What Strategy Will Thaksin Shinawatra Employ Now?

[MaiChai]

Taksin has been a burning issue for 7 years now. He won't be coming back any time soon. I recon people are starting to forget him already. His worse fear must be that he disappears into oblivion. Taksin who?

[rubl]

No sour grapes nationally, Bangkok Democrat stronghold historically, only lost by 200,000 votes, why didn't the Dems win more votes, etc., etc.

Don't know about Thaksin's strategy, but some posters here haven't changed must. Half truths, suggestions and yes int doesn't matter much. All those talks and speeches from our real PM to support her candidate, hurrying back from HK/SKorea to keep smiling for Pongsapat. It doesn't matter, we did it just for fun. Pongsapat got 200,000 less votes than Pheu Thai in 2011 in Bangkok? It doesn't matter. Thaksin won by losing? It doesn't matter.

Too much fun really, but I've had enough of this. See you at the next elections

[longway]

Although it's probably a bit too early to say so, this may become a very good year for wine vinegar.

Instead of asking why the Democrats candidate didn't get more votes, it might be good to wonder about why the Pheu Thai candidate didn't get more. Various possibilities there:

- it rained heavely for a while, first time since weeks (very suspect!)

- polls led people to believe their vote was not needed (dark influence suspected!)

- there aren't more Pheu Thai supporters in Bangkok (obviously this can't be true!)

- lots of voters didn't like the PM and some Amply Rich elite surrounding Pongsapat (obviously nonsense!)

- someone kept the UDD and their members from participating (BTW where were they?)

- it's not important as the government still controls over 75% of the BMA budget (so much for seamless co-operation)

Of course one may wonder why such an unimportant event as the election of the Bangkok governor required such high-level, frequent support of our PM? What did people think about the promise of the PM to work well with her candidate when elected? What did people think about involvement of Thaksin and his kids? Why did we have such enormous number of pickups driving around promoting the Pheu Thai candidate?

There is of course an easy, obvious answer to why Pheu Thai put such effort and money into this:

because it's not important

An insiginicant shot across the bows for this government, it has lost momentum in the unimportant matter of returning a catalyst back home, but it was never about that was it? It was all about who could fix the traffic problems and sidewalks, put in cycle lanes and mundane things like that, its why the both the major candidates broke voting records.

Important stuff these bike lanes to bangkokians I guess. Not that it matters to PT in the slightest, it will be seamless co-operation from here on out.

Edited March 6, 2013 by longway

[waza]

One strategy Thaksin will have to think twice about now is the marching again of his troops to Bangkok. Unless he wants to make a declaration of all-out civil war. The election loss isn't just a setback for his return, it is a loss for the fabled story of army brutality against the 'peaceful' red demonstrators. The people of Bangkok have said 'we are not with you'. Now what are we left with? Red villages raging against Bangkok indifference? Burning down of regional town halls? Been there, done that.

If Pongsapat had won and Sukhumband had lost, somehow I doubt you would be making such extravagant claims for the winner.There were only 200,000 votes between them.Personally I doubt there is as much significance as many pundits believe.What do we know now that we didn't know before?

Having said that, some leading Democrats are scratching their heads as to why they didn't win with a larger margin.After if all the red devil propaganda line (which you have swallowed hook line and sinker) was believed there would be nobody voting for Pongsapat at all.As it was Sukhumband was given a run for his money.

I believe that Sukhumband would have been unelectable if it wasn't for the Thaksin factor. Soon the PTP will desert him just like Amsterdam and the redshirts and one day if you come to your senses so will you.

Edited March 6, 2013 by waza

[jayboy]

One strategy Thaksin will have to think twice about now is the marching again of his troops to Bangkok. Unless he wants to make a declaration of all-out civil war. The election loss isn't just a setback for his return, it is a loss for the fabled story of army brutality against the 'peaceful' red demonstrators. The people of Bangkok have said 'we are not with you'. Now what are we left with? Red villages raging against Bangkok indifference? Burning down of regional town halls? Been there, done that.

If Pongsapat had won and Sukhumband had lost, somehow I doubt you would be making such extravagant claims for the winner.There were only 200,000 votes between them.Personally I doubt there is as much significance as many pundits believe.What do we know now that we didn't know before?

