Avoiding the "wok and a hard place" jokes that present themselves. Credit: Photo by Jan van der Crabben

In a moment that will make supporters of sweeping political ethics reform both weep and cheer, intriguing news from overseas. Prime Minister of Thailand Samak Sundaravej has been forced out of office because of a potential conflict of interest.

So what could possibly be the major distraction from his sole and single job as PM? He is also the sometime host of Tasting and Complaining: A TV cooking show. This was apparently enough of an issue that he has had to leave office. Well, that and the fact that Sundaravej (who is seen as a cat’s paw for exiled leader Thaksin Shinawatra) has been the beneficary of a wildly unpopular military coup and his opponents have been seeking his impeachment for months.

So while the US wrestles with the revolving door between business and elected offices, the Thai government is even keeping the rice steamer lobby at bay.

This article appears in September 5 • 2008.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.