The writer, one "George" from Vienna, just beat me to it. Like countless others, I wake up every morning looking for some new sign, simply because there is little else we can do. I have read Bush's letter 20 times, dissected it and brought particular bits and pieces to both foreign affairs and read-between-the-lines experts for consultation. The best part is most of them had already started decoding the president's letter and the one he was replying to. The analysts shared my doubts about encrypted messages, but were divided on whether there was really a call for the People Alliance for Democracy's headquarters to be nuked.

You've got to blame the man who started all of this - the one who has taught us not to believe everything we see, read or hear. For example, first we thought it was a long political break, which would last until political reforms were complete, but it has turned out to be a handsomely paid vacation and the man has now resumed office on the pretext that "my country needs me". Then he tested our brain power with a claim that one "charismatic person whose clout is outside the scope of democracy" was plotting against him.

It has been hit and miss speculating, but we have started to learn a bit. Now, whenever the man preaches national harmony, we can trust him to file 10 more lawsuits against his opponents the following week. When he says "our nation is hurt enough", speechwriters must be prepared to draft complaints against "undemocratic elements" for an international audience. And, this fresh from the news desk, he just finished delivering a speech to followers at the Dhammakaya Temple, in which he called for benevolence towards everyone including your enemies. Shall we start running for cover now?

Signs from second-tier leaders of the Thai Rak Thai Party are also getting very interesting. Six core members of the party gathered at a downtown Italian restaurant on Sunday, purportedly for a birthday party for caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. Thaksin was not amused by reports that they plotted a mutiny at that meeting and he called an urgent session with top party members yesterday. Those who saw the group walk into the meeting with Thaksin were split over the would-be rebels facial expressions. Some described them as giving the impression of schoolboys caught reading porn books while others saw the sullen faces of Julius Caesar's murderers.

Somkid, Somsak Thepsuthin, Suranand Vejjajiva, Pinij Charusombat, Preecha Laohapongchana and Chaturon Chaisang have excited all conspiracy theorists. Now, "defection" rumours have been upgraded to speculation about a party coup. Apparently, these six young bloods now want to keep hold of the Thai Rak Thai Party rather than let it flounder with its embattled founder.

Of the six, Somkid has drawn the most attention, due in no small part to him being one of the last remaining pillars supporting a semblance of legitimacy in the caretaker government.

Have you ever played that game, where you make a little tower out of oblong wood blocks and take turns pulling a piece out until the loser collapses it? Well, Somkid's resignation is equivalent to pulling that wrong block out of the tower.

What is Somkid thinking? Pessimists see a man too loyal to his master - or too afraid of being "Anwar-ed" to lead a revolt. Admirers are giving him time, believing that when the timing is right and the "signal" from higher levels is clear, the "braveheart" side of him will finally come out. They are convinced that if he is to be the next prime minister, he won't be a puppet type, and his boss will be gone for good.

So, as we wait for the real-life political drama to end, feel free to use your own imagination. The Brutus scenario is not bad for Shakespeare fans, but voodoo enthusiasts might prefer a scarier, more mysterious ending like that in the "Blair Witch Project", given the alleged scale of supernatural elements involved in the crisis. And don't be ashamed. Every conspiracy-theory leader gets the conspiracy-theory populace he deserves.