PRaise the Lord, no more PRosy Points
Published:
March 12, 2008 at 1:19pm
Alfred Sant’s typewriter gets a much-needed rest. No more misprints.
From The Times today: Weekly column discontinued
Alfred Sant, who stepped down as leader of the Malta Labour Party on Monday, has informed The Times he will discontinue his weekly contributions that appeared every Wednesday.
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The time has arrived when we can start saying “Thank God it’s Wednesday”
My PRediction was that today’s title was going to be “PRimus inter pares”.I found his reasoning sometimes very confusing , but probably ,for him I didn’t matter, I’m a plebeian not an intellectual.
Good riddance to …… cool type writer tho :)
Let’s hope his successor is better and not a classic example being “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t”.
I never read them anyway.
A little tit-bit from http://www.timesofmalta.com just now:
“Timesofmalta.com, the news website of the Allied Group reached a new record of almost 55,000 unique visitors on Monday.”
Let the green-eyed monsters get greener, Daph! – Whilst that site was one of my favorites too, your blog had more than double that figure in unique visitors! (Watch out for more chips (possibly drenched in undrunk champagne) coming along …
Aye thank heavens for that. No more PRickly PRats yipeeeeee. I hear Charlatan Gouder has broad band. :)
Prosy points (20,234,673)
1) I loose again.
2) F’qafas ta regoli imposti mill unjoni.
3) Tmisnix
4) Ippermetili.
PRide PRecedes PRecipice!
He had a column?
Oh forgot to mention. Charlatan Gouder’s broad band network is seemingly based in Marsa and Gzira
Jien ma naqbilx mal-prim li lil JPO ma tahx ministeru.
Min irid jiggieled il-korruzzjoni u jirbahha tabilhaqq jehtieglu jiggilidha per principju. Jaghmel, qabelxejn, distinzjoni cara bejn korruzzjoni u kunflitt ta’ interess jew irregolarita’. U ma juzax il-korruzzjoni bhala trump card jew battle horse biex jirbah il-voti – Dr Sant hekk ghamel. Semplicement inqeda b’JPO – ftit jiem qabel l-elezzjoni generali – u mhux ghax jemmen b’xi principju kontra l-korruzzjoni. Tafuhom daqsi l-istejjer xejn sbieh tan-nies tieghu, daqskemm tafu twegibtu meta ssemmielu dawn l-istejjer: ”Ghaliex le?”
Il-poplu ta xebgha voti lil JPO ghax fehem li Dr Sant qabad qabda mieghu bi skop ulterjuri, ghall-voti.
Min jemmen fis-sewwa jiggieled il-glieda tieghu kontra l-korruzzjoni b’mod gust, ikollu l-evidenzi kollha f’idu u ma jibzax jaffaccja lill-persuna allegata b’korruzzjoni.
Nittama li jsiru l-investigazzjonijiet xierqa u jekk JPO johrog nadif – bhalma hareg Frendo u Dalli u ohrajn – jinghata ministeru. Kif sewwa u xieraq.
Carmel
while it’s most probably untrue that corruption was involved, the fact remains that JPO lied when he said that he knew nothing about what was happening in Mistra. The agreement signed is clear enough evidence that he knew. So I agree that he should not have a ministry. I bet he lied even to Gonzi about it. I was very disappointed to see that document, and, in a way, thank God Sant was not astute enough to show it before the very last TV debate with Gonzi, when it was too late to publicise it, otherwise the damage would have been much greater for the PN.
In my opinion Gonzi did the right thing.
I agree with the PM that for now, untill investigations are concluded, JPO does not get a ministry. His personal success in this election already is a pointer to his popularity. But things have reached a head. He has to understand that
Yes but Michael Frendo was given a cabinet role AFTER he was cleared of corruption. As far as John Dalli is concerned I believe he resigned because of conflict of interest and I hpe he will form part of the cabinet this time round. I think the jury is still out on JPO. I think that he may have been one of AS’s (that’s a good one) many victims but I think the PM is right not to include someone who is under investigation in the cabinet.
Carmel Scicluna – Though I do not have direct information, but knowing JPO personally, I am sure that he was in agreement with the PM’s decision (if not taken in consultation with him)
I am sure that JPO is keen to clear his name without anyone pointing at the fact that he was cleared just because he was a minister or something similar.
Oh come on, you’re all going to miss him dearly. Especially Daphne! I’m sure he made writing your column pretty easy! Irreplaceable if you ask me!
My post to Mr. Saviour Balzan’s commentary in today’s MaltaToday
Dear Mr. Balzan,
I am an avid non-reader of your paper and publications. By accident I got into your paper’s website and read your ‘The winner takes it all’ commentary.
You have just confirmed how wise I am in ignoring your newspaper.
Your self-congratulatory non-humour, the load of sanctimonious crap that you spewed out in this article and the overwhelming conceit you seem to be suffering from takes my breath away.
Your depressing and negative outlook (which I am sure you class as objectivity) does not in any way help to bring about the change that you are so stridently advocating.
Knowing that you will be the sentinel which will be keeping the administration in line gives me a sense of tranquillity and security. Maybe Dr. H. Vassallo, after he completes his VAT returns, will help you to police our politicians and ensure that they keep to the straight and narrow path that you so fervently claim to follow.
You have a new convert, Mr. Balzan. From now on when I need some light relief I will log on to your newspaper’s website. But don’t be too optimistic that you’ve gained a new reader as I have no intention of forking out a cent to buy your paper.
