontaneous questions on Press briefing days allowed?

Its usally the case for people who do not possess good debating skills,or in depth knowledge of a subject,which is probably the reason she never took up Abhisits offer of a Televised live debate.

He would have eaten her for breakfast.

Edited for Typo.

Hmm regarding your museings about no spontaneous questions on Press briefing days ,Which IMHO is not beyond the realms of possibiltys ,if should something as nonsensical as that happening then the whole news media should just refuse to interview her, as it would not be actualy she that was answering, just her well paid advisers and of course Dear Brother!.

[scorecard]

I actually think it is a good thing in general for any PM to speak twice a week excpet when something is important and let responsible ministers speak more. That enables ministers to be better known for what they do or dont do and in theory be more accountable rather than using the government figurehead to hog the limelight. Ministers should also be able to give more specific information on projects

Sorry but I don't have much confidence in any of the ministers ability to give insightful responses, and she's taking quite a risk that many of them will say something which generates s minefield.

[Jingthing]

Bottom line -- the honeymoon is over. The people bought the pretty face but now it appears the emperor has no clothes. Brilliant campaign ... but now its showtime and the first act is a world class DUD.

Edited August 21, 2011 by Jingthing

[geriatrickid]

When the PM was in the private sector she had to meet with investors, clients and company staff on a daily basis. She was quite capable in her former job. Appreciably, many journalists for the English languauge press in Thailand do not appear as overly bright, but she should be able to answer their questions without making them appear to be intellectually challenged spoilt Bangkok brats. They may wish to write their questions down and practice asking their questions in front of a mirror first as she is not going to coddle them when they ask some of their assinine questions. Watch some of the previous media question and answer sessions with former PM Abhisit. Sometimes the questions were poorly stated, or were incredibly silly and they were often mumbled with the journalist not enunciating clearly.

Edited August 21, 2011 by geriatrickid