Mr T gets ousted in a coup.
He exits stage left with a big bag of cash. He immediately spends most of it on buying a football club in England "knowing" that his cronies have set up a new political party and can buy/win the next election.
He tours the Far East with a big smile on his face after the election win knowing that he still rules the roost and he calls the shots via the new PM Mr S.
Mr S spends most of his governments time trying to change the law to benefit his boss Mr T.
The courts then spoil the party with some jail sentences on his lawyer, wife and family. Oops, that wasn't meant to happen!
Things are changing and an arrest warrant is issued for Mr T. That wasn't meant to happen either.
The PAD protests have ben successful in getting rid of the puppet Mr S.
It appears that a big dose of reality then hit Mr T.
He immediately sold his football club as he realised that he wasn't getting his billions of Baht returned to him and he now needed the money. He needs somewhere to stay, so he's now kept a low profile in England and kept his mouth shut.
Is this his last throw of the dice. If he doesn't get his brother in law elected as PM, will he never be heard of again.
New PM
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Limey711
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The brother-in-law of ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra has won a parliamentary vote to become the country's new prime minister.
Somchai Wongsawat, whose candidacy was supported by the governing People Power Party, won a simple majority of votes in Bangkok's lower house of parliament.
Mr Somchai became acting PM last week after a court forced his predessesor, Samak Sundaravej, to step down.
Protesters in Bangkok claim the present government is a proxy for Mr Thaksin.
Clashes between government supporters and opponents have left one person dead, and anti-government protesters have vowed to continue their three-week-old occupation of the main government complex until the PPP is forced out of power.
Decisions scrutinised
Mr Somchai, 61, won the simple majority vote after five days of negotiations.
His government is expected to face continued opposition because Mr Somchai is married to Mr Thaksin's sister, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
Every decision the new prime minister makes will be scrutinised for signs of his brother-in-law's hand in it, our correspondent adds.
Mr Thaksin fled to Britain in July to avoid corruption charges, which he says are politically motivated.
With the formality of a parliamentary vote behind him, the immediate task now confronting the Mr Somchai is to get the government functioning again, our correspondent says.
Protesters have been occupying key government buildings in Bangkok, demanding the resignation of the government.
Somchai Wongsawat, whose candidacy was supported by the governing People Power Party, won a simple majority of votes in Bangkok's lower house of parliament.
Mr Somchai became acting PM last week after a court forced his predessesor, Samak Sundaravej, to step down.
Protesters in Bangkok claim the present government is a proxy for Mr Thaksin.
Clashes between government supporters and opponents have left one person dead, and anti-government protesters have vowed to continue their three-week-old occupation of the main government complex until the PPP is forced out of power.
Decisions scrutinised
Mr Somchai, 61, won the simple majority vote after five days of negotiations.
His government is expected to face continued opposition because Mr Somchai is married to Mr Thaksin's sister, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
Every decision the new prime minister makes will be scrutinised for signs of his brother-in-law's hand in it, our correspondent adds.
Mr Thaksin fled to Britain in July to avoid corruption charges, which he says are politically motivated.
With the formality of a parliamentary vote behind him, the immediate task now confronting the Mr Somchai is to get the government functioning again, our correspondent says.
Protesters have been occupying key government buildings in Bangkok, demanding the resignation of the government.
The sweetest girl that I ever kissed was another man's wife.....My Mother
There was some talk yesterday that the dissident group in the PPP that was opposing the nomination of Somchai was bought off by being offered eight seats in the new cabinet.
I can’t see it making too much difference anyway as this government is not predicted to last any longer than the last one!
Bangkokpost.com: Shortly after the vote, core leaders of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Chamlong Srimuang and Somsak Kosaisuk held a news conference, saying that the group does not accept Mr Somchai because he is a nominee of Mr Thaksin.
I can’t see it making too much difference anyway as this government is not predicted to last any longer than the last one!
Bangkokpost.com: Shortly after the vote, core leaders of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Chamlong Srimuang and Somsak Kosaisuk held a news conference, saying that the group does not accept Mr Somchai because he is a nominee of Mr Thaksin.
2dandan, good summary, that's exactly how I see it.
All they have done now is added fuel to the fire, the protests will continue and it could end up getting messy. There was a chance to end it but obviously Thaksin's grasp is far reaching, he is clinging on for dear life now. Next nominee is likely to be his gardener who once watched a program about politics which makes him qualified for the job.
