NationStates Jolt Archive

Who is it? Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great gets my vote.

Go Queen!!!!

King Juan Carlos of Spain. He has quite deliberately placed himself and his throne on the road to elimination as a political force for the good of his nation.
I call him the one remaining true King.

The Monarch! (http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/fortybelowsummer/monarch.jpg)

I was going to find a 'real' picture, I just couldn't believe someone made that. Well, I guess I could...and I'm lazy.

Mam we where just talking about this in the office today. It transpires that the Thai chap is the longest living monarch, and our blessed *cough* QEII only has five years left until she reaches Victorias record!

Go Queen!!!!

If you didn't have an 'other' option, I'd say Queen Elizabeth II. But, I will say queen Rania of Jordan. a woman with a head on her shoulders, who is renowned for philanthropy and who has worked very, very hard to bring women onto equal footing with men in the Arab states. she has also come up with ideas that many of the world's top CEOs couldn't, and has totally reformed her country.

If she was still alive, I'd also say Grace of Monaco, where my sister lives. she was an extraordinary women - first an actress, world famous despite her parents not even wanting her to become one, and then making a seamless transition to European Princess, setting up charities and generally aiding people, though not on the scale of HM Queen Rania.

BTW, what has Bhumibhol done thats so great? Not being rude, just curious.

Surely you mean Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Granada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis?

Surely you mean Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Granada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis?

I do, but there wasn't room to put all that. :p

Surely you mean Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Granada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis?

Ahh, good old British Empire :D

Surely you mean Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Granada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis?

Don't forget Pitcairn.

Canadian monarch? Eww!

The King of Tonga.

He may not be alive anymore. The press in the US doesn't really care about the south Pacific islands. And I'm at a loss for his name, probably for the same reason.

Why good sirs. We all now the greatest Monarch is Her Majesty of the United Kingdom Queen Elizabeth II! There is no doubt of that now eh?

Undoubtedly this one:

http://www.ent.iastate.edu/images/lepidoptera/monarch/monarchonalf.jpg

Bhumibol Adulyadej takes the cake for me, because, unlike most monarchs, he doesn't go out of his way to interfere all that much in Thai politics, and even at that, he's respected by the people of Thailand.

Surely you mean Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Granada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis?

That's the one!

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Every time I see that name, I feel obligated to say that it sounds like a 50's rock band

Bhumibol Adulyadej has to be the most unanimously loved monarch (by his own people). It is insane. Practically EVERY thai person I have met adores him. Him and every other Thai monarch. Perhaps it is cultral.

Remember how he solved that Thakasin dispute? There was a contraversial politian who had the support of the country folks, but not the city folks who was accused of corruption and election fixing. It was tearing Thailand into two (well, I suppose three...). There was pro-thakasin riots, and then there were anti-thakasin riots. Support was 50/50 dead for or dead against. It looked like it was all over in Thailand. Thakasin promised to take/uphold power regardless of his detractors baseless accusations, his opponents threatend a revolution.

Then Thakasin went to Bhumibol Adulyadej for advice. He stepped down the next day out of respect for the wisdom of Adulyadej and for the good of Thailand. I mean WTF?! When does that happen? Imagine if Mussolini stepped down moments before seizing power on advice of the pope.

Practically EVERY thai person I have met adores him.

EVERY is more like it.

Then Thakasin went to Bhumibol Adulyadej for advice. He stepped down the next day out of respect for the wisdom of Adulyadej and for the good of Thailand. I mean WTF?! When does that happen? Imagine if Mussolini stepped down moments before seizing power on advice of the pope.

Thaksin, not Thakasin.

And he's not the first PM that His Majesty has convinced to step down.

Bhumibol Adulyadej has to be the most unanimously loved monarch (by his own people). It is insane. Practically EVERY thai person I have met adores him. Him and every other Thai monarch. Perhaps it is cultral.

