At it again !!!

[Crustasian]

Originally Posted by muddyhoop

I have been trying to find where Thailand ranks in the world on education but the only thing found was this

QS Top Universities: Top 400 universities in the THE - QS World University Rankings 2007

A Thai Uni came in at 284, thats 3 places higher than Cork Uni Ireland

Yes but Cork has Guinness!!

[LivinLOS]

THAILAND IS SLIPPING TOWARD THE “HALF-SAIL” DEMOCRACY OF EARLIER DECADES --> Pattaya Daily News : pattaya daily update news

[11]

Yawn ... Samak guilty court finds.

THB unchanged at 34.55, SET down 2 points.

[steve w]

WTF is going on politically over there now?



from confused as feck from wales.

[landofsmiles]

PM has been caught doing a bit of spare time work on the side and been ordered to resign. Probably be reelected and back in office in short while after an appearance in the next episode of Gordon Ramsays' Hells' Kitchen.

[22sye22]

is samak defo out

[11]

Originally Posted by 22sye22

is samak defo out

Probably not ....

People Power party MPs have promised to rally behind Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and vote him back in as leader of the government if the Constitution Court disqualifies him for hosting cooking shows on commercial TV.

On verge of giving up caring - all this nonsense has had NO effect on THB or stock market - so if financial markets cant get excited - neither should I.

When we had military governement absolutely zip difference was noticable in day to day life ... Yawnnnnn .... Thai politics

[Simbo]

Originally Posted by steve w

WTF is going on politically over there now?



from confused as feck from wales.

Aren't we all!! Politically- not a lot, stupidity- quite a lot. Samak has been forced to resign but he can be re-appointed if his party so wish; and they do! Other leader main leader in the coalition doesn't want it as he 'wants to live a long life' so probably no change at the top. I've heard of Kitchen Cabinets but this takes the cake. As 11 says boring now and not worthy of further comment!!

[ChoakMyDee]

I think the protesters are sitting there singing "Kumbuya".

[LivinLOS]

Protesters are literally weeping tears of joy, but chances are high that nothing has changed.. Only in Thailand could this circus continue.

[landofsmiles]

He still has to get off the 3-year jail sentence>>>

"Apart from the cooking show charge, Samak also has been accused of defamation by Bangkok's deputy governor, Samart Rajpholasit. A lower court sentenced Samak to three years in jail, and an appeals court is expected to rule Sept. 25 on whether to uphold the sentence. "

But he is also facing three corruption charges that haven't been forwarded to the court yet.

[ultras*depor87]

Samak busted out because of a cooking show, what a joke !!! Only in Thailand

Well it looks like he can be reelected on Friday...

[Crustasian]

I will just pop down to the Busurai and ask Keith Floyd if he could squeeze in running this circus between filming his shows.

[pablo]

According to my recent reads, my guess is that the PPP will "offer" the PM post to Samak. A "face saving" gesture for him, with the understanding that he should decline the offer.

In the meantime, the Deputy PM Somchai Wongsawat (Thaskin's brother in law 5555) appears to be the logical "vote in", on Friday.

Now what would conspiracy theorists have to say about that? 55555

[landofsmiles]

If the PM goes back to cooking will his signature dish be PAD Thai?

[pablo]

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

If the PM goes back to cooking will his signature dish be PAD Thai?

55555555 I doubt it.

Isn't his "signature dish" pigs feet in Coca Cola, or some such sh1te?

[LivinLOS]

The Associated Press: Thai ruling party re-nominates leader as PM

And the farce continues..

[pablo]

But a lot can happen (and likely to), in 24 hours.

[Crustasian]

Got told there have been more large groups of cancellations.

Japanese down 50%;Chinese down 90%;Europeans down in large numbers too

A lot of these bookings were at high end resorts so they are getting hit hard.

I am bored with the political side but it is having a knock on effect already.

[ultras*depor87]

Young PAD to rally at Parliament Friday


(BangkokPost.com) - Members of Young PAD will gather in front of the Parliament on Friday morning to oppose the re-election of Samak Sundaravej as prime minister, said Yong PAD coordinator Wasant Wanich.


About 5,000 students are expected to join the rally, he added.


The group will meet at 8am at the Makkawan Rangsan bridge before parading to the Parliament.


MPs will convene on Friday to vote for a prime minister, according to House Speaker Chai Chidchob.

[11]

Anyone still awake for this soap opera ...

The Nation
Two hours ahead of the 9.30 am vote on Friday, People Power Party spokesman Kudep Saikrajang said his party would back the reinstatement of its leader Samak Sundaravej as prime minister.

THB is a tad weaker (34.75) in line with general USD strength and SET lower in line with world stocks - no clue from Thai finacial markets.

[11]

LOL - not enough MP's showed up to vote - so vote has been postponed until next Wed 17th Sept!

10 am: Chai adjourns House meeting. The House will have to meet again next Wednesday. This confirms serious conflicts within the ruling People Power Party over possible nomination of Samak Sundaravej.

Many PPP MPs were absent from the House session today and so were MPs from coalition parties.



9.55 am: The first quorum check reveals not enough MPs are in the assembly hall. Chai announced the House session will be adjourned to next Wednesday, despite some protests.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Now back to the Lehman's saga!

[ChoakMyDee]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Sorry but agreeing to stimulate the local economy, as part of a campaign platform, isnt quite the same as saying heres some money vote for me !!

