Is it me or is it she has never looked better - whatever the politics sexiest PM ever .....

Don't worry about the lessons - they would only be more Thainesss indoctrination and learning how to crawl on their knees at the appropriate occassion. Let them have a few hours of fun it ain't no fun being born a poor Thai/

Is it me or is it she has never looked better - whatever the politics sexiest PM ever .....

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

Simply in order to spite you personally. How about that.

Well..at the risk of being called 'sexist'.....

I must say that she is very attractive and looks great in photos that pop up on facebook occasionally.

Ooh my oh my - stand by for a "Jonathan Head hatefest"...

Edited to add: Drat - baboon got in first!

The greatest exponent of biased reporting is mr. Richard Head as he is locally known. Report the facts, Yinlak is facing charges of dereliction of duty, this has nothing to do with her case re the draft constitution . BBC get rid of this Taksin leftwing loving A/hole. Also report on the cosy relationship between Yinglak and the previous US ambassador. Report on the US lobbyist employed by the run away convicted criminal operating in Dubai. Shame on you BBC. Where are your professional and balanced ethics.? We expect better of you. Or should we change to CNN?

Well I think we've established where you stand. A bit choleric though, jackboots pinching a bit this morning are they?

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

Winston Churchill:

And all the other options offered currently in this country are not democracy

Depends on how you define democracy. Certain posters like to proclaim holding elections is democracy. Well, North Korea, China, Zimbabwe and Viet Nam all hold elections. Does that make them democracies? Not on your life.

Can you show me one instance where anybody has argued that holding elections is in itself democracy? I'm afraid you just made it up.Don't you get tired of regurgitating these tired old dishonesties?

Anyway so there can be no doubt on the matter elections do not in themselves produce democracy.It requires an independent judiciary and other checks and balances.It must respect and encourage discussion.It must provide rights for all citizens.It must encourage civil society.Thailand's democracy has always been fragile and we must assume when democracy is restored it will continue to be work in process.And on to elections.Elections in short do not produce demoocracy but without them - free, fair and without intimidation - democracy cannot exist at all.Elections are a pre-condition and need to be held in the context of a constitution that has genuine national support at all levels.

Are you calling me dishonest? Pretty rich from someone who wouldn't know the truth if it bit them!

Do you own research. Plenty of examples if you open your eyes.

What a pitiful response.

In summary you concede that you are unable to identify any example supporting your claim.The reality of course is that nobody claims elections alone bring democracy about.

Those who hate or fear democracy peddle the same old lie.

Love her or hate her if an election was held tomorrow she would win in a landslide.

Not that she's got much to beat!

Well, well, the parrots been resurrected.

No she wouldn't. She's banned for 5 years. Besides which, a lot of people who previously voted for her brother's political party have wised up to the constant lying, cheating and ineptness.

And yet, there are still some people who have not wised up to the current lying, cheating and ineptness...

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

One might wonder why, in this carefully-posed picture, the kids aren't holding up their wonderful Yingluck-style ("just like mine !") tablet-computers ?

Is it me or is it she has never looked better - whatever the politics sexiest PM ever .....

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

Simply in order to spite you personally. How about that.

Ignore him.Bitterness,hate and ignorance - compounded by a mean spirit - have taken their inevitable toll.

What a lovely picture. It seems that the former popularly elected Prime Minister of Thailand is beloved by the people. Heartwarming to see the mutual respect and love. Such images have not been seen in Thailand for at least two years have they?

Love her or hate her if an election was held tomorrow she would win in a landslide.

Not that she's got much to beat!

Well, well, the parrots been resurrected.

No she wouldn't. She's banned for 5 years. Besides which, a lot of people who previously voted for her brother's political party have wised up to the constant lying, cheating and ineptness.

And yet, there are still some people who have not wised up to the current lying, cheating and ineptness...

Tell me when it exceeds the previous lying, cheating and ineptness.

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

One might wonder why, in this carefully-posed picture, the kids aren't holding up their wonderful Yingluck-style ("just like mine !") tablet-computers ?

Carefully posed?!?

The usual suspects seem to have been driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck.I wonder why?

Edited June 2, 201610 yr by jayboy

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

One might wonder why, in this carefully-posed picture, the kids aren't holding up their wonderful Yingluck-style ("just like mine !") tablet-computers ?

Carefully posed?!?

The usual suspects seem to have been driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck.I wonder why?

