A YEAR AGO, THAKSIN SHINAWATRA, THAILAND'S CEO-STYLE PRIME MINISTER, SEEMED UNBEATABLE. IN FEBRUARY 2005, AFTER A RAPID AND ASSURED RESPONSE TO THE INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI, HE WAS RE-ELECTED IN A LANDSLIDE, WITH HI THAI RAK THAI PARTY TAKING NEARLY 75 PER CENT OF SEATS IN PARLIAMENT.

BUT MR THAKSIN’S LEGITIMACY, AND FITNESS TO LEAD THE COUNTRY, HAVE RECENTLY BEEN QUESTIONED BY A HIGHLY VOCAL CHORUS OF VOCIFEROUS CRITICS, OUTRAGED BY HIS FAMILY’S USD1.85 BILLION SALE OF A STAKE IN SHIN CORP, THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EMPIRE HE FOUNDED TO A SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT’S INVESTMENT ARM.

ON THE SAME DAY, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, HOURS AFTER SENIOR ARMED FORCES OFFICIALS SAID THEY HAD FOILED A COUP ATTEMPT TO OUST HER FROM POWER. MRS MACAPAGAL WON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2004, WHICH WAS ACCUSED BY THOUSANDS WHO MARCHED AGAINST HER CLAIMING VOTE-RIGGING IN THE ELECTION LAST SUMMER.

IN LONDON, KEN LIVINGSTON, THE MAYOR OF LONDON, IS TO BE SUSPENDED FORM OFFICE FOR LIKENING A JEWISH JOURNALIST TO A CONCENTRATION CAMP GUARD, A VERDICT THE FORMER LEFTWING FIREBRAND SAID STRUCK “AT THE HEART OF DEMOCRACY”.

THE FOUR WEEKS’ SUSPENSION DEALS AN UNEXPECTED BLOW TO TOMY BLAIR, THE UK PRIME MINISTER, AHEAD OF LOCAL ELECTIONS THIS SPRING IN WHICH THE RULING LABOUR PARTY IS FORECAST TO SUFFER SIGNIFICANT LOSSESS.

POPULARITY IS SOMETHING THAT COULD LAST ONLY FOR A VERY SHORT SECOND. THEY KNEW IT TOO WELL THAT THE CLINTON'S STRATEGIC OFFICE THEREFORE APPLIED THE TACTICS OF PERMANENT CAMPAIGN THROUGHOUT THE TWO-TERM PRESIDENCY.

I AM READING SIDNEY BLUMENTHAL'S THE CLINTON'S WARS. SIDNEY BLUMENTHAL WAS THE SENIOR ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT CLINTON FROM AUGUST 1997 TO JANUARY 2001.

I CLOSE THE BOOK AND THINK OF SIR DONALD.