Regarding the upcoming election in Canada the Headline is: "Federal Leaders Dangle Cash On The Campaign Trail"

You tell me this is any different than a 3rd world country. It's still buying votes It is just done in a more acceptable way.

CityNews: Federal Leaders Dangle Cash On The Campaign Trail

[LivinLOS]

The reason its different is that the money spent goes into the entire economy, benefiting (in theory) all citizens equally no matter what thier vote.. Where Thai vote buying benefits ONLY those citizens that indulge in the corruption practice.

Cant you see that difference ??

[11]

Somchai (Thaksins bro in-law) has got the vote for PM ship - let the next round of fireworks begin!

THB STRONGER by 1% at 34.05 and SET up a pont.

Somchai Wongsawat, a deputy leader of the People Power Party, was elected the new prime ministerWednesday.

A total of 298 MPs voted in support of his nomination while 163 Democrat MPs voted in support of Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's nomination.

Five MPs abstained.

- Nation

[LivinLOS]

Well obviously no backing down in that... Expect more sillyness for months !!

[snorter]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

The reason its different is that the money spent goes into the entire economy, benefiting (in theory) all citizens equally no matter what thier vote.. Where Thai vote buying benefits ONLY those citizens that indulge in the corruption practice.

Cant you see that difference ??

.....when Thaksin did it it was called 'populist policies', 'marketing gimmicks' and 'cheap hand-outs to the poor'..........

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by snorter

.....when Thaksin did it it was called 'populist policies', 'marketing gimmicks' and 'cheap hand-outs to the poor'..........

I would say theres a huge dividing line right there tho.. Populist policies, 30 baht healthcare, cheap loans, etc.. Those benefited people equally no matter whom they voted for.

Handing 500 bahts out to buy a vote, is benefiting only the voter and the votee.. If you refuse the money you dont benefit.

But all of this comes back into the asian top down feudal systems, where the pooyai can tell the lower people what to think, where those that have made money can buy allegiance and loyalty through thier munificence. The very basis of nam jai / boon khun and Poo yai / Poo noi mentoring is deeply ingrained in the culture, perhaps even more so in the rural populations.

[ChoakMyDee]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

The reason its different is that the money spent goes into the entire economy, benefiting (in theory) all citizens equally no matter what thier vote.. Where Thai vote buying benefits ONLY those citizens that indulge in the corruption practice.

Cant you see that difference ??

Well truthfully yes and no. The vote buying in "respectable" Canada is aimed at poor segments of the population. The one candidate is promising benefits to the old and sick the other candidate promising $100 million to the working class for jobs( 100 million is really nothing). What they are doing is buying votes form the "poor" with promises of riches to come. That is buying votes no matter how you look at it. It actually makes me sick because the amount of money they promise brings about no real change and they know it. Yet people in western countries like to look down their noses at the 3rd world.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by ChoakMyDee

Well truthfully yes and no. The vote buying in "respectable" Canada is aimed at poor segments of the population. The one candidate is promising benefits to the old and sick the other candidate promising $100 million to the working class for jobs( 100 million is really nothing). What they are doing is buying votes form the "poor" with promises of riches to come. That is buying votes no matter how you look at it. It actually makes me sick because the amount of money they promise brings about no real change and they know it. Yet people in western countries like to look down their noses at the 3rd world.

promising to provide them with government programs that should be available to citizens doesn't compare to buying votes

[dennisinkamala]

Huffing and puffing aplenty. No house will fall down and it will be biz as usual.

Sufferers will be the tourist industry and all the service industries, retailers etc.

Shopping mall landlords have seen the writing on the wall and have raised rents and expenses accordingly.

Que sera

[ChoakMyDee]

Originally Posted by marc26

promising to provide them with government programs that should be available to citizens doesn't compare to buying votes

Yes but what about providing jobs to the poor. Jobs that are temporary at best and do nothing to create long term benefits for the poor. Since when is it the governments job to provide jobs for people? When they are promising jobs to people they are basically dangling cash in front of their noses. All they are doing is trying to get votes with the promise of money. How is that not buying votes?

[marc26]

Originally Posted by ChoakMyDee

Yes but what about providing jobs to the poor. Jobs that are temporary at best and do nothing to create long term benefits for the poor. Since when is it the governments job to provide jobs for people? When they are promising jobs to people they are basically dangling cash in front of their noses. All they are doing is trying to get votes with the promise of money. How is that not buying votes?

all the programs promised are their to help the citizens, it is completely different than handing cash out for a vote

-tax-credits for 1st time homebuyers
-5k credit for clothing costs, home inspection costs and land transfer costs
-100mil for skills training
-900mil over 4 years for new drug benefit plan

giving people skills training, incentive to purchase their 1st home, better drug benefit programs. all of these campaign promises(and some will probably not be followed through) are aimed at bettering citizens lifes
sure that is the same as giving some rice farmer 300-500baht to go buy whiskey

it is not even comparable and i pretty sure you realize that

[LivinLOS]

And as I said earlier.. Those programs reward people who vote for them and people who didnt vote for them equally.. Sure you can argue that its appealing to a segment of society but thats still not the same as paying for a vote where only the person whose doing the buying and selling is getting benefits.

[nelsonone]

yep...porkbarrelling (legit) vs outright bribery