Probably because of the obsequious sycophancy and the unwarranted claims that it shows the love of the people for her. Tell a bunch of school children that Koko the Klown or some other TV presenter is coming, and that they will be on TV, and you would get the same reaction. Though it might be harder to find a headmaster willing to assemble the school.

Is it me or is it she has never looked better - whatever the politics sexiest PM ever .....

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

Simply in order to spite you personally. How about that.

Ignore him.Bitterness,hate and ignorance - compounded by a mean spirit - have taken their inevitable toll.

Jboy - is that what folks call selfsuck?

Is it me or is it she has never looked better - whatever the politics sexiest PM ever .....

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

Simply in order to spite you personally. How about that.

Ignore him.Bitterness,hate and ignorance - compounded by a mean spirit - have taken their inevitable toll.

Jboy - is that what folks call selfsuck?

No.Hatred and bitterness can be found everywhere sadly but the little band of foreign reactionaries seem to have it in spades.The only mitigating factor seems to be they are usually profoundly ignorant of the background and context.

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

One might wonder why, in this carefully-posed picture, the kids aren't holding up their wonderful Yingluck-style ("just like mine !") tablet-computers ?

Carefully posed?!?

The usual suspects seem to have been driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck.I wonder why?

Probably because of the obsequious sycophancy and the unwarranted claims that it shows the love of the people for her. Tell a bunch of school children that Koko the Klown or some other TV presenter is coming, and that they will be on TV, and you would get the same reaction. Though it might be harder to find a headmaster willing to assemble the school.

More evidence to prove my contention.

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

One might wonder why, in this carefully-posed picture, the kids aren't holding up their wonderful Yingluck-style ("just like mine !") tablet-computers ?

Carefully posed?!?

The usual suspects seem to have been driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck.I wonder why?

OK, I'll bite ... you would seem to believe that the picture isn't "carefully posed", and that the photographer just happened to wander past, camera at-the-ready, just as the front four rows of kids grabbed for their non-existent tablet-computers, while the remainder sit waiting for their ordeal to end, and the group of boys on the left wait to restart their football-game ?

This is a wonderful picture, illustrating the degree to which Thai politics is fact-driven or policy-driven, rather than by cult-of-personality, ie not-at-all.

And yet you appear to believe that I'm one of "the usual suspects", and have been "driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck" ? !

On the contrary, I'm awfully tempted to put forward a few attempts at humorous captions, to this wonder of the hack-photographer's art.

Love her or hate her if an election was held tomorrow she would win in a landslide.

Not that she's got much to beat!

Well, well, the parrots been resurrected.

No she wouldn't. She's banned for 5 years. Besides which, a lot of people who previously voted for her brother's political party have wised up to the constant lying, cheating and ineptness.

And yet, there are still some people who have not wised up to the current lying, cheating and ineptness...

Tell me when it exceeds the previous lying, cheating and ineptness.

Haha. That moment passed a long time ago when journalists were sternly warned that there was no further need "to investigate my squeaky clean 600 million baht land deal" and that the statue park was 100% corruption free.

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

One might wonder why, in this carefully-posed picture, the kids aren't holding up their wonderful Yingluck-style ("just like mine !") tablet-computers ?

Carefully posed?!?

The usual suspects seem to have been driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck.I wonder why?

Probably because of the obsequious sycophancy and the unwarranted claims that it shows the love of the people for her. Tell a bunch of school children that Koko the Klown or some other TV presenter is coming, and that they will be on TV, and you would get the same reaction. Though it might be harder to find a headmaster willing to assemble the school.

Or possibly because it is an uncomfortable reminder of what may be in store in the future?

Few kids at the front all smiles and photos. Rest look miserable and uninterested. Still, it makes a break from lessons.

Now, in what capacity does a disgraced former PM. removed from office for abuse of power, banned from politics for 5 years, and embroiled in a court case for gross negligence visit a school and disrupt lessons?

One might wonder why, in this carefully-posed picture, the kids aren't holding up their wonderful Yingluck-style ("just like mine !") tablet-computers ?

Carefully posed?!?

The usual suspects seem to have been driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck.I wonder why?

OK, I'll bite ... you would seem to believe that the picture isn't "carefully posed", and that the photographer just happened to wander past, camera at-the-ready, just as the front four rows of kids grabbed for their non-existent tablet-computers, while the remainder sit waiting for their ordeal to end, and the group of boys on the left wait to restart their football-game ?

This is a wonderful picture, illustrating the degree to which Thai politics is fact-driven or policy-driven, rather than by cult-of-personality, ie not-at-all.

And yet you appear to believe that I'm one of "the usual suspects", and have been "driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck" ? !