All they have done now is added fuel to the fire, the protests will continue and it could end up getting messy. There was a chance to end it but obviously Thaksin's grasp is far reaching, he is clinging on for dear life now. Next nominee is likely to be his gardener who once watched a program about politics which makes him qualified for the job.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Here's a piece of background about the new P.M. from Reuters.
BANGKOK, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Following are five facts about Thailand's new prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat,
who was elected by parliament on Wednesday.
- Somchai, 61, is the brother-in-law of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a coup two years ago.
Somchai's wife, Yaowapa, was an influential MP in her elder brother's Thai Rak Thai party before it was disbanded in the wake of the putsch.
- A law graduate and former appeals court judge, most of his top government experience was as permanent secretary of the Justice Ministry
from 1999 to 2006 and then briefly in the same position at the Labour Ministry.
He served as education minister and deputy prime minister in the cabinet of Samak Sundaravej,
who was sacked last week by the Constitutional Court for hosting TV cooking shows while in office.
- His relationship with Thaksin has led to frequent cries of nepotism, especially when a justice minister with whom he clashed lost his job.
He countered such accusations by noting his Justice Ministry appointment came two years before Thaksin came to power.
- As well as his senior positions within the bureaucracy, he also sat on the board of several state-controlled firms,
including Airports of Thailand AOT.BK, national petroleum company PTT PTT.BK and Krung Thai Bank KTB.BK.
- Bespectacled and softly spoken, Somchai has seldom had to endure the glare of the television cameras and
appeared nervous and unsure of himself as he chaired a People Power Party (PPP) news conference last week.
(Writing by Ed Cropley; Editing by Darren Schuettler and David Fox)
BANGKOK, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Following are five facts about Thailand's new prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat,
who was elected by parliament on Wednesday.
- Somchai, 61, is the brother-in-law of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a coup two years ago.
Somchai's wife, Yaowapa, was an influential MP in her elder brother's Thai Rak Thai party before it was disbanded in the wake of the putsch.
- A law graduate and former appeals court judge, most of his top government experience was as permanent secretary of the Justice Ministry
from 1999 to 2006 and then briefly in the same position at the Labour Ministry.
He served as education minister and deputy prime minister in the cabinet of Samak Sundaravej,
who was sacked last week by the Constitutional Court for hosting TV cooking shows while in office.
- His relationship with Thaksin has led to frequent cries of nepotism, especially when a justice minister with whom he clashed lost his job.
He countered such accusations by noting his Justice Ministry appointment came two years before Thaksin came to power.
- As well as his senior positions within the bureaucracy, he also sat on the board of several state-controlled firms,
including Airports of Thailand AOT.BK, national petroleum company PTT PTT.BK and Krung Thai Bank KTB.BK.
- Bespectacled and softly spoken, Somchai has seldom had to endure the glare of the television cameras and
appeared nervous and unsure of himself as he chaired a People Power Party (PPP) news conference last week.
(Writing by Ed Cropley; Editing by Darren Schuettler and David Fox)
I intend to live forever - so far so good.
Ah yes, justice minister which means certain cases can just disappear, Thaksin was powerful two years before he took the title of PM - he was also very cunning, the results of which we're still seeing today.Norseman wrote: His relationship with Thaksin has led to frequent cries of nepotism, especially when a justice minister with whom he clashed lost his job.
He countered such accusations by noting his Justice Ministry appointment came two years before Thaksin came to power.
People moan about the PAD but from where I stand its TRT/PPP that are still trying with all their might to shaft the country for their own needs.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
For those following the events there is a very good summary and a lot of background on today's Asia Times:
http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JI18Ae02.html
A lot of my views and comments are inline with that, especially the closing paragraph:
http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JI18Ae02.html
A lot of my views and comments are inline with that, especially the closing paragraph:
In the run-up to Somchai's appointment, Anupong suggested the formation of a national unity government, presumably including the opposition Democrat party, as a conciliatory way out of the political morass. The PPP instead stood by its democratic mandate to rule and as such the end to Thailand's political troubles are nowhere in sight.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
A pit bull with lipstick?lomuamart wrote:Well said.hhfarang wrote:Man, these Thaksins are as bad as the Clintons and the Bushs. Every time you think you've gotten rid of them another cronie or family member steps into the position!
A pit bull has less leverage.
Edit - or more.
Pete 
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