Having said that, some leading Democrats are scratching their heads as to why they didn't win with a larger margin.After if all the red devil propaganda line (which you have swallowed hook line and sinker) was believed there would be nobody voting for Pongsapat at all.As it was Sukhumband was given a run for his money.

I believe that Sukhumband would have been unelectable if it wasn't for the Thaksin factor. Soon the PTP will desert him just like Amsterdam and the redshirts and one day if you come to your senses so will you.

You clearly haven't been reading my posts (or possibly reading them but without adequate comprehension).

[waza]

I believe that Sukhumband would have been unelectable if it wasn't for the Thaksin factor. Soon the PTP will desert him just like Amsterdam and the redshirts and one day if you come to your senses so will you.

One strategy Thaksin will have to think twice about now is the marching again of his troops to Bangkok. Unless he wants to make a declaration of all-out civil war. The election loss isn't just a setback for his return, it is a loss for the fabled story of army brutality against the 'peaceful' red demonstrators. The people of Bangkok have said 'we are not with you'. Now what are we left with? Red villages raging against Bangkok indifference? Burning down of regional town halls? Been there, done that.

If Pongsapat had won and Sukhumband had lost, somehow I doubt you would be making such extravagant claims for the winner.There were only 200,000 votes between them.Personally I doubt there is as much significance as many pundits believe.What do we know now that we didn't know before?

Having said that, some leading Democrats are scratching their heads as to why they didn't win with a larger margin.After if all the red devil propaganda line (which you have swallowed hook line and sinker) was believed there would be nobody voting for Pongsapat at all.As it was Sukhumband was given a run for his money.

You clearly haven't been reading my posts (or possibly reading them but without adequate comprehension).

You state you dont support Thaksin, you even through in a few anti Thaksin remarks, but your voluminous boring post are all pro Thaksin, Actions speak louder than words.......

Reality is for people who cant handle drugs

Edited March 6, 2013 by waza

[jayboy]

I believe that Sukhumband would have been unelectable if it wasn't for the Thaksin factor. Soon the PTP will desert him just like Amsterdam and the redshirts and one day if you come to your senses so will you.

One strategy Thaksin will have to think twice about now is the marching again of his troops to Bangkok. Unless he wants to make a declaration of all-out civil war. The election loss isn't just a setback for his return, it is a loss for the fabled story of army brutality against the 'peaceful' red demonstrators. The people of Bangkok have said 'we are not with you'. Now what are we left with? Red villages raging against Bangkok indifference? Burning down of regional town halls? Been there, done that.

If Pongsapat had won and Sukhumband had lost, somehow I doubt you would be making such extravagant claims for the winner.There were only 200,000 votes between them.Personally I doubt there is as much significance as many pundits believe.What do we know now that we didn't know before?

Having said that, some leading Democrats are scratching their heads as to why they didn't win with a larger margin.After if all the red devil propaganda line (which you have swallowed hook line and sinker) was believed there would be nobody voting for Pongsapat at all.As it was Sukhumband was given a run for his money.

You clearly haven't been reading my posts (or possibly reading them but without adequate comprehension).

You state you dont support Thaksin, you even through in a few anti Thaksin remarks, but your voluminous post are all pro Thaksin, Actions speak louder than words.......

I don't wish to be patronising but you really need to concentrate a little harder.My position was succinctly covered in an earlier post:

"Whether Thaksin returns or remains in exile has become less and less

important.It was never mainly about him anyway.His significance lay in

his role as a catalyst.Personally he is a rather poor strategist and in

no way an admirable man.But the hatred he inspires among some can't

change the reality that he has already won, by which I mean changed the

political landscape of Thailand and destroyed the status quo dominated

by unelected elites.Parties controlled by him have won time after time

at the polls, and it is the old order that has had to adapt."

It surely does not require a massive intellectual effort to distinguish between being pro Thaksin and recognising his huge catalytic significance.

[animatic]

Same strategy as always,

'Throw money at it and create fear.'

[longway]

I believe that Sukhumband would have been unelectable if it wasn't for the Thaksin factor. Soon the PTP will desert him just like Amsterdam and the redshirts and one day if you come to your senses so will you.

