Don't Underestimate The Charm Factor: Thai Opinion

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Don't underestimate the charm factor
Tulsathit Taptim



BANGKOK: -- Ever since she entered politics, I have avoided discussing Yingluck Shinawatra's looks and demeanour. There are such things as "sexist" charges, which are not nice. That's why I have kept the "charm theory" to myself as she eased through political storms that could have blown any male counterpart away, or when she had "Bridget Jones' moments" on international stages, or when she practically tried to run away from reporters on a few occasions.

My point is that even in a politic arena where the likes of Chalerm Yoobamrung and Newin Chidchob can thrive, physical beauty is a great asset. It can certainly help a government last longer than usual, in spite of the worst national strife in recent memory. Why would Pheu Thai, or Thaksin Shinawatra to be exact, throw it all away?

Before you Yingluck-haters start bombarding me on the social media, this article is meant primarily for those entertaining the idea that her elder sister Yaowapa Wongsawat could do a better job. I'm not saying Yingluck is a good politician; I just want to point out that she's the best there is - as far as her political camp is concerned.

I don't believe that Yaowapa is seeking a House seat just for kicks. Equally silly is the theory that Pheu Thai MPs are so indisciplined in Parliament that they need someone like her to keep them in line. The most nonsensical explanation concerning Yaowapa's potential entry into Parliament as an MP, however, is that she would be able to "help" Yingluck by advising her or drawing political fire away from her.

Here's someone who is a sister to two prime ministers and the wife of a third. You therefore have the right to suspect that big plans are being mapped out for Yaowapa. What could an MP Yaowapa do that a non-MP Yaowapa can't, after all? Already, she can slap rowdy Pheu Thai lawmakers, one by one, and order their party salaries cut. Already, she can advise Yingluck, act as a go-between for the government and Thaksin, or present herself as a decoy to draw enemy fire.

An MP Yaowapa can't dress up the rice price pledging programme or "sex up" other government spending sprees. With the Bt2 trillion borrowing plan for infrastructure mega-projects being a matter of life and death for the government, could an MP Yaowapa go toe to toe with critics of the plan? To sum it up, what difference can Yaowapa make as an MP?

Being an MP constitutionally qualifies Yaowapa to become a substitute for Bridget Jones. Call me paranoid, but I'm afraid that it will be the case, which I don't like. No offence to Yaowapa, but she's a few years older and a few pounds heavier than, unofficially, the world's most beautiful national leader. The big guns at Pheu Thai may think Yaowapa is more politically capable or shrewd, but I say replace Yingluck at your own peril.

Don't get me wrong. Yingluck incurs contempt. Much contempt, in fact. But she is non-confrontational and her apparent naivety has served not only as her immunity but also as the government's. The wise thing for Pheu Thai to do is keep contempt as contempt. In other words, they must not turn contempt into some extreme, inflammatory hatred.

It's true that Yingluck appeared "weak" during the flood crisis in late 2011. It's true that she can't defend "reconciliation" or "amnesty" or charter overhaul to save her life. And it's true that she should be kept away from any forum debating the Bt2 trillion master plan.

But it's also possible that a Pheu Thai government led by anybody else could have crumbled during the flood disaster. It's possible that a more aggressive Pheu Thai prime minister could have seen the "reconciliation" bomb blown up in his or her face already. The rice price pledging scheme may already have ruined everything by now. And last but not least, imagine a "Prime Minister Yaowapa Wongsawat" saying "My government needs to borrow Bt2 trillion and, hey, it has nothing to do with my brother Thaksin."

This is not to say that Yingluck is the best solution. But because Thai politics is not about long-term survival, she is the solution if the idea is to last just a bit longer. Who else could have the Foreign Ministry issue Thaksin with a new passport and liaise for his high-profile overseas trips and then just giggle off reporters' questions?

Yaowapa? Be my guest. She may have the air of toughness about her, but she lacks Yingluck's natural charm and flexibility. If speculation about replacing the prime minister with Yaowapa turns out to be true, I for one will fasten my seatbelt. Well, if a "thrill ride" analogy is too unkind at this point to unproven Yaowapa, I'll ask you this: If we were in a big classroom and had to choose one of the two sisters as our teacher, who would it be?

