In the weeks before the army takeover a number of people were murdered by thugs paid by government supporters. The deaths included four very young children. The attacks were supposed to be directed against anti government protesters but they hit family groups not even particularly close to the protesters. These killings shocked the Thai public. The army chief called both sides of the unrest together and told them to come to some sort of compromise. At the end of the first day no agreement ahd been reached. He then told them to return the next day and be prepared to stay until they succeeded. When no compromise could be reached on the second day he took over. No children or adults have been murdered due to political strife since the takeover. Apart from politicians whose access to government money has been cut off and a relatively small number of activists people have generally welcomed the cooling off period provided by the coup.
Would be interesting to know what Michelle Obana’s views on Asia are. She’s clearly front runner to lead the Demicrats in 2020. I’ve posted for a long time that I think she will be the woman who breaks the glass-ceiling. Her poll rating – 64% – is higher than anyone else, even higher than her husband leaving office with Reagan-style stellar rating. Four years from now, America’s demographics will have changed even further in her favour, and even the most red-neck may view Trump a disaster.
“cities in US are getting very angry” Yes, tuck, some whiny immature semi-adults were denied the opportunity to be governed by the profoundly corrupt Clintons.
Meanwhile, back in Thailand, the military is locking up (or worse) patriotic Thais attempting to exercise basic freedom of speech rights.
VichaiN – good to hear from you. U have been sorely missed. At least if California seceded one assumes there would not be confusion about the independent Republics’ name. Or would EVEN THAT become Californication, with Red Hot Chillie Pepper’s providing the seceded State’s national anthem ?
Trump’s isolationism could mean fewer foreign-policy mistakes than Clinton would have made. If Japan and China go to war for example, Trump could stay out and watch them weaken each other, instead of automatically escalating it into World War III.
The world should brace itself for Trump’s first 100 days, and, the coming global trade war.
Trump’s ‘Contract with America’ (still appears in Trump’s website) includes ( in addition to the Mexican wall) among other things the following:
* to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205
* to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
* I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator (the trigger for coming global trade war)
* I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately
* To begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won’t take them back
* End The Offshoring Act. Establishes tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in other countries and ship their products back to the U.S. tax-free.
If Trump delivers on the above, a global trade war ensues. If Trump reneges on many of his ‘contract’ first 100-days promises . . . the anger by the very people who voted Trump into power could explode into disruptive nation-wide protests or worse.
(It is California Chris B., not Texas, who seriously plans to secede.)
The shot is from Hun Sen’s very own facebook! It’s a wonderful page, check it out (he often livestreams the most random things). And yeah very interested to see what happens to Trump and Duterte…
The world’s no. 1 superpower, the U.S. of A, will now be led by Donald Trump, a most disgusting human being who publicly espoused xenophobia, misogyny, racism and intolerance during his campaign now stuns the world into a state of fear of what a US President Trump will unleash with his malicious bent.
No, Wilson, remember that some time in the past, people of Jewish religion were required to wear badges to display their religious preference. That would be a government administrator who , as so often happens had advanced into a position of micro power. He probably thought that those so displaying their religion would be proud to tell other people.
It could, on the other hand, be the result, albeit a nasty minor result, of one of the nastiest fascist governments of the last few centuries exercising their power. And we all know what followed next.
“Southeast Asia presents few acute security or economic challenges at the moment”
Oh dear Tom. You’re completely out of touch. On security challenges you don’t even mention the South China Sea. One of the most pressing security issues in the world today.
Where to begin on the econonic challenges? If ASEAN were a single country it would be the seventh-largest economy in the world with a GDP of more than US$2.4 trillion.
Good shot of Hun Sen on the golf course. I would be most surprised if Donald Trump knows where Cambodia is let alone who Hun Sen is. Trump probably thinks the Khmer Rouge was like Moulin Rouge or similar. However, I don’t think relations between Trump and Hun Sen if they ever develop will be as important as though between Trump and Duterte because I am sure the latter will not agree to Trump billing him to have combat ready as against bar-experienced combat troops or American advisers in the Philippines. In sum Trump will have minimal impact on the outcome of the Cambodian election.
The Clintons “born to rule”? Rubbish – Hillary Clinton’s background is middle class, and Bill Clinton’s background is below that, and he had a problematic childhood.
While Trump may not have been US blue blood, his background however is money, his father having been a wealthy real estate developer.
“People’s choice” does not necessary mean more liberal and less authoritarian, quite often, as with Trump, it was the opposite. Trumps flirting with authoritarianism, nativism and isolationism has been openly announced by himself. The article here is a logical analyses based on what Trump has said himself during the campaign.
I believe formation of policy under Trump towards SEA and North Asia will be quite different than under the Obama administration. While the Obama administration seemed to have followed the state department, Trump most likely with follow the recommendations of the military and the business community – both whose tendency towards getting into bed with authoritarian regimes is well known. While this may relieve the US from stressful relations and difficult engagement with many the region’s more authoritarian governments – efforts for more liberal democracies in the region will have a very hard time, and a lot less US support.