One strategy Thaksin will have to think twice about now is the marching again of his troops to Bangkok. Unless he wants to make a declaration of all-out civil war. The election loss isn't just a setback for his return, it is a loss for the fabled story of army brutality against the 'peaceful' red demonstrators. The people of Bangkok have said 'we are not with you'. Now what are we left with? Red villages raging against Bangkok indifference? Burning down of regional town halls? Been there, done that.

If Pongsapat had won and Sukhumband had lost, somehow I doubt you would be making such extravagant claims for the winner.There were only 200,000 votes between them.Personally I doubt there is as much significance as many pundits believe.What do we know now that we didn't know before?

Having said that, some leading Democrats are scratching their heads as to why they didn't win with a larger margin.After if all the red devil propaganda line (which you have swallowed hook line and sinker) was believed there would be nobody voting for Pongsapat at all.As it was Sukhumband was given a run for his money.

You clearly haven't been reading my posts (or possibly reading them but without adequate comprehension).

You state you dont support Thaksin, you even through in a few anti Thaksin remarks, but your voluminous post are all pro Thaksin, Actions speak louder than words.......

I don't wish to be patronising but you really need to concentrate a little harder.My position was succinctly covered in an earlier post:

"Whether Thaksin returns or remains in exile has become less and less

important.It was never mainly about him anyway.His significance lay in

his role as a catalyst.Personally he is a rather poor strategist and in

no way an admirable man.But the hatred he inspires among some can't

change the reality that he has already won, by which I mean changed the

political landscape of Thailand and destroyed the status quo dominated

by unelected elites.Parties controlled by him have won time after time

at the polls, and it is the old order that has had to adapt."

It surely does not require a massive intellectual effort to distinguish between being pro Thaksin and recognising his huge catalytic significance.

If you think that then you are on drugs. Pro and anti Thaksin unelected elites are still very much in power, except the anti lot have less power for the time being. The upper levels of the UDD have been successfully co-opted into patronage system and will not allow any true change towards democracy. The status-quo remains intact, very little of significance has changed, perhaps significant to the unelected elites concerned and academics mumbling on about LM, much less significant to the common man.

The most important changes in the political landscape is the attempts to shift power (money) from bangkok unelected elites to provincial unelected ones (edit: but their access to power is conditional on submission to one man can get himself or a proxy elected.)

Only thing that has changed significantly for the common man is the stagnation, and then the reversal on the path to democracy in Thailand since 2001.

I don't know what you mean by 'catalytic significance', but if that means he has become the largest stumbling block, diversion, or even dead end for achieving true political reform in Thailand in recent times, then I agree with you.

Edited March 6, 2013 by longway

[billd766]

Well, first step is saying not to be involved in (Thai) politics, following with a skype session with the executive committee in Pheu Thai HQ (aka closed cabinet session). Next young Oak will discover yet another assassination complot on his father and/or Democrat MP's trying to steal rice from government stock.

While this takes place a few more groups stuffed with learned members will provide various good reasons for an amnesty of political prisoners and other well meaning people, with UDD leaders vehement on including the sentence "except for Abhisit/Suthep of course". Furthermore there is a distinct possibility that coming Songkhran our most popular fugitive will be in Laos and Cambodia again to give all people the chance to adore him, with free transport arranged including free (rice) meals.

IMHO, of course

A man like Thaksin can't possibly survive without heaps of publicity,he's getting older now,and no doubt losing his drive,and getting more and more desperate to come back to Thailand a winner. Lets all relish in the thought the longer he is away the less chance he has of returning at all,never mind a winner!

It has ALWAYS been about Thaksin and it always will be until he dies.

He has no interest in the poor people of Thailand, little about the rich and nothing about the country at all.

As long as HE is the supreme person in the country that is all that matters to him.

His face MUST be the most important in the land and EVERYBODY must bow and scrape to him.

He has a monstrous ego that simply will not let go.

He has enough money that he cannot spend it in 20 lifetimes and if he spent it behind the scenes uniting the country quietly he would be welcomed home by now provided he kept a low profile.

He had many years to prove that he could have been a great statesman and brought Thailand into the leadership of ASEAN but his ego and greed is bringing Thailand to ruin.