Enough said.


-- The Nation 2013-03-27

[ratcatcher]

Good morning.

[bigbamboo]

Benazir Bhutto and Yulia Timoshenko were 'glamorous' leaders too but that wasn't enough. Thatcher and Merkel have proved that being hard as nails gets you further than manicured nails.

[apetley]

Margaret Thatcher had nice ankles according to Alan Clark. Does that count?

[chainarong]

Nepotism in any business regardless of where what or who, leads to deformed , uninformed , phlegenic , failure.

[chooka]

Decisions, who would I prefer out of these two P.M's

To be fair I posted pics of both actually in Parliarment.

[Scully]

Margaret Thatcher had nice ankles according to Alan Clark. Does that count?

Yes but you should have seen the water retention at the end of the day

Of course looks are important, especially in Thailand, however so is charisma, fast accurate answers with wit and charm, oh and a good skype connection.

I get seriously sick of hearing about Yingluck.

Edited March 27, 2013 by Scully

[Phuket Stan]

Decisions, who would I prefer out of these two P.M's

To be fair I posted pics of both actually in Parliarment.

That pic of Gillard is priceless....I have seen better looking stunned mullets

[Markaew]

I have commented here several times on Yingluck's governing style as being the same as Obama, which is basically rhetoric and traveling. Now, The Nation is using the same words to describe her as they describe Obama in the US. Recently, the media described Obama's latest tactics as a "charm offensive". Appropriate description for both "leaders" which are the same. No results, just lots of exposure.

[Locationthailand]

Yingluck may be a political infant yes, but her naivete is holding her in the chair. As far as eye candy is concerned that should not enter the fray. But remember this is all about nepotism and put her battle axe sister in the front line and it would not take long to lose a few votes to be sure. Just a pity someone like Abhisit could not be her advisor, educated, street smart, politically savvy and quite capable. It could actually be a good mix. Her socialist ideals and his tempering the control aspects. My opinion anyway.

[apetley]

Decisions, who would I prefer out of these two P.M's

To be fair I posted pics of both actually in Parliarment.

That pic of Gillard is priceless....I have seen better looking stunned mullets

Mr Bean surely?

[chooka]

Decisions, who would I prefer out of these two P.M's

To be fair I posted pics of both actually in Parliarment.

That pic of Gillard is priceless....I have seen better looking stunned mullets

Mr Bean surely?

She is an immigrant from great Britan so I am sure she is related. Yingluk can charm me anyday

[sfbandung]

YIngluck has just visited PNG (where I live with the Thai missus) and all the talk at the yacht club on Monday night was about what a honey she is. She certainly attracts attention.

[jonclark]

YIngluck has just visited PNG (where I live with the Thai missus) and all the talk at the yacht club on Monday night was about what a honey she is. She certainly attracts attention.

But other than her looks can you tell me anything significant about her visit?

And that is the point - looks good, but that's all people remember about her.

Which is actually quite insulting and shallow when you think about it, that you are only remembered for your smile as opposed to your ability to do the job. Yet this is the card our venerable PM consistently plays.

[WhizBang]

I am not a big fan of Yingluck, being a puppet and all, but I will definately pass on Dragon lady.

Now, IF Yingluck could assert herself and tell big brother to shut the F up and actually take charge, then her credability might begin to soar.

Here's the thing. Years ago Thaksin could have gone down in Thai history (in a good light) as one of the most successful PMs ever. But he was just too greedy, and look where that got him.

Now another Shinawatra has the potential to make real history (in a good light), if she would only assert herself and take charge. But again, another Shinawatra fails to rise to the occasion.

She still has time to succeed. Thaksin is toast. Forget him and move on.

Oh well, only dreaming.

Edited March 27, 2013 by WhizBang

[sfbandung]

YIngluck has just visited PNG (where I live with the Thai missus) and all the talk at the yacht club on Monday night was about what a honey she is. She certainly attracts attention.

But other than her looks can you tell me anything significant about her visit?

And that is the point - looks good, but that's all people remember about her.

Which is actually quite insulting and shallow when you think about it, that you are only remembered for your smile as opposed to your ability to do the job. Yet this is the card our venerable PM consistently plays.

