So, things are moving according to a familiar old script. There is much that Thaksin has done wrong to bring about this unfortunate outcome. But the constant denigration of his electoral mandate has also played an important part. The so-called pro-democracy movement has been persistent in undermining the legitimacy of the electoral will of a majority of Thailand’s voters (a will expressed in three consecutive elections). The so-called pro-democracy movement’s constant references to a naive and gormless rural majority blindly following the “populist” policies of Thaksin has laid much of the ideological groundwork for this outrageous military intervention. Bring on an election!