Thai protesters trap legislators for 5+ hours

the REAL reasons these thousands of peopole are willing to risk their lives.

Could it be FOOD? CORRUPTION? INFLATION? FREEDOMS? etc etc

I think we can be pretty sure it wasn't about the government being "ineffective".

they showed graphic images - and i mean GRAPHIC, "look at the stump where my leg used to be and people stepping on the meat from it in the street", images of the protesters. ( they sooo rarely show that). It really felt like they were saying "take a hint- or you may end up like this fellow".

Live Free or Diebold

Throw those canisters back

(that's where the DNC/RNC protests failed)

I was in Bangkok just this past January for about a week. It was a school sponsored trip. While we were there, we had the opportunity to meet with some of the people in charge at the US Consulate.

The bureau chief we met with was in charge of dealing with media piracy and also had a strong view on the political situation of Thailand. It was explained from the US perspective that since the coup of 06, Thailands GDP growth is among the slowest in Southeast Asia. "Simply not acceptable." The general impression from the meeting was that our interested lied with the incumbent government who promotes "globalization over nationalism." (Good news for US multinationals). The distress of those who live in the city (paying much higher taxes to support the poor farmers in the countryside) seemed minute during our meeting.

The interesting part was when we all left the Consulate and started back onto our tour bus. Our tour guide, a twenty-something young man, got on the mic and started explaining his side of the story. While it was apparent that he was trying to walk a fine line, (Im sure his company doesnt want him diving into politics) it was also clear that he sharply disagreed with the sweeping statements he heard from the previous meeting.

I listened attentively. While in the Consulate meeting, I knew what I was hearing sounded fishy. But it was only after our tour guide explained his perspective (the leadership effectively buying the votes of the farmer with the taxes from the city) that I saw the full picture. The frustrating part was seeing how much passion was hiding under the surface of our guides voice, all the while, the majority of students sharing my bus were rudely oblivious to the story he was trying to tell.

I have never been quite so embarrassed. I later slid out and grabbed a seat next to him, if for no other reason than to let him know that his pleas did not fall on completely deaf ears!

I imagine he was being heard this week! The fight for freedom is worldwide!

Now were talking...

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Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats. H. L. Mencken

Get Prepared!

"Thai prostitutes trap legislators for 5+ hours"

We did lose opportunities by putting all our Revolution eggs in one Ron Paul basket.

Still, hindsight is 20/20.

If we all could go back a year, we'd all (including Ron Paul) would have done things differently.

So let's just learn from this and move forward.

Trap politicians? Sounds good. When and where?

"Lead, follow, or get out of the way."
-- Thomas Paine

The surrounding of the Parliament, meanwhile, appeared to have been well planned and well supplied. Protesters distributed food, water and masks to protect against tear gas. They made barricades out of tires and razor wire and secured the entrance to the Parliament building. Groups of reinforcements arrived during the afternoon, some carrying banners.

The protesters, some wearing motorcycle helmets and masks, some armed with metal rods, machetes and slingshots, threw back tear gas canisters as well as rocks and firecrackers.

well planned? well supplied? too much.