Remember how he solved that Thakasin dispute? There was a contraversial politian who had the support of the country folks, but not the city folks who was accused of corruption and election fixing. It was tearing Thailand into two (well, I suppose three...). There was pro-thakasin riots, and then there were anti-thakasin riots. Support was 50/50 dead for or dead against. It looked like it was all over in Thailand. Thakasin promised to take/uphold power regardless of his detractors baseless accusations, his opponents threatend a revolution.

Then Thakasin went to Bhumibol Adulyadej for advice. He stepped down the next day out of respect for the wisdom of Adulyadej and for the good of Thailand. I mean WTF?! When does that happen? Imagine if Mussolini stepped down moments before seizing power on advice of the pope.

I remember reading a bit about the Thaksin dispute, and I was impressed at the fact that a voice of reason was able to calm the situation so very effectively.

It's damn sure Michael Bates.

Just to emphasise my previous point. i've been in several Thai people's houses, and to Thailand. Theres not a house or business that doesn't have an embossed brass, or holographic plastic picture of him framed in some central location. Well nim and/or a previous monarch.

I remember reading a bit about the Thaksin dispute, and I was impressed at the fact that a voice of reason was able to calm the situation so very effectively.
It was crazy, wasn't it? It was like Adulyadej learned the jedi mind trick.

Emperor Akihito!:D

Don't forget Pitcairn.

It, along with the rest of the British Overseas Territories (like Gibralter, the Falklands, Bermuda etc.) are under the sovereignty of the UK, while not being in the UK, so don't have their own 'indepdenent' monarch.

Elton John (greatest living queen) ... :p

The King of Tonga.

He may not be alive anymore. The press in the US doesn't really care about the south Pacific islands. And I'm at a loss for his name, probably for the same reason.

Funnily enough...he died 8 days ago.

It was crazy, wasn't it? It was like Adulyadej learned the jedi mind trick.

Yeah, I was amazed.

Canadian monarch? Eww!

I've often wondered what we would do if Britain ever decided to abandon the monarchy. I mean, technically, she would still be the Queen of Canada... I suggest we choose a monarch from Canada. We could have a big televised event on CBC, and call it 'Who Wants to be a Monarch?', and have talent competitions and 'American Gladiator-esque' events.

It would be swell.

I've often wondered what we would do if Britain ever decided to abandon the monarchy. I mean, technically, she would still be the Queen of Canada... I suggest we choose a monarch from Canada. We could have a big televised event on CBC, and call it 'Who Wants to be a Monarch?', and have talent competitions and 'American Gladiator-esque' events.

It would be swell.

At least she/he would be Canadian and be living in Canada, and not some person who lives on another continent.

Surely you mean Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Granada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis?

That sounds good, but that sounded way better 150 years ago when you could include, India, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Africa, and Egypt....

Beatrix, for being the most in touch with her people.

Argh, thats a tough one, King Abdullah signed a fatwa against bin laden, one of the few arab rulers who did........

but i like beatrix also....

I've often wondered what we would do if Britain ever decided to abandon the monarchy. I mean, technically, she would still be the Queen of Canada... I suggest we choose a monarch from Canada. We could have a big televised event on CBC, and call it 'Who Wants to be a Monarch?', and have talent competitions and 'American Gladiator-esque' events.

It would be swell.

I bet all the contestants would have gleaming white teeth...

It was crazy, wasn't it? It was like Adulyadej learned the jedi mind trick.
Or that a few of the Royal death squads are still in business from back in the days before parliament.

I would have said Dame Te Ata, but unfortunately she recently passed away.

At least she/he would be Canadian and be living in Canada, and not some person who lives on another continent.

True. I nominate Don Cherry. King Don... has a ring to it. Just add a crown to those crazy jackets he wears. It works!

True. I nominate Don Cherry. King Don... has a ring to it. Just add a crown to those crazy jackets he wears. It works!

Nuh-uh. Queen Mitsou.

The only true king, Jesus Christ. His own Lord and Savior.

Nuh-uh. Queen Mitsou.