I can’t help feeling that the wisest words in this post are “while too early to conjecture”.
US politicians, like those in most democratic countries, make all kinds of statements and promises during their campaigns that they abandon on being elected. Had Hillary Clinton won, for example, it is very likely she would have dropped her opposition to the TPP and reverted to her earlier view that it was “a gold standard” for trade agreements.
Trump is unusual in that he couldn’t maintain consistency even during his campaign. Which of his assorted commitments will be upgraded into policies to be implemented after his inauguration two and a half months from now? It is impossible to say. His gracious remarks about Clinton after his victory have shown a side of his that was rarely visible during the campaign. His words could have been composed for him by golden-tongued Obama.
Trump has surrounded himself with uninspiring, if not downright frightening, advisers. But it is “too early to conjecture” whether the normal Republican think-tankers and policy intellectuals who staffed the Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 11 administrations will stick to a hands-off pose vis-a-vis Trump’s administration. If they did, it would be the third presidential term in a row for them to be out in the cold. Most of them, the kind of people to fill the under-secretary, assistant secretary and deputy assistant secretary posts in government departments, don’t differ enormously from their Democratic rivals, on policy towards Asia as well as on alliance relationships.
Maybe, of course, Trump won’t want them. But we won’t know that for perhaps as long as two and a half months.
In the final tally of the US presidential elections 2016, it now appears, Hillary Clinton had beaten Donald Trump by more than one million popular votes, but Clinton lost heavily in the odd US Electoral College voting system. In the aftermath, cities in US are getting very angry with their battle cry “Trump is not my President”.
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Dear Mr President
In the weeks before the army takeover a number of people were murdered by thugs paid by government supporters. The deaths included four very young children. The attacks were supposed to be directed against anti government protesters but they hit family groups not even particularly close to the protesters. These killings shocked the Thai public. The army chief called both sides of the unrest together and told them to come to some sort of compromise. At the end of the first day no agreement ahd been reached. He then told them to return the next day and be prepared to stay until they succeeded. When no compromise could be reached on the second day he took over. No children or adults have been murdered due to political strife since the takeover. Apart from politicians whose access to government money has been cut off and a relatively small number of activists people have generally welcomed the cooling off period provided by the coup.
President Trump and Southeast Asia
Apologies for the typo: should read Michelle ObaMa.
President Trump and Southeast Asia
Would be interesting to know what Michelle Obana’s views on Asia are. She’s clearly front runner to lead the Demicrats in 2020. I’ve posted for a long time that I think she will be the woman who breaks the glass-ceiling. Her poll rating – 64% – is higher than anyone else, even higher than her husband leaving office with Reagan-style stellar rating. Four years from now, America’s demographics will have changed even further in her favour, and even the most red-neck may view Trump a disaster.
Second acts for Thaksin and Trump?
“cities in US are getting very angry” Yes, tuck, some whiny immature semi-adults were denied the opportunity to be governed by the profoundly corrupt Clintons.
Meanwhile, back in Thailand, the military is locking up (or worse) patriotic Thais attempting to exercise basic freedom of speech rights.
With Trump, Beijing trumps Washington
VichaiN – good to hear from you. U have been sorely missed. At least if California seceded one assumes there would not be confusion about the independent Republics’ name. Or would EVEN THAT become Californication, with Red Hot Chillie Pepper’s providing the seceded State’s national anthem ?
With Trump, Beijing trumps Washington
Trump’s isolationism could mean fewer foreign-policy mistakes than Clinton would have made. If Japan and China go to war for example, Trump could stay out and watch them weaken each other, instead of automatically escalating it into World War III.
With Trump, Beijing trumps Washington
The world should brace itself for Trump’s first 100 days, and, the coming global trade war.
Trump’s ‘Contract with America’ (still appears in Trump’s website) includes ( in addition to the Mexican wall) among other things the following:
* to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205
* to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
* I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator (the trigger for coming global trade war)
* I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately
* To begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won’t take them back
* End The Offshoring Act. Establishes tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in other countries and ship their products back to the U.S. tax-free.
If Trump delivers on the above, a global trade war ensues. If Trump reneges on many of his ‘contract’ first 100-days promises . . . the anger by the very people who voted Trump into power could explode into disruptive nation-wide protests or worse.
(It is California Chris B., not Texas, who seriously plans to secede.)
With Trump, Beijing trumps Washington
At least one outcome is already clear : Texis won’t be seceding !!
Thai government responds to New Mandala article
Yes, David. Very good.
We need more demonstrations of the effectiveness of Godwin’s Law in predicting the inevitability of the “bathetic plunge”.
