Long Term Visa

First of all, go to the post at the start of the Western Europe forum about Schengen and read it. It will include questions and answers about France.
You can also go to an embassy website for France in the US and read all the information there as to what would qualify you for a long term visa, such as:

Work offered (backed up by company going to hire you)
School (proof of acceptance into recognized/accepted school or uni)
Proof of good conduct (that's going to be difficult because they'll want it from where you've been living...would the Thai police provide such a thing?
Proof of medical insurance for a year (or the term of your requested long term visa, if less than a year)
Proof of funds sufficient to support yourself during your stay (think $10,000.....)
Information on what you plan to do (itinerary or address where you'll be staying)
Passport with three months more validity than the time you request for your long term visa...
Whatever else they may require...proof of ties back in the US, etc.

IF you can meet those requirements...all of them...then you could go to the French consulate or embassy closest to you and see if you can apply there.

The information I've found states I must get the visa in my home country.

Usually this means that you must get the visa in the country in which you live: so long as you live in Thailand legally, with a visa valid for more than 180 days, you should be able to apply there.

Thanks to both of you for the helpful information.

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