On the contrary, I'm awfully tempted to put forward a few attempts at humorous captions, to this wonder of the hack-photographer's art.

When you have dug yourself into a hole it's best to stop digging yourself further in.Of course the cult of personality is present to some extent as with all successful politicians.In the NE it is not necessary for Yingluck to fake photographs or invent popularity.That is the province of the military rulers who seized power.

I suggest a period of silent reflection on your part.

Carefully posed?!?

The usual suspects seem to have been driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck.I wonder why?

OK, I'll bite ... you would seem to believe that the picture isn't "carefully posed", and that the photographer just happened to wander past, camera at-the-ready, just as the front four rows of kids grabbed for their non-existent tablet-computers, while the remainder sit waiting for their ordeal to end, and the group of boys on the left wait to restart their football-game ?

This is a wonderful picture, illustrating the degree to which Thai politics is fact-driven or policy-driven, rather than by cult-of-personality, ie not-at-all.

And yet you appear to believe that I'm one of "the usual suspects", and have been "driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck" ? !

On the contrary, I'm awfully tempted to put forward a few attempts at humorous captions, to this wonder of the hack-photographer's art.

When you have dug yourself into a hole it's best to stop digging yourself further in.Of course the cult of personality is present to some extent as with all successful politicians.In the NE it is not necessary for Yingluck to fake photographs or invent popularity.That is the province of the military rulers who seized power.

I suggest a period of silent reflection on your part.

On a point of accuracy, I suggested that this picture was carefully posed, not faked as you try to twist it.

And I would defend your right to your own opinion, how come you can't admit to my own right, to the same ?

BBC World is showing footage of her visiting a school in the North East and being mobbed by schoolchildren too young to have any idea about politics so presumably doing exactly what family and teachers told them to do.

It was supposedly something to do with a competition posted on her Facebook account and due to the age of her ' supporters ' she can claim it wasn't political as the children are too young to vote, providing they could that is.

However she must be aware, as do so many others. that the law and legal niceties mean nothing to the junta when it suits.

The current situation with the monk is a prime example.

To be fair the footage linked to the OP shows her meeting with and talking with adults too.

I think she knows exactly what she is doing. In the words of a certain Irish "politician" "They haven't gone away you know". And no, I am not comparing Yingluck or the Pheu Thai to the Provisional I R A.!

It is a bit of a challenge to the junta though isn't it - I do rather wonder how they will react. I expect someones bowl of Wheatabix got thrown at the dog this morning!

BBC did show one woman being interviewed and stressing how afraid she is and although she watches the news a lot will only discuss with friends never with people she doesn't know out of fear.

Maybe she would have been better not to say anything as on return home there might well have been a green coloured vehicle parked at her front door !

I'm sure she would be easily identified in what i suppose was a rural area. Now there's a challenge the junta can easily handle.

Political discussion, history, He Who Cannot Be Named, Sibling, etc, all these conversation subjects verboten in 21st Century Thailand. -Not surprised all Thais ever talk about is food and the weather.

I suppose the 5 million people who 'liked' Yingluck on FB will all be designated for re-education then.?

Carefully posed?!?

The usual suspects seem to have been driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck.I wonder why?

OK, I'll bite ... you would seem to believe that the picture isn't "carefully posed", and that the photographer just happened to wander past, camera at-the-ready, just as the front four rows of kids grabbed for their non-existent tablet-computers, while the remainder sit waiting for their ordeal to end, and the group of boys on the left wait to restart their football-game ?

This is a wonderful picture, illustrating the degree to which Thai politics is fact-driven or policy-driven, rather than by cult-of-personality, ie not-at-all.

And yet you appear to believe that I'm one of "the usual suspects", and have been "driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck" ? !

On the contrary, I'm awfully tempted to put forward a few attempts at humorous captions, to this wonder of the hack-photographer's art.

When you have dug yourself into a hole it's best to stop digging yourself further in.Of course the cult of personality is present to some extent as with all successful politicians.In the NE it is not necessary for Yingluck to fake photographs or invent popularity.That is the province of the military rulers who seized power.

I suggest a period of silent reflection on your part.

On a point of accuracy, I suggested that this picture was carefully posed, not faked as you try to twist it.

And I would defend your right to your own opinion, how come you can't admit to my own right, to the same ?

Carefully posed is essentially faking in the sense you were suggesting.If you meant the photographer took some care in framing the subject, it's a facile point not worth making.