Let us know if an oven gets built on the schoolgrounds and we can start a tradition of labeling things we don’t like as Hansel and Gretelism.
Hun Sen’s trump card
The shot is from Hun Sen’s very own facebook! It’s a wonderful page, check it out (he often livestreams the most random things). And yeah very interested to see what happens to Trump and Duterte…
With Trump, Beijing trumps Washington
The world’s no. 1 superpower, the U.S. of A, will now be led by Donald Trump, a most disgusting human being who publicly espoused xenophobia, misogyny, racism and intolerance during his campaign now stuns the world into a state of fear of what a US President Trump will unleash with his malicious bent.
Thai government responds to New Mandala article
No, Wilson, remember that some time in the past, people of Jewish religion were required to wear badges to display their religious preference. That would be a government administrator who , as so often happens had advanced into a position of micro power. He probably thought that those so displaying their religion would be proud to tell other people.
It could, on the other hand, be the result, albeit a nasty minor result, of one of the nastiest fascist governments of the last few centuries exercising their power. And we all know what followed next.
President Trump and Southeast Asia
“Southeast Asia presents few acute security or economic challenges at the moment”
Oh dear Tom. You’re completely out of touch. On security challenges you don’t even mention the South China Sea. One of the most pressing security issues in the world today.
Where to begin on the econonic challenges? If ASEAN were a single country it would be the seventh-largest economy in the world with a GDP of more than US$2.4 trillion.
Singapore PM throws Trump major ‘shade’
It’s pretty clear where your political ellegiances lie James. Would it be too much to ask for New Mandala to take a balanced view?
Hun Sen’s trump card
Good shot of Hun Sen on the golf course. I would be most surprised if Donald Trump knows where Cambodia is let alone who Hun Sen is. Trump probably thinks the Khmer Rouge was like Moulin Rouge or similar. However, I don’t think relations between Trump and Hun Sen if they ever develop will be as important as though between Trump and Duterte because I am sure the latter will not agree to Trump billing him to have combat ready as against bar-experienced combat troops or American advisers in the Philippines. In sum Trump will have minimal impact on the outcome of the Cambodian election.
With Trump, Beijing trumps Washington
The Clintons “born to rule”? Rubbish – Hillary Clinton’s background is middle class, and Bill Clinton’s background is below that, and he had a problematic childhood.
While Trump may not have been US blue blood, his background however is money, his father having been a wealthy real estate developer.
“People’s choice” does not necessary mean more liberal and less authoritarian, quite often, as with Trump, it was the opposite. Trumps flirting with authoritarianism, nativism and isolationism has been openly announced by himself. The article here is a logical analyses based on what Trump has said himself during the campaign.
With Trump, Beijing trumps Washington
I believe formation of policy under Trump towards SEA and North Asia will be quite different than under the Obama administration. While the Obama administration seemed to have followed the state department, Trump most likely with follow the recommendations of the military and the business community – both whose tendency towards getting into bed with authoritarian regimes is well known. While this may relieve the US from stressful relations and difficult engagement with many the region’s more authoritarian governments – efforts for more liberal democracies in the region will have a very hard time, and a lot less US support.
With Trump, Beijing trumps Washington
I can’t help feeling that the wisest words in this post are “while too early to conjecture”.
US politicians, like those in most democratic countries, make all kinds of statements and promises during their campaigns that they abandon on being elected. Had Hillary Clinton won, for example, it is very likely she would have dropped her opposition to the TPP and reverted to her earlier view that it was “a gold standard” for trade agreements.
Trump is unusual in that he couldn’t maintain consistency even during his campaign. Which of his assorted commitments will be upgraded into policies to be implemented after his inauguration two and a half months from now? It is impossible to say. His gracious remarks about Clinton after his victory have shown a side of his that was rarely visible during the campaign. His words could have been composed for him by golden-tongued Obama.
Trump has surrounded himself with uninspiring, if not downright frightening, advisers. But it is “too early to conjecture” whether the normal Republican think-tankers and policy intellectuals who staffed the Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 11 administrations will stick to a hands-off pose vis-a-vis Trump’s administration. If they did, it would be the third presidential term in a row for them to be out in the cold. Most of them, the kind of people to fill the under-secretary, assistant secretary and deputy assistant secretary posts in government departments, don’t differ enormously from their Democratic rivals, on policy towards Asia as well as on alliance relationships.
Maybe, of course, Trump won’t want them. But we won’t know that for perhaps as long as two and a half months.
Second acts for Thaksin and Trump?
In the final tally of the US presidential elections 2016, it now appears, Hillary Clinton had beaten Donald Trump by more than one million popular votes, but Clinton lost heavily in the odd US Electoral College voting system. In the aftermath, cities in US are getting very angry with their battle cry “Trump is not my President”.
Second acts for Thaksin and Trump?
In truth, if you are in shock at the result, then you have lost touch with American society considered broadly and you missed Brexit.