It's not that Thaksin doesn't realize that the issue of " back-up prime ministers " isn't an outrageous concept in the free world. He simply doesn't care. And his confidence strongly suggests he believes he can get away with it - as frequently, he has. Oblivious as to all the havoc caused by all the Thaksin initiatives dutifully thrust forward by this administration - of which the amnesty bill was only the most galling - is a cavalier disregard for whatever fallout comes of them in their wake. But it also suggests short-term and two-dimensional thinking. For a truly gifted tactician wouldn't reveal his hand so blatantly, and at the most inopportune moments.

Back up PM's = vice presidents (e.g. USA). Same same.

Amnesty = forgiveness. I like the idea. But Suthep would rather have blood than reconcile.

stupid person ,blood rather than reconcile grow up ...red troll...where did he say he wanted blood spilt ..prove it and i will apologise to you...

The son of Madame 10%!

Don't you mean 30%

Could be I couldn't quite remember. Whatever it was, 30% or 10% from any successful contractor bidding for a government project would certainly add up over 6 years.

It is even higher than that.

In 2008, Yaowapa's husband Somchai Wongsawat took the job of prime minister briefly before being unseated by a court ruling which found his party guilty of electoral fraud, requiring him to serve a five-year political ban.

For the Feb 2 election, he is contesting as the No. 2 candidate in the Puea Thai's party list.

He was relegated from parliament already (guilty of electoral fraud).

Why they let this people run again in elections?

The barrier of five years ban is "shit".

Counting him, his wife, and his daughter they have 12 years of banishment to this point, and it hasn't deterred them from more.

Soooooooooooooooo ridiculous you couldnt make it up

Hardly shocking news. Maybe it's because your family comes from Chaing Mai, and then you can't be afforded the same rules as others, becase the others are from Bangkok and would like to hang onto power thanks very much.

Are Thaksin's crimes unique or did he just capitilise on the standard model of operation better than others were able to?

I think Mr T has a Nehru-Gandhi fascination....

The Public has had enough... It's got nothing to do with his crimes.

In 2008, Yaowapa's husband Somchai Wongsawat took the job of prime minister briefly before being unseated by a court ruling which found his party guilty of electoral fraud, requiring him to serve a five-year political ban.

For the Feb 2 election, he is contesting as the No. 2 candidate in the Puea Thai's party list.

He was relegated from parliament already (guilty of electoral fraud).

Why they let this people run again in elections?

The barrier of five years ban is "shit".

Counting him, his wife, and his daughter they have 12 years of banishment to this point, and it hasn't deterred them from more.

Maybe they should all run for mayor of Toronto.

Soooooooooooooooo ridiculous you couldnt make it up

Actually it's standard fare in these parts.

All this nepotism has to end. It's only going to reinforce the opposition.

What about Bush in America? Is there really any difference? Jeb may be the next president! And what about the Kennedy family? Nepotism?

Thaksin's nephew to stand in Thai polls

"The University of Texas graduate took pains on Saturday to say that he was his own man, even as he laid out plans to promote Thai technology to the world."

And just what technology might that be?........The world is humbly waiting.

All this nepotism has to end. It's only going to reinforce the opposition.

What about Bush in America? Is there really any difference? Jeb may be the next president! And what about the Kennedy family? Nepotism?

I don't think another Bush could ever be elected president, not after the last one, who, btw, sort of lived to do everything the opposite of his father in order to prove what a man he was. As for the Kennedys, I don't see any of them of presidential timber. Oh, and during JFK's term, there was considerable criticism and doubt placed on the appointment of RFK as attorney general. There are lots of political families in the US--don't forget the Gores, Rockefellers, Udalls, Browns, et. al. But eventually they all seem to peter out within a generation or two. Still, it's a big enough problem, just not comparable to the Shins.

Soooooooooooooooo ridiculous you couldnt make it up

Actually it's standard fare in these parts.

Actually this is far from standard... both sides have dispensed with even being subtle about it.... I even saw chewit ( im sure it was chewit ) on TV today cursing Suthep & co and i mean with water and all the voodoo bit things are gonna .

What's the problem?

The voters will have choices, up to 53 in some cases. Why not let them choose?

Because, as with most democratic countries. The simpleton masses are easily pandered too by deceitful charletons and are simply unable to make an astute choice for what is best for the country, only whats best for themselves. The prime reason representative democracy is a failed system that never favours the people, but rather corporations.

The arrogance of this corrupt and evil family knows no bounds.

Then again, look at the bright side, "If you give them enough rope, they will all end up living in Dubai in "self exile".

