Comments on: Yes, it is our business

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:43:33 +0000

@Dear Jeffrey, from what I can gather, everyone here is a straightforward elector and not a politician or minister. Therefore it is in our interest to have a decent Labour Party and decent Labour leader, because we can’t rely on the prevalance of commonsense to keep the indecent or inept variety out of power for good. People who don’t vote Labour (yet) have a genuine vested interest in the reformation of the Labour Party and in who becomes its leader, because that person may very well be running our lives one day. The election of a Labour Party leader and possible future prime minister is not an internal matter but a matter of public interest, and if the Labour Party has any sense at all, it would actively seek to involve the public in the discussion, and find out what kind of person the public wants. By the time we are asked at a general election, it is way too late. You are free to express your opinion on this blog as long as it doesn’t include obscene language. This is not Maltastar.com.

By: Edward Clemmer

Edward Clemmer — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:44:36 +0000

@Jeffry

‘I could never believe that you are realy speaking in the interest of the labour party. That would be a first for anyone. Afterall when has the foe ever told its enemy what weapons to use so he could beat him?’

Dear Jeffry,

Your observation is the same expression of disbelief from Leo Brincat (28 November 2006) when he took up the issue of my book.

http://independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=42620

His article was very interesting. My response was published on 30 November 2006:

http://independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=42717

It seems that the answer in the differences of opinion between Leo and myself is provided in the campaign and election result of March 2008. I wonder what Leo would say now. However, I also notice that Evarist Bartolo seems to be speaking to the issue, and has adopted the viewpoints expressed by DCG on needing to appeal to the middle class. The issue now is whether or not the MLP delegates or electors for the next potential Prime Minister have gotten the message.

By: Corinne Vella

Corinne Vella — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:34:22 +0000

Jeffrey: Weapons are tools. The discussion here is not about the weapons themselves, but about who may be using them. If you were talking about the appointment of a receptionist at the General Workers’ Union, you could justifiably speak of a purely internal matter. The leader of the MLP is a prospective Prime Minister. That concerns everyone, not just those who vote Labour.

By: Phaedra Giuliani

Phaedra Giuliani — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:06:43 +0000

@Jeffrey

Please read all of Mrs Caruana Galizia blogs pertinent to your question.
As to what foe etc. etc., I can cite you, off hand, General Bernadotte fighting against the Swedes(his prisoners of war) telling them how best to safeguard their country from Good Old ‘Nappy’ before he sent them home. If the MLP are choosing a leader, they are also choosing a prospective PM; and as such it is also our business because he shall have to meet with our approval come next election.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:19:18 +0000

I could never believe that you are realy speaking in the interest of the labour party. That would be a first for anyone. Afterall when has the foe ever told its enemy what weapons to use so he could beat him? But being on the subject perhaps you have a person in mind whom you think should rule the labour party. Would you be so kind as to tell the general public in the sunday column who he might be? I am no wise guy in the matter but I do believe that internal affairs should be dealt with internaly. After all before being the leader of a country or Prime minister one has to be the leader of his own party. Thank you for allowing me to express my opinion.

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:41:53 +0000

@ Maria Vella – hi again. I think that it is precisely because Abela was distant from the party 1998 to the present that he is not associated with all that mess in the eyes of the electorate. People who haven’t been voting Labour lately (or ever) are wary of anybody who has been too much linked with the party during Sant’s tenure.

By: P Portelli

P Portelli — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:31:25 +0000

True Gorg Abela left becasue he did not agree with early elections in 1998. In 1996-1998 EU membership was considered a distant prospect and in fact the issue, unlike VAT, hardly made headlines in the 1996 election campaign.

If Sant put party interest before himself Abela would have both struck a deal with Mintoff and revived Malta’s application to the EU. His pragmatism was shown by his subsequent positive attitude to EU membership.

Leaders are made of stuff that when it matters they stand up to be counted. None of the other contestants pass this test better than GA. Daphne is right!

By: P Portelli

P Portelli — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:24:06 +0000

If Maria l-Maws had so many disagreements with Alfred Sant why did he not speak up at the time. Loyalty to the Party should mean doing everything to avoid the Party losing the third consecutive election. Or to whom was Maria l-Maws loyal? To himself and his political career. Or to Alfred Sant personally before the party? In that case he is just another poodle.

Somehow NOW all contestants are falling over themselves to tell us that they did not agree with Sant!

By: Meerkat :)

Meerkat :) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:56:39 +0000

Erm…Daph, I don’t know how to put this without invoking your ire…

Isn’t Mr Hansford’s prog Realta’ aired tonight? He promised that it would be about the Mangion/Vella Income Tax scandal and the hissy fit he had with UHM on Xarabank…

I offered to go but he wanted to meet at dawn at Sarracin instead.

By: Meerkat :)

Meerkat :) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:41:33 +0000

@ Paul Caruana

That’s good to know… I wouldn’t want to give up on The Comedy Hour