It's a HARD election to judge

Viagra Pumps Up Thai Political Race

Bangkok, Thailand - Vote-buying is an old practice in Thai politics, but one candidate for December's Thai election has reportedly come up with a new tactic _ handing out Viagra instead of cash.

The allegation, made Thursday by a campaign worker against a rival party, comes as rules about handing out favors to voters have become stricter than ever, barring even the distribution of free T-shirts and soft drinks.

Sayan Nopcha, a campaigner for the People's Power Party in Pathum Thai province just north of Bangkok, said the drug used to treat sexual dysfunction in men was being distributed to elderly male voters at social functions.

Viagra is supposed to be used only on a doctor's advice, but is generally available over the counter in Thailand.

"The politician is giving out Viagra to gain popularity and votes," said Sayan, a local government official whose older brother is the PPP candidate. "I think this is a very bad way of vote-buying."

He would not identify the candidate who allegedly handed out the pills.

Under a tough new law, both the supplier and recipient of vote-buying can face criminal charges. Candidates can be disqualified and their party disbanded, as was the case with the old law, while voters who accept money of gifts can now face from one to 10 years in prison.

More than 4,200 candidates from 41 parties are competing for 480 seats in the lower house of parliament in the Dec. 23 polls _ the first to be held after a bloodless military coup ousted elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September last year.

(c) 2007 The Associated Press

No doubt in my mind why the capital of this fine country is named Bangkok!

Trust me, I lived there for more than 6 years, the guy from the PPP is actually saying "Dammit! Why didn't we think of that?!!!" And just out of curiosity, when this GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL said "I think this is a very BAD way of vote buying" - does that mean he believes there is a GOOD way to BUY votes? Well, knowing the PPP's past history (since they were previously known as TRT and were the party of the deposed crook... uh... I mean Prime Minister) they probably do believe there's a GOOD way to do it.

Political Games

With all the debates and other political hullabaloo going on, I figured it was my turn to jump on the band wagon.

I've always wondered why all our wonderfully neutered.... er... I mean neutral news media (News Papers, Blogs, TV, Internet, etc.) never just listed the straight shi... er... facts about which candidates believed, or at least professed to believe in what answer to what issues. Are they pro or con? Are they for it or against it? Don't give me all that analysis crap. I don't care about he-said she-said. Just tell me what the hell they stand for in short, concise, minimalistic, Politics-for-Dummies style.

It's great that all you journalists (tele-journalist, bloggist, paper journalists, etc.) get paid so much for talking about who said what; who's wearing a pin; slumber parties in the Lincoln bedroom; who wants us to save money; who wants us to spend money; and what you think of it. However, other than enjoying watching you all shout at each other on the tube, or reading the rumblings of some new media frenzied blog-war, you're not really helping us narrow it down. You don't need to tell us what you think every half hour. What we'd like is for you to display a checklist so we can see exactly which candidate is for and which candidate is against the issues that are important to us. You know us... the people who watch all those damn commercials so you can get paid so much money for telling us your opinion.

What's that? Really? Hang on a tick... Someone's finally done it? Someone has actually built it and it works???!!! HOLEY MOLEY! That's almost too useful for someone to actually give it too us. Free you say??? Someone did it, and it's free and you don't have to sign up or contribute to a campaign to use it?? Will wonders never cease?

Yes friends! Not only has someone constructed a listing of ALL the pre-primary Republican and Democrat candidates stands on the issues, they've made it interactive!!! You can answer a specific questionaire, and it will actually generate and display a list for you of every candidate and who is your best match according to your beliefs!!!!!

Not surprisingly.... here's my result:



I guess I know who I'm voting for. Sadly though, IMMIGRATION policy and reform is my number one issue. The only candidate that agrees with my on that item is a guy I've never heard of and doesn't match up with any of my other positions.

How'd I rate with the Democrats? Check this out...

You can take the quiz and find your candidate here:



So, some of you may agree, many of you may not. That's okay. I'm alright with differences of opinion. We don't always have to agree. Disagreeing doesn't mean we can't be friends. Does it?