1	Who, the, most, popular, politician, Thailand?

Suan Dusit has a new poll surveying 9,050 people throughout the country from December 10-29 mainly focusing on the most liked persons in different categories in 2009. No other details of the survey data are available, but this is a much larger than usual sample size. Will focus on the politically-related questions (or do you want to know who was the most liked male and female celebrities?)*

Q1. What event made you the most happy?

A. His Majesty the King getter better, 97.91%

B. The birth of the panda, Lin Ping, 2.09%

BP: The methodology of the poll does make one wonder if people were given a choice between (A) and (B) - for those not in Thailand, the birth of the panda has received obsessive and nauseating coverage (cable TV has a 24-hour channel dedicated to watching the panda do nothing all day!). 

Q2. What event made you the most unhappy/saddest? 

A. Conflicts within the country 81.27%

B. Violence in the Deep South, 18.73% 

BP: (A) is not surprising, but you can see why (B) is a political problem for the government. They cannot control the issue at all and the inability to build on the success last year of reducing the violence can increase pressure on the government to "do something". 

Q3. What male politician do you like the most?

A. [Prime Minister] Abhisit Vejjajiva, 52.04%

B. [Former Prime Minister] Thaksin Shinawatra, 47.96%

BP: Nothing in it really. Who you like may also not be different from you who will vote for, but it does show you the popularity of both of them is similar. 

Q4. What female politician do you like the most?

A. [Former Minister and candidate for Bangkok Governor] Paveena Hongsakul , 66.25%

B. [Former Minister and candidate for Bangkok Governor] Sudarat Keyuraphan,  33.75% 

BP: (A) is a former Chat Pattana MP whose party was later merged into Thai Rak Thai, but who has now left the Thaksin fold. However, she has mainly left politics now and is in the news and is well-known and liked her role of helping children and female victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking. Simply put, if it seems the police or some government agency are dragging their feet on a case or are not acting promptly enough. She will front up with large segments of the media, meet the local police chief and get resources devoted to a case in a short period of time. Also, (B) has been banned from politics for 5 years and has long been viewed as close to Thaksin. From all reports she is still in the Thaksin camp and some view her, after she serves her ban/if the ban can somehow be lifted, in a leadership role in Puea Thai.

*Unsurprisingly, the most liked male and female celebrities were Ken Theeradej and Ann Thongprasom respectively.