Only Higher Authorities Can Tell Me to Go

Well, just like the American people, they've got to live with their mistake and wait until the next election, don't they?

I am not sure. Unlike us poor American slobs who have difficult to apply options (the next election, impeachment, forced resignation by public opinion), Thaksin is a parliamentary PM, and the government should be able to force him out, which would possibly just lead to a similar PM from his own party. I would expect the Thai gov't to be more like the British system where we hear of "no confidence" votes leading to the demise of politicians

I think you mean parliament "should be able to force him out". Essentially a no-confidence vote in a parliament against the prime minister could be equated to a successful impeachment motion against a president in the US Congress. And before the nit-pickers start, yes, there are significant differences but the concept is the same