Technically, anti-government protesters can still claim to have thousands of supporters on the streets.  However, what were once massive throngs of people opposed to President Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday dwindled to about 2,500 hardcore believers.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has also failed to gain the support of the powerful military, which has taken part in coup d’etats in the past.  Likewise, police have not acted on an arrest warrant for Suthep on charges of insurrection, although they are investigating 16 protest leaders banking transactions.

Suthep’s conservative Democrat party has been unable to win elections fair and square; he is demanding an end to Democracy and to replace the government with an appointed panel of “good people”.  

Suthep’s thunder seemed to collapse as soon as Yingluck dissolved parliament and sought to solve the impasse with elections.  The ruling party is expected to win, and has strong support in the poor but populous north and northeast, where it brought healthcare and other policies that help the people.