Of course you have a right to your opinion.But contrary to what many dullards believe, one man's opinion is not as good as another's.

BBC World is showing footage of her visiting a school in the North East and being mobbed by schoolchildren too young to have any idea about politics so presumably doing exactly what family and teachers told them to do.

It was supposedly something to do with a competition posted on her Facebook account and due to the age of her ' supporters ' she can claim it wasn't political as the children are too young to vote, providing they could that is.

However she must be aware, as do so many others. that the law and legal niceties mean nothing to the junta when it suits.

The current situation with the monk is a prime example.

To be fair the footage linked to the OP shows her meeting with and talking with adults too.

I think she knows exactly what she is doing. In the words of a certain Irish "politician" "They haven't gone away you know". And no, I am not comparing Yingluck or the Pheu Thai to the Provisional I R A.!

It is a bit of a challenge to the junta though isn't it - I do rather wonder how they will react. I expect someones bowl of Wheatabix got thrown at the dog this morning!

BBC did show one woman being interviewed and stressing how afraid she is and although she watches the news a lot will only discuss with friends never with people she doesn't know out of fear.

Maybe she would have been better not to say anything as on return home there might well have been a green coloured vehicle parked at her front door !

I'm sure she would be easily identified in what i suppose was a rural area. Now there's a challenge the junta can easily handle.

Political discussion, history, He Who Cannot Be Named, Sibling, etc, all these conversation subjects verboten in 21st Century Thailand. -Not surprised all Thais ever talk about is food and the weather.

I suppose the 5 million people who 'liked' Yingluck on FB will all be designated for re-education then.?

No I doubt it. Since they will be for the most part from one sector of the population and from specific regions of the country it will suffice to ignore them economically and find a way to effectively disenfranchise them.

I doubt that they will notice any change in the way they are treated.

Edited June 2, 201610 yr by JAG

Carefully posed is essentially faking in the sense you were suggesting.If you meant the photographer took some care in framing the subject, it's a facile point not worth making.

Of course you have a right to your opinion.But contrary to what many dullards believe, one man's opinion is not as good as another's.

Their opinion may not be, but their vote is? And, of course, we know whose opinion is the most valuable, as you keep reminding us of your self-judged superiority.

Edited June 2, 201610 yr by halloween

Carefully posed is essentially faking in the sense you were suggesting.If you meant the photographer took some care in framing the subject, it's a facile point not worth making.

Of course you have a right to your opinion.But contrary to what many dullards believe, one man's opinion is not as good as another's.

Their opinion may not be, but their vote is? And, of course, we know whose opinion is the most valuable, as you keep reminding us of your self-judged superiority.

Yes, frustrating sometimes though it is, each person's vote has the same value in a democracy.But I attach more weight to the opinion of a wise and tolerant person than to an ignorant and prejudiced one.But in choosing a government both as citizens have an equal say.

As for my opinion it is for others to judge as they will no doubt judge yours.

So you think this 3 mn video is unbalanced because some details are lacking? I don't think so and I invite other TVF members to check it.He first interviews a farmer on the benefits of the scheme, then highlights the difficulties in storing rice and financing, also interviewing 2 people who are critical of the scheme, then a government adviser, then concludes on citing corruption and mentioning that this scheme may lead to an end of the ptp government. He could have gone into more details (on both the pro and cons) but it is balanced, critical, and in no way biased towards the former government.

Same for the other vid you mention on the tablet scheme. He could have gone further, as you mentioned, but is quite critical on the relevance of this scheme, clearly showing that it doesn't meet the real problem, which is the poor quality of the Thai school system. Again nothing biased and with an overall critical tone.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23845345

He may not have covered extensively all topics you would have liked him to cover, thus committing "sin by omission", but it's far far from the demonization I often read in TVF.

As concerns the OP: YL still popular in the NE! It doesn't seem extravageant to me as it has always been a PTP stronghold. I would have been more surprised by YL being popular in the South.

Nice short videos from Aug 2013. And where are all the follow ups on these subjects since then? Surely the failure to deliver anything like the quantity of promised tablets, the dubious quality and the strange sourcing decision warranted some comment? Or perhaps the interesting leadership and management techniques adopted by Yingluck on the rice scheme - total absence, might be worth a follow up? Plenty to go at, like where all the money actually went because not much apparently trickled down to the farmers, the poorest of whom were excluded.

To me, he's simply overtly pro Shin in the way he writes, and what he chooses to ignore or misreport.

We, you me and everyone else have no idea as to the level of her popularity. We know the PTP Shin organization is quite adept at organizing these 'spontaneous" little propaganda visits. How effective their grip is and how well the machinery is oiled remains to be seen.

