Changing debate date not really cooling things down

A Democrat source said the key party leaders think that if they allow the debate to be held on the dates scheduled - March 26-27 - then things would heat up both inside and outside politics. Plus, the red shirts were planning to further stoke fires by rallying outside Government House around the same time.

In other words, not only would the government have been targeted inside the House, its wounds would be opened outside as well.

Since the administration considers the data that the opposition plans to use during the debate as "trash", the targeted ministers should have no problems preparing to counter and defend themselves. However, Prime Minister Abhisit, the main target, may need some extra time to get ready for the questioning. After all, the opposition has been saying, very loudly, that it has information that could topple him over.

Apart from the censure motion, the government is also reeling under the effects of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's constant phone-ins, all aimed at intensifying the political chaos.

"We should not have to fight two battles at the same time. We predicted that the red shirts would hold a rally and maybe even besiege the Parliament during the debate. So, if we hold the debate on the date scheduled, we would have to deal with problems both inside and outside the Parliament. The two events should be separated," the source said.

Sadly, the leaders of the red shirts have realised and moved their rally forward to coincide with the debate.

Bringing the debate forward could maybe "unravel" one problem, but it is doing little to cool down the temperatures. As we all know, Thaksin, who has been bombarding the government with daily phone-ins and is busy mobilising his red-shirted supporters, is using his nominee Pheu Thai Party for the ultimate goal - putting the government in a corner until it has no other option but to dissolve the parliament.

Despite reportedly failing to have "someone" help him return home earlier, Thaksin seems to be more confident about his return this time around. Every time he has spoken to his supporters via phone-ins or has called his MPs recently, Thaksin has declared that "we will be meeting by the end of this year".

Apparently, the government can escape censure, but seems like it would be difficult to escape Thaksin, who keeps saying, "my time will come soon".