It's not that Thaksin doesn't realize that the issue of " back-up prime ministers " isn't an outrageous concept in the free world. He simply doesn't care. And his confidence strongly suggests he believes he can get away with it - as frequently, he has. Oblivious as to all the havoc caused by all the Thaksin initiatives dutifully thrust forward by this administration - of which the amnesty bill was only the most galling - is a cavalier disregard for whatever fallout comes of them in their wake. But it also suggests short-term and two-dimensional thinking. For a truly gifted tactician wouldn't reveal his hand so blatantly, and at the most inopportune moments.

Back up PM's = vice presidents (e.g. USA). Same same.

Amnesty = forgiveness. I like the idea. But Suthep would rather have blood than reconcile.

Trash.

Bringing the whole extended family to run a country is an attempted dynastic dictatorship..

You can't compare anything here with the USA, in the US if you get indicted for fraud, your political career is over. Here the 5 year joke of a limit is laughable and one of the reasons we will revisit these problems regularly.

In the US they don't line up family members down the chain where one can step in straight after the other. The people would not have it.

The reforms I am hoping is going to change this 5 year ban rule into a lifetime ban and a 5 years jail sentence in the newly reformed aw that makes you serve that sentence regardless of connections and money, and also have all assets confiscated for life.

Hopefully that will act as a deterrent to future acts of fraud and corruption.

How about if anyone canvassing against her son is beaten up?

In a 'normal' democracy, one doesn't canvass against the other partys' candidates. One canvasses to promote one's own party's policies

But it seems that these so-called Democrats don't have any popular policies nor candidates...

Simon

What about Bush in America? Is there really any difference? Jeb may be the next president! And what about the Kennedy family? Nepotism?

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=146059

That story from a year or so ago. Not sure if any geneaology field pros stepped up to spank that theory or not. Never heard anything about it since but it did make me @..@ for a while.

People "keep it in the family" in every nation, overtly or not. And in some cases, on a supernational level too.

Really good to see the shinawatra's upholding traditional Thai family values and putting their family first for everything. Thumbs up to them for keeping with tradition and keeping it in the family.

Thailand post # 7.

What's the problem?

The voters will have choices, up to 53 in some cases. Why not let them choose?

Indeed, and one is led to wonder just how many of them are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Thaksin clan and the P.T.P.?

Thaksin always likened his political style to that of a business mogul

A great many of the political parties are special interest advocacy groups and will support whoever offers a policy in their respective best interests.

There are several parties that are farther to the right of the Democracts, including some ultra nationalists.

It's not that Thaksin doesn't realize that the issue of " back-up prime ministers " isn't an outrageous concept in the free world. He simply doesn't care. And his confidence strongly suggests he believes he can get away with it - as frequently, he has. Oblivious as to all the havoc caused by all the Thaksin initiatives dutifully thrust forward by this administration - of which the amnesty bill was only the most galling - is a cavalier disregard for whatever fallout comes of them in their wake. But it also suggests short-term and two-dimensional thinking. For a truly gifted tactician wouldn't reveal his hand so blatantly, and at the most inopportune moments.

Back up PM's = vice presidents (e.g. USA). Same same.

Amnesty = forgiveness. I like the idea. But Suthep would rather have blood than reconcile.

Trash.

Bringing the whole extended family to run a country is an attempted dynastic dictatorship..

You can't compare anything here with the USA, in the US if you get indicted for fraud, your political career is over. Here the 5 year joke of a limit is laughable and one of the reasons we will revisit these problems regularly.

In the US they don't line up family members down the chain where one can step in straight after the other. The people would not have it.

The reforms I am hoping is going to change this 5 year ban rule into a lifetime ban and a 5 years jail sentence in the newly reformed aw that makes you serve that sentence regardless of connections and money, and also have all assets confiscated for life.

Hopefully that will act as a deterrent to future acts of fraud and corruption.

"QuiteIntelligent"

Bush Jnr was not lined up?

Clintons missus being groomed over the last decade, failed 2008 but likely 2016? Chelsea will be one day too, mark my words.

The political clout that those family dynasties have had on the geopolitical scene is unmistakable, and they are just off the top of my head.

How odd, that no one mentioned the ascent of the former PM Abhisit.

Why does Abhisit get a pass? His father served the former military dictatorship in a cabinet position. His son was parachuted into politics. Abhisit never worked a day in his life in the private sector and avoided full military service and yet not a mention.

You should google Shinawatra family tree, may be if you can find also Abbhisit would be of great knoledge and if you can find Sontee too, would be also good, they play the same game,putting people one against the other, for they same own agenda.

Look at the bright side guys!