"not much apparently trickled down to the farmers".

Any reliable source? And please don't mention the World Bank report. As objected to you before, it's not in the world Bank report.

In the absence of any reliable figures ever having been issued by the PTP government the World Bank report was at least a source. You'd have to ask them how reliable their figure are.

Their estimate, and they probably know far more than me or any other TV poster, was a very small % of the money spent on the scheme reached the actual farmers.

The poorest farmers were excluded. Farmers had to pay more for seed, fertilizers, cropping, land rental etc. and many went into debt at very high rates of interest when the Yingluck government ran into cash flow problems (which they did way before she dissolved parliament without ensuring loans beforehand, and was still claiming it has self financing so let's not have the lie it was the banks fault).

How reliable are the figures - no idea as, to labor the point, PTP have never released the financial account publicly. My relations eventually got paid, several months late. Lucky for them I bank rolled them at no interest. Not all were that lucky and many are worse off now than before.

The millers, warehouse owners, transport owners (who may have moved rice around and around in the middle of the night for good reason), those who bought cheap rice from other countries and pledged it, those who took advantage of fraudulent G2G deals all made money. That cash came from somewhere.

If Yingluck tries to present this as a social scheme, where benefits were far more than financial, at her trial as part of her defense she will (I hope) be asked to present the detailed accounts, so then all will be revealed. Somehow I don't think she's gonna do that.

If you prefer, you can believe it was a highly successful scheme, that enriched poor farmers and benefited the economy and that it was so successful she never even had to attend and chair any meeting because everything was going so smooth.

So you think this 3 mn video is unbalanced because some details are lacking? I don't think so and I invite other TVF members to check it.He first interviews a farmer on the benefits of the scheme, then highlights the difficulties in storing rice and financing, also interviewing 2 people who are critical of the scheme, then a government adviser, then concludes on citing corruption and mentioning that this scheme may lead to an end of the ptp government. He could have gone into more details (on both the pro and cons) but it is balanced, critical, and in no way biased towards the former government.

Same for the other vid you mention on the tablet scheme. He could have gone further, as you mentioned, but is quite critical on the relevance of this scheme, clearly showing that it doesn't meet the real problem, which is the poor quality of the Thai school system. Again nothing biased and with an overall critical tone.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23845345

He may not have covered extensively all topics you would have liked him to cover, thus committing "sin by omission", but it's far far from the demonization I often read in TVF.

As concerns the OP: YL still popular in the NE! It doesn't seem extravageant to me as it has always been a PTP stronghold. I would have been more surprised by YL being popular in the South.

Nice short videos from Aug 2013. And where are all the follow ups on these subjects since then? Surely the failure to deliver anything like the quantity of promised tablets, the dubious quality and the strange sourcing decision warranted some comment? Or perhaps the interesting leadership and management techniques adopted by Yingluck on the rice scheme - total absence, might be worth a follow up? Plenty to go at, like where all the money actually went because not much apparently trickled down to the farmers, the poorest of whom were excluded.

To me, he's simply overtly pro Shin in the way he writes, and what he chooses to ignore or misreport.

We, you me and everyone else have no idea as to the level of her popularity. We know the PTP Shin organization is quite adept at organizing these 'spontaneous" little propaganda visits. How effective their grip is and how well the machinery is oiled remains to be seen.

"not much apparently trickled down to the farmers".

Any reliable source? And please don't mention the World Bank report. As objected to you before, it's not in the world Bank report.

In the absence of any reliable figures ever having been issued by the PTP government the World Bank report was at least a source. You'd have to ask them how reliable their figure are.

Their estimate, and they probably know far more than me or any other TV poster, was a very small % of the money spent on the scheme reached the actual farmers.

The poorest farmers were excluded. Farmers had to pay more for seed, fertilizers, cropping, land rental etc. and many went into debt at very high rates of interest when the Yingluck government ran into cash flow problems (which they did way before she dissolved parliament without ensuring loans beforehand, and was still claiming it has self financing so let's not have the lie it was the banks fault).

How reliable are the figures - no idea as, to labor the point, PTP have never released the financial account publicly. My relations eventually got paid, several months late. Lucky for them I bank rolled them at no interest. Not all were that lucky and many are worse off now than before.

The millers, warehouse owners, transport owners (who may have moved rice around and around in the middle of the night for good reason), those who bought cheap rice from other countries and pledged it, those who took advantage of fraudulent G2G deals all made money. That cash came from somewhere.

