4 replies to this topic

[Gene]

"Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra took the lead in the latest poll by Abac of Assumption University as more people preferred him to run the country than Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The pollsters asked more than 4,000 people in 27 provinces on the person they want to lead the government and found that 25.0 per cent of the respondents supported Thaksin, while 21.6 per cent backed Mr Abhisit.

Most of Thaksin’s supporters are people in the North and Norteast, Abac poll reported on Sunday. More importantly, as high as 53.4 per cent of them said they were impartial giving no support to both Thaksin and Mr Abhisit.

Some 92.1 per cent of the samples did not want to see violent political activities, while 90.8 per cent did not want protesters to close streets as they faced hardships.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/15...r-thaksin-as-pm

[tdperhs]

Fascinating but no surprise. I have friends from Issan and Chiang Mai who, almost without exception, support Taksin. But you won't see that in the military controlled news media. I am surprised that Ascensions University's poll made it through the censors.
Through eight years I hated everything that George Bush did and represented. But he was the choice of the people. If someone had made a serious attempt to overthrow him, I would have used whatever resources I had to oppose that rebellion. After the signing of the U.S. Constitution, my hero, Ben Franklin, remarked, "We've given you your republic. Let's see if you can keep it." As an airman in the USAF, I swore to protect and defend the Constitution, an oath I take seriously. There was never any caveat that indicated this applied only when I agree with the power structure.
I know some farang who are critical and even contemptuous of Taksin. I, myself, am neutral. It is not my country, not my business. But as a student of world events, I realize that the information we are fed by the mainstream press is tainted by the Thai establishment without regard to the facts. It is no different here than in the USA. My only concern is that, if the Kingdom of Thailand is going to maintain any credibility as a democratic nation, the military's self appointed roll to modify at will the desires of the voting populace has to be contained. Otherwise, the rest of the world will have to either redefine the concept of "democratic nation" or ostracize Thailand from the international caucus of democratic nations.
Amen.

[Dick]

But as a student of world events, I realize that the information we are fed by the mainstream press is tainted by the Thai establishment without regard to the facts. It is no different here than in the USA

With all due respect, the situations are as different as night and day. The Thai government and the Thai army own and control the mass media and operate it as a propaganda outlet. They do not "taint" the facts, they control and/or create them.

The mass media in the US is totally independent of the government. Sure, the government can try to influence the news with press releases, secrecy and even lies, but it does not control the news networks or what the networks like CNN, NBC, CBS or ABC can report.

[mauRICE]

I am surprised that Ascensions University's poll made it through the censors.

I think you got your celestial terminology confused there, dear. It's Assumption University.

[Hedda]

There'a a much more detailed breakdown of this poll in the Bangkok Pundit link below. It suggests that Thaksin may be holding his own in the polls better than Abhisit in his areas of strength, but Abhisit who may be losing support to the undecideds in areas he should be strong. One of the more alarming numbers for Abhisit in this poll is from Bangkok, where his support dropped from 41% to 17 % in less than three months. If the Democrats are having problems in Bangkok, then they have no hope of winning any national election.

http://www.asiancorrespondent.com/BangkokPundit