Geez... had to really think back to that one. Of course, I suppose Canada would have to have a bilingual monarch woulnd't it? Don Cherry just wouldn't make the cut...

*there, there, Don, it's okay... stop crying... we can still call it King's Korner...*

need a "me" option

There are only two kinds of good monarchs. The ones that outlaw monarchism & royalty, and the ones that are dead & forgotten by history. The rest belongs in the worst prisons they have in their countries.

There are only two kinds of good monarchs. The ones that outlaw monarchism & royalty, and the ones that are dead & forgotten by history. The rest belongs in the worst prisons they have in their countries.

Nah, if the position is largely ceremonial, and the nation laregly representative and democratic, there's nothing wrong with a good monarch. They can provide national identity through historical significance, increase tourism and provide endless stuff of gossip for trash magazines. Celebrities come and go, but monarchs... well that's the stuff careers are made out of!

After all, I don't believe too many people are pressing for the divine right of kings these days.

Although, if someone wants to make me King, I'll push for it.

Nah, if the position is largely ceremonial, and the nation laregly representative and democratic, there's nothing wrong with a good monarch.Who, as a rule, retain the power to topple democratically elected governments & whatnot. Ours do, though it hasn't been excercised... Yet.They can provide national identity through historical significance,Which is great for creating an "Us vs. Them" mentality. Truely useful if you're a fan of solving forign policy issues through brute force, but not much else.increase tourismAt the cost of maintaining the royalty with all that entails, usually including get-out-of-jail-free cards. Let's face it; in the constitutional monarchies you refer to, the royalty generates less tourism revenue than they cost to maintain through taxes - if the tourism industry really wants them, they can bloody well foot the bill.and provide endless stuff of gossip for trash magazines. Celebrities come and go, but monarchs... well that's the stuff careers are made out of!As if there was an entertainment shortage.. In any case, how is this a good thing?After all, I don't believe too many people are pressing for the divine right of kings these days. Yet time & again, these kinds of monarchs do interfere directly in the political process, undermining it in the process (even if most of them do come down on my side of whatever it is they're interfering with).Although, if someone wants to make me King, I'll push for it.Get your mind outta the gutter & daydream about something good instead - like sex & beer.

What pisses me off more than anything about this kind of royalty, is that they leech off poor people's hard earned pay to live a life of extreme luxury & at the same time lends the very idea of royalty, if not monarchy, some degree of credibility. Those fuckers should be packing my bags down at the supermarket, not wiping their asses with my money.

Geez... had to really think back to that one.
Mike, I'm shocked. What's hard to recall? (http://www.cbc.ca/aucourant/host.html)

http://www.cbc.ca/aucourant/images/mitsou.jpg

the greatest living monarch? not sure. the greatest dead monarch though - any and all of them.

Who, as a rule, retain the power to topple democratically elected governments & whatnot. Ours do, though it hasn't been excercised... Yet.
Whatever the laws say, the Monarch can only lead as far as their country is willing to follow. I mean (I'm assuming here that you're British), how many of your countrymen would seriously be willing to follow Queen Elizabeth II should she suffer a case of senility and demand absolute power?
She might have the legal right to do so, but the moment she tried the entire family would be made a laughing stock and then be turned out on its ass.

Conan O'Brien, the Most Holy Emperor of Finland.

Mike, I'm shocked. What's hard to recall? (http://www.cbc.ca/aucourant/host.html)

http://www.cbc.ca/aucourant/images/mitsou.jpg

Ha! I hadn't heard her name since the 'Bye Bye Mon Cowboy' days and did a headscratch... then looked at the exact same page you just posted!

And as potential monarchs go, she's not half bad looking.... beats Queen Celine at any rate.

blah, blah, blah, republicanism, blahbity, blah

When the people decide they can't afford the stylish expense of Monarchy, they can always elect to remove the institution. If the will of the people is for monarchy, then republicans will just have to get used to pictures of ugly royals on their currency.

To those who live in countries ruled by monarchs: Did any of you vote for a monarch other than your own?