I don't really take politics seriously. Being an Aussie I'd be pretty bloody depressed right now if I did. Australian politics at the moment makes Thai politics look like a picture of rational stability.

Yingluck inspires more respect from me than Julia Gillard. And to be shallow and insulting, as a bonus she is also much better looking ...

[Thai-Aust]

as much as I hate to compare leaders with both sexes, I have to admit that being a woman certainly helps Yingluck to prolong her premiership regardless of competency/ability. Even a red-shirt cap driver mentioned this to me while I was in his taxi.

Not only in Thailand that a charisma of the leader comes in handy, Australian's Julia Gillard had changed her looks significantly since being in the post. Italian's former PM looks years away from his 80 years old.

[tragickingdom]

Why is the Nation always lecturing Thai rural voters ? Does the author really believe that sexy Abhisit draws less votes than let's say Suthep because he looks better or that Americans do not vote more easy for Obama than for McCain because he looks better, speaks better? Bet you that 90% of the Nation employees never ever saw the party program of the Democrat Party, just like 90% of every other voter in the world votes with his or her "gut feeling" and not with the brain. Without sympathy for a candidate no vote. If Yingluck will be replaced for her sister or for let''s say the ugly Banharn chances will drop sharply.

[rak sa_ngop]

Nepotism in any business regardless of where what or who, leads to deformed , uninformed , phlegenic , failure.

Would like to add this word to my vocabulary, but what does it mean?

[SICHONSTEVE]

Margaret Thatcher had nice ankles according to Alan Clark. Does that count?

You have just ruined my thought processes for the day as I cannot get this picture out of my mind now!!!!

I hope, that when I wake up tomorrow morning I have forgotten about this, otherwise I may have to visit a psychiatrist or hypnotist to rid me of this truly awful vision.

[Halion]

Yingluk and Yaowapa are like Barbie and Bluto and just as inefectual in substance. If this is the best we can do then this country is in real trouble. It is time for Thailand to banish this senseless nepotism and institute some pertinent reforms in order to take it out of the comic strips.

[jaiyen]

All you people who think Yingluck is beautiful have a very low standard of measuring beauty. She is

AVERAGE ! Just a plain looking average Thai lady. Go back to the bars or even better Siam Paragon if you want to see some beautiful girls !

[Dr Robert]

How on earth can the comments here be published let alone taken seriously?

What someone looks like has nothing to do with ability-this fantasy about sleeping with leaders who happen to be women reflects poorly on those inane,sexist and utterly brain dead posters posing questionable humouresque dribble-go back to the bar and drink yourself back into hero status you numbskulls

[scorecard]

How on earth can the comments here be published let alone taken seriously?

What someone looks like has nothing to do with ability-this fantasy about sleeping with leaders who happen to be women reflects poorly on those inane,sexist and utterly brain dead posters posing questionable humouresque dribble-go back to the bar and drink yourself back into hero status you numbskulls

Totally agree, well said!

[Pimay1]

How on earth can the comments here be published let alone taken seriously?

What someone looks like has nothing to do with ability-this fantasy about sleeping with leaders who happen to be women reflects poorly on those inane,sexist and utterly brain dead posters posing questionable humouresque dribble-go back to the bar and drink yourself back into hero status you numbskulls

Totally agree, well said!

Also agree. If one agrees or not with her policies and the way the government is run it is sinking mightly low to post garbage like this.

Edited March 27, 2013 by Pimay1

[thomash]

Yes in the non-political arena it is called a honey trap maybe in the political arena it's just a trap!

[ballpoint]

The two achieve similar results in the charm department. Some are attracted to Yingluck because of her looks, and some are attracted to Yaowapa because of gravity.

[Mampara]

Better the devil you know then the one you don't.

[bigbamboo]

How on earth can the comments here be published let alone taken seriously?

What someone looks like has nothing to do with ability-this fantasy about sleeping with leaders who happen to be women reflects poorly on those inane,sexist and utterly brain dead posters posing questionable humouresque dribble-go back to the bar and drink yourself back into hero status you numbskulls

I agree.

Some of the comments on here are almost as banal as some of those we see everyday from Thai politicians.

Now stop it....... all of you!

[metisdead]

Nonsensical sexist posts and replies have been removed.