Birthday boy Prayut tells media "I am what I am"
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday thanked Government House reporters for giving him a birthday card and their good wishes to mark his 63rd birthday.

 

General Prayut admitted that sometimes he became aggressive with reporters but that was due to work-related stress, adding that he held no personal grudge against them. 

 

“I just want what we are doing to be completed successfully, otherwise we will not be able to move further,” he told the media. 

 

“We have attained many successes. In some areas, we are in the process of doing [work] and almost succeeding. But in some areas, we are just in the starting point.”

 

Prayut asked the media to accept the fact prime ministers have different characters. “I am what I am,” he said. 

 

The PM gave a commemorative coin in memory of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej to each of his media well-wishers at Government House.

 

On Tuesday morning, he and his family offered alms to nine monks at his residence inside the First Infantry Division to mark his birthday.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30309752

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-21

Any 'reporter' giving or accepting gifts from this man ought to be ashamed of themselves. 

He also said:

 

Oh I am what I am 
I'll do what I want 
But I can't hide
I won't go 
I won't sleep 
I can't breathe 
Until you're resting here with me
I won't leave 
I can't hide 
I cannot be 
Until you're resting here with me

 

He was referring to democracy. Not sure what he means by 'resting' though. 
 

Grumpiness is ok, in some people it can be endearing and he shouldn't be apologetic about that. However when grumpiness is really threatening, hectoring, evasive, bullying and it is offered as an excuse...then it takes on an entirely different character.

' Happy Birthday ' Khun Prayuth     ....  

The obsequiousness of the reporters in tow is sickening. 

Hmm, maybe I should ask him if he want to have a joint birthday part next year...

Aaaah, the cream of the crop of Thailand's entirely unbiased, totally neutral, wholesomely objective press corps - and even more so now that they each have accepted a commemorative coin from Big Brother.

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

“I am what I am,”

Arrogantly spoken by someone who usurp power and made himself leader of the country. A person who hides behind draconian laws and will relay on fake polls to feel good about himself. An insecure man who fear the wishes of the people to chose their leader.   

31 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

He also said:

 

Oh I am what I am 
I'll do what I want 
But I can't hide
I won't go 
I won't sleep 
I can't breathe 
Until you're resting here with me
I won't leave 
I can't hide 
I cannot be 
Until you're resting here with me

 

He was referring to democracy. Not sure what he means by 'resting' though. 
 

"He also said:....."

I hope he is a Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong fan to have remembered those words., 

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/dido/herewithme.html

49 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prayut asked the media to accept the fact prime ministers have different characters. “I am what I am,” he said. 

Thought that was Popeye's line...

I am what I am

 

I think we are all well aware of what you are, K Prayut.
 

5 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Thought that was Popeye's line...

Edited March 21, 20179 yr by ratcatcher

Surprised the guests aren't prostrated.......

2 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

Surprised the guests aren't prostrated.......

No, just frequently frustrated.

 Ex PM Anand Panyarachun was the most beloved and respected of

all the PM to date, his leadership, although short lived, 1991-1993 was

a good time for Thai politics, but as in politics, good PM don't last,

there's no money to be made for the elite out good times, so he had to go,

as for the current PM, yes he's what he's, and you can't take it away from him,

he could do worse thought.....

Edited March 21, 20179 yr by ezzra

1 hour ago, baboon said:

Any 'reporter' giving or accepting gifts from this man ought to be ashamed of themselves. 

Why ? they might not like him but a bit of flattery will help them to do their job better. You don't have to like people who you are dependent on but keeping yourself on their good side is beneficial. If your a reporter and want to keep supporting your family its not smart to destroy your own income. 

17 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Thought that was Popeye's line...

 

But Gloria Gaynor said it better...

 

 

He certainly is!

Sometimes he is aggressive with reporters.

Only when they ask something he doesnt want to answer.

Edited March 21, 20179 yr by colinneil

26 minutes ago, robblok said:

Why ? they might not like him but a bit of flattery will help them to do their job better. You don't have to like people who you are dependent on but keeping yourself on their good side is beneficial. If your a reporter and want to keep supporting your family its not smart to destroy your own income. 

There is something called 'integrity'. A commodity that any any journalist / reporter ought to treasure. I mean Judas Iscariot was at least paid 30 coins...

58 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Thought that was Popeye's line...

I yam what i yams argiggigigig. Pretty similar ability in public speaking too apparently.

5 minutes ago, baboon said:

There is something called 'integrity'. A commodity that any any journalist / reporter ought to treasure. I mean Judas Iscariot was at least paid 30 coins...

I like your high horse (no insult meant) but integrity does not feed a family if you lose your job. I just see it different,  PM's come and go (especially here) so maintaining a good relation with them is useful. You don't have to really like him but you can at least make sure your in his good grace so you can do your job better.

 

As a journalist you will have to work with people you don't like personally.. but you can at least make sure there is a good business relationship. 

 

I prefer practicality and having income over integrity. Do you think reporters that have interviewed serial killers like them.. I doubt it.. but I am sure they would do them small favors to build a relation so they can report good and or write a good book. 

12 minutes ago, robblok said:

I like your high horse (no insult meant) but integrity does not feed a family if you lose your job. I just see it different,  PM's come and go (especially here) so maintaining a good relation with them is useful. You don't have to really like him but you can at least make sure your in his good grace so you can do your job better.