If Yingluck tries to present this as a social scheme, where benefits were far more than financial, at her trial as part of her defense she will (I hope) be asked to present the detailed accounts, so then all will be revealed. Somehow I don't think she's gonna do that.

If you prefer, you can believe it was a highly successful scheme, that enriched poor farmers and benefited the economy and that it was so successful she never even had to attend and chair any meeting because everything was going so smooth.

Probably because of the obsequious sycophancy and the unwarranted claims that it shows the love of the people for her. Tell a bunch of school children that Koko the Klown or some other TV presenter is coming, and that they will be on TV, and you would get the same reaction. Though it might be harder to find a headmaster willing to assemble the school.

Or possibly because it is an uncomfortable reminder of what may be in store in the future?

In store for the future - what, another incompetent corrupt Yingluck government that has a procession of cronies appointed Minister of Education because they're all handpicked experts who do bugger all? Or more lies about providing a tablet for every child "just like mine" and then sourcing them from a cheap Chinese supplier, who failed to deliver, so plenty could be scammed off? How many kids actually got a tablet, and how many of those tablets worked for any length of time? How many are still in use?

Uncomfortable - the thought of yet another Thaksin proxy government, whether he uses Yingluck or some other pretty, certainly is.

OK, I'll bite ... you would seem to believe that the picture isn't "carefully posed", and that the photographer just happened to wander past, camera at-the-ready, just as the front four rows of kids grabbed for their non-existent tablet-computers, while the remainder sit waiting for their ordeal to end, and the group of boys on the left wait to restart their football-game ?

This is a wonderful picture, illustrating the degree to which Thai politics is fact-driven or policy-driven, rather than by cult-of-personality, ie not-at-all.

And yet you appear to believe that I'm one of "the usual suspects", and have been "driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck" ? !

On the contrary, I'm awfully tempted to put forward a few attempts at humorous captions, to this wonder of the hack-photographer's art.

When you have dug yourself into a hole it's best to stop digging yourself further in.Of course the cult of personality is present to some extent as with all successful politicians.In the NE it is not necessary for Yingluck to fake photographs or invent popularity.That is the province of the military rulers who seized power.

I suggest a period of silent reflection on your part.

What a load of twaddle. Anyone who believes this really is deluding themselves. People turn up in Thailand because they get paid, some gifts, fed, think it will get them some favors, etc. All staged managed by the Shin propaganda machine. Not to mention the underlying threat of what might happen if someone snubs her.

Do you seriously think these schools kids lover her, understand all about her? What a joke your posts are in your attempts to present her as a serious politician rather than the rich girl pretty who stooges for her brother the criminal.

It's no good suggesting silent reflection in your case. To many voices in the head.

Carefully posed?!?

The usual suspects seem to have been driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck.I wonder why?

OK, I'll bite ... you would seem to believe that the picture isn't "carefully posed", and that the photographer just happened to wander past, camera at-the-ready, just as the front four rows of kids grabbed for their non-existent tablet-computers, while the remainder sit waiting for their ordeal to end, and the group of boys on the left wait to restart their football-game ?

This is a wonderful picture, illustrating the degree to which Thai politics is fact-driven or policy-driven, rather than by cult-of-personality, ie not-at-all.

And yet you appear to believe that I'm one of "the usual suspects", and have been "driven nuts by this picture of Yingluck" ? !

On the contrary, I'm awfully tempted to put forward a few attempts at humorous captions, to this wonder of the hack-photographer's art.

When you have dug yourself into a hole it's best to stop digging yourself further in.Of course the cult of personality is present to some extent as with all successful politicians.In the NE it is not necessary for Yingluck to fake photographs or invent popularity.That is the province of the military rulers who seized power.

I suggest a period of silent reflection on your part.

On a point of accuracy, I suggested that this picture was carefully posed, not faked as you try to twist it.

And I would defend your right to your own opinion, how come you can't admit to my own right, to the same ?

Because he's one of the old boy left wing wannabees who can't stand anyone expressing a different view.

To suggest these people really love Yingluck - after she was caught out lying to them so often insults their intelligence. But it suits his agenda because he contextualizes things using his Western constructs and has put the Shins in the left wing champions of the people working class hero box. A champagne socialist who wants to pontificate on their wonderful good points whilst ignore all the issues around corruption, lies, cheating, crimes. All can be forgiven because they were elected and he's swallowed Thaksin's self made salt of the earth man of the people bull shit.

The only one in a hole his himself but his very big ego will never see that.