I could have been "Oak"

It's not that Thaksin doesn't realize that the issue of " back-up prime ministers " isn't an outrageous concept in the free world. He simply doesn't care. And his confidence strongly suggests he believes he can get away with it - as frequently, he has. Oblivious as to all the havoc caused by all the Thaksin initiatives dutifully thrust forward by this administration - of which the amnesty bill was only the most galling - is a cavalier disregard for whatever fallout comes of them in their wake. But it also suggests short-term and two-dimensional thinking. For a truly gifted tactician wouldn't reveal his hand so blatantly, and at the most inopportune moments.

Is there no end to your fictions? Political families are unknown in democracies? Really? The Thaksin family isn't appointing relatives to office. It's putting them up for a vote. Some of us might wish they wouldn't, but no one is forced to vote for these candidates.

All this nepotism has to end. It's only going to reinforce the opposition.

What about Bush in America? Is there really any difference? Jeb may be the next president! And what about the Kennedy family? Nepotism?

Chai. Cant see anyone else on the horizon other than Jeb. If you look at the history of the West you'll find a fair bit of nepotism and some whopping straight-faced lies that Thai's would struggle to muster.

Out of curiousity, can Thaksin be linked to the Bush family? I'm sure if you try.....

How about if anyone canvassing against her son is beaten up?

In a 'normal' democracy, one doesn't canvass against the other partys' candidates. One canvasses to promote one's own party's policies

But it seems that these so-called Democrats don't have any popular policies nor candidates...

Simon

Absolutely ridiculous.

In many so-called 'normal' democracies the canvassing and politicking is as much, if not more, to blacken the name and then the policies of the opponents. I've watched hundreds of TV adds in both the US & UK & Oz that solely target the opposition and the more personal the 'better'.

The Democrat party doesn't have the money to compete with Thaksin's PTP, nor does it have a militia to intimidate opponents in some areas of the N & NE.

How about if anyone canvassing against her son is beaten up?

In a 'normal' democracy, one doesn't canvass against the other partys' candidates. One canvasses to promote one's own party's policies

But it seems that these so-called Democrats don't have any popular policies nor candidates...

Simon

Absolutely ridiculous.

In many so-called 'normal' democracies the canvassing and politicking is as much, if not more, to blacken the name and then the policies of the opponents. I've watched hundreds of TV adds in both the US & UK & Oz that solely target the opposition and the more personal the 'better'.

The Democrat party doesn't have the money to compete with Thaksin's PTP, nor does it have a militia to intimidate opponents in some areas of the N & NE.

Now whos being ridiculous ?

Just so we know who the subject of this thread is.........

................................................................

The father, Somchai Wongsawat,....the mother Yaowappa Wongsawat,....the son Dr.Yodchanan Wongsawat

Dr Yodchanan is obviously a very intelligent person. I wonder why he chose to immerse himself in the cesspool of politics?

http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/asp/CMS/Events/2010/Thailand-Broadband/Bio_Yodchanan_Wongsawat.pdf

Helping to keep Thailand in the hands of the Shinawats for future generations..

How odd, that no one mentioned the ascent of the former PM Abhisit.

Why does Abhisit get a pass? His father served the former military dictatorship in a cabinet position. His son was parachuted into politics. Abhisit never worked a day in his life in the private sector and avoided full military service and yet not a mention.

Trust you to bring Abhisit into it.

haven't you got any comment on this thread ???? So his father served in the cabinet, his son ???? We all are talking about the Thaksin CLAN, not about someone you dislike. Want to drag someone else into the limelight for a distraction ???

Where are the Thaksin lovers on this tread?

Tread as in treadmill? Running fast but going nowhere.

It's not that Thaksin doesn't realize that the issue of " back-up prime ministers " isn't an outrageous concept in the free world. He simply doesn't care. And his confidence strongly suggests he believes he can get away with it - as frequently, he has. Oblivious as to all the havoc caused by all the Thaksin initiatives dutifully thrust forward by this administration - of which the amnesty bill was only the most galling - is a cavalier disregard for whatever fallout comes of them in their wake. But it also suggests short-term and two-dimensional thinking. For a truly gifted tactician wouldn't reveal his hand so blatantly, and at the most inopportune moments.

Is there no end to your fictions? Political families are unknown in democracies? Really? The Thaksin family isn't appointing relatives to office. It's putting them up for a vote. Some of us might wish they wouldn't, but no one is forced to vote for these candidates.

There is a great quote that you should familiarize yourself with.

"A Government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul"

Note: There are always vastly more Pauls attending the voting booths than Peters, tyrants know this.. That same government the great George Bernard Shaw is referring too when he penned this famous quote is not one that really cares much for the Pauls, who are invariably uneducated peasants but rather one that uses these populist policies to keep themselves in power for their own agenda.