 

As a journalist you will have to work with people you don't like personally.. but you can at least make sure there is a good business relationship. 

 

I prefer practicality and having income over integrity. Do you think reporters that have interviewed serial killers like them.. I doubt it.. but I am sure they would do them small favors to build a relation so they can report good and or write a good book. 

Aye, integrity won't feed your family true enough, but it will help you find another job in journalism and perhaps with a better news agency once you have the metaphorical scars that show you have been in the trenches, as it were.

 

As for interviewing serial killers, I doubt they bring birthday cards and fluffy bunnies into the prison with them...

Edited March 21, 20179 yr by baboon

3 minutes ago, baboon said:

Aye, integrity won't feed your family true enough, but it will help you find another job in journalism and perhaps with a better news agency once you have the metaphorical scars that show you have been in the trenches, as it were.

 

As for interviewing serial killers, I doubt they bring birthday cards and fluffy bunnies into the prison with them...

Maybe in an other country, here its not smart to piss off those in power, they have long memories. (if it was easy to get a new job as you say.. sure piss them off and show integrity but not if it really means no income)

 

As for the serial killers, do you really think there is no tit for tat relation... and of course it goes only that far.. but I am sure that if they let the guy know how much they despise him they wont get a good story. 

 

I just see things different than you.. have you never worked with an <deleted> of an boss or co worker... i always tried to maintain good relations then. We always bought cake and stuff on birthdays.. even for the <deleted>. No need to make things worse just to take a stand. I feel income and job security is more important (within limits) 

 

Anyway.. just a bit OT... 

 

Prayut is a walking media disaster (said it before) but as a general you don't have to coat things like politicians do. I will be happy when his reign is done. 

2 hours ago, baboon said:

Any 'reporter' giving or accepting gifts from this man ought to be ashamed of themselves. 

Totally agree. It makes me want to vomit.

27 minutes ago, robblok said:

Maybe in an other country, here its not smart to piss off those in power, they have long memories. (if it was easy to get a new job as you say.. sure piss them off and show integrity but not if it really means no income)

 

As for the serial killers, do you really think there is no tit for tat relation... and of course it goes only that far.. but I am sure that if they let the guy know how much they despise him they wont get a good story. 

 

I just see things different than you.. have you never worked with an <deleted> of an boss or co worker... i always tried to maintain good relations then. We always bought cake and stuff on birthdays.. even for the <deleted>. No need to make things worse just to take a stand. I feel income and job security is more important (within limits) 

 

Anyway.. just a bit OT... 

 

Prayut is a walking media disaster (said it before) but as a general you don't have to coat things like politicians do. I will be happy when his reign is done. 

I have been pretty lucky regarding bosses, I have to admit. There were ones I would argue with (you will be amazed to hear?) but they had maturity and depth of character. When the row was over (or not), it would be 'Anyway, how did your holiday go? You weren't affected by that air traffic control strike, were you...?' Work matters were work matters and outside matters were another thing entirely. 

I very much suspect Prayudh is not like that.

 

As always we shall have to agree to disagree and see what others have to say...

 

 

Edited March 21, 20179 yr by baboon

28 minutes ago, baboon said:

I have been pretty lucky regarding bosses, I have to admit. There were ones I would argue with (you will be amazed to hear?) but they had maturity and depth of character. When the row was over (or not), it would be 'Anyway, how did your holiday go? You weren't affected by that air traffic control strike, were you...?' Work matters were work matters and outside matters were another thing entirely. 

I very much suspect Prayudh is not like that.

 

As always we shall have to agree to disagree and see what others have to say...

 

 

Oh I have argued with my boss too (when i still had one). But those were business arguments where I saw things different then him. We both had no problems with that in the Netherlands its not unusual to disagree with a boss. But in the end his word was of course more important. But if it then later went wrong then it was his problem and not mine. 

 

Prayut is not like that.. he is a typical army man (though here in Thailand the boss seems to always be right) he accepts no disagreement. He is not suited for what he is doing now. 

 

Yes lets disagree.. I just feel that job-security wins over my personal feeling about someone. Unless it really drives me mad.. but then i first look for something else before i get it off my chest.

12 minutes ago, robblok said:

Oh I have argued with my boss too (when i still had one). But those were business arguments where I saw things different then him. We both had no problems with that in the Netherlands its not unusual to disagree with a boss. But in the end his word was of course more important. But if it then later went wrong then it was his problem and not mine. 

 

Prayut is not like that.. he is a typical army man (though here in Thailand the boss seems to always be right) he accepts no disagreement. He is not suited for what he is doing now. 

 

Yes lets disagree.. I just feel that job-security wins over my personal feeling about someone. Unless it really drives me mad.. but then i first look for something else before i get it off my chest.

Hang on a second... We are talking about bosses, but he isn't their boss, is he? Their bosses will be the editors of the media outlets they are employed by. If he was their boss that would mean they were state media.

25 minutes ago, baboon said:

Hang on a second... We are talking about bosses, but he isn't their boss, is he? Their bosses will be the editors of the media outlets they are employed by. If he was their boss that would mean they were state media.

 

No he is not their boss.. but someone they need to work with to do their job good else their boss will have to replace them. Just feel its better to keep him on your good side so they can do their job better. If that means a birthday cake so be it.  But I think our points are not too far apart. I understand what your saying about integrity, just feel job security is more important (unless they have a good backup plan)