Don’t you wish you could get Daphne Caruana Galizia to write for your paper? Now that might make me change my mind about buying Malta Today.
Posted at: 2008-03-12 05:17:51
JPO is no victim! He is totally busted and nearly cost us the elections. The facts already show that he knew about this application.
@Carmel Scicluna … What i gathered (from yesterdays interview on PBS) is that the Prime Minister was a bit disappointed that JPO did not tell him about that contract. (i might be wrong / misinterpreting things).
On the other hand i think it was a smart move not the include JPO in the next cabinet. If JPO is cleared of the corruption charges (who i think he will be since the accusations by sant are unfounded as always), JPO might be included into the cabinet at a later stage.
Sant did a lot of damage to the credibility of many individuals – as you well said M. Frendo, J. Dalli and JPO.
Yet again, Dr. Gronzi, proofed himself he as a man of deeds – within 24 hrs from assuming charge of MEPA – he started the process of reform – No more MEPA boards / DCCs / Appeal Boards until further notice.
I’m proud of being a PN supporter and that I did cast my vote last Saturday – not like many cowards out there.
Yes I’m sure that the way Sant approached the JPO case leaves a lot to be desired. He had the information but decided to go public a few days before the election to get political advantage. He chickened out from confronting JPO. He went to file a report to the “paravendu” taking all the press with him only to find out that the Prime Minister had already filed a report himself, making a complete fool of himself and his party.
However it seems that there is some truth in Sant’s allegations and although Gonzi was very cautious wrt this matter in Dissett, it seems that Gonzi is not really convinced of JPO’s innocence. Time will tell….
Once we’re on the subject of accusations and alleged wrong-doing by politicians, what’s going to happen to the alleged false tax declarations made by the company belonging to two Labour MP’s who are incidentally both in the running for MLP leader? Will the Inland Revenue Department investigate the matter and let the general public know its findings? I’m sure we are all anxious to find out.
Giggs 11
basically the two labour MPs made false tax declarations for many many years, however they (apaprently) recently regularised their position with the CIR.
Hence, there position is NOW regular?
This of course does not exonerate them from the fact that they evaded (not avoided) tax for so many years. Even whilst Ministers in Sant’s short-lived cabinet!
Sant hoped to win by using JPO’s case.
It seems that Sant was actually right this time! Although nobody believed him and voted for JPO as a victim of Sant.
When JPO should have not received one single Nationalist vote, there was enough evidence to show that JPO knew about this appication.
He nearly cost us this election.
Heard the latest?
The peacock and the dna man have said they never abandoned ship last Sunday but were looking after parrokku and escorting him home – http://www.mlp.org.mt/content.aspx?Cnt=NewsDetails&t=HeadlineStatements&ID=STQ12032008A
And then there was the one about Goldilocks …
AS’s PRivate PRremature PRobability PRedictions PRoved PReposterous
I switched on my computer again today after having been semi-comatose for 24 hours (dumbstruck with joy would be an appropriate expression) and I am sooooo glad to see that you are still blogging away as I immensely enjoy your writings. Of course this is in stark contrast to AS’s Wednesday contributions which at least will ensure that I can throw out my anti-nausea tablets. Yippee!!!
David Buttigieg – Ha, ha, ha! What do they take us for, I wonder?
Oh, maybe they also forgot to tell us that then a wicked fairy came along, cast a spell, and made 20,000+ votes vanish! Oooooooh!
It is a little bit much for Daphne to be calling Alfred Sant a chicken for not confronting JPO. Why should he? Does he not have every right in a democracy to proceed in the way he did and to try to attain political advantage? Well, hello, so what. The fact that Pullicino Orlando put himself in that position and proceeded to follow Sant around for days on end and then start bubbling… Chicken!? The headless chicken in this has done the PN no favours.He lied in public to the electorate or shall we put this down as self-contradiction despite being forwarned by folks in the Labour groupthat he was about to be exposed? For crying out loud, yes JPO, Sant has every right to proceed the way he did, and your behaviour was risible.No doubt it cost us votes. NO doubt it cost you a cabinet place, despite Gonzi’s denial- my goodness he was being touted as Gonzi’s successor…
This notion that DCG can rain scorn and ridicule on Sant ‘he’ll be knocking them back now, whiskey after whiskey’ or words to that effect, about a man enduring chemotherapy is just downright nasty by an measure.Why does she have reduce everything to the cruellest common denominator imaginable? And show the different standards she accepts from different sides of the political divide to boot?
Heard it through the grapevine: on Sunday morning jm continued reassuring a big gambler that MLP predictions were undoubtedly pointing towards an MLP victory , the sum gambled was around (let’s say Euro not Lm ) Euro 35,000 , at noon jm changed his interpretation and started talking about a ‘Telfa”, there was a cock fight and jm ended up with a dark right eye. The collateral for the 35.000 was a garage and other property.
Regarding Jason and Charlie protecting Alfred and staying away from the counting hall, I will bet on its veracity only if Dr Michael Falzon confirms it .
This is what has just appeard in wikipedia:
The Malta Labour Party, spearheaded by him, presented a new programme Pjan għal bidu ġdid (Plan for a new beginning) and claimed for Bżonn ta’ Bidla (The need for a Change) after the 20 years (save for his brief stint from 1996 to 1998) of Partit Nazzjonalista government, together with a new slogan and musical theme, The only way is up, Labour. The programme contained the new and unheard-of concept of the Reception Class, which proved to be extremely controversial, and also other matters such as the reduction by half of the Electricity Surcharge. The MLP portrayed Sant as a “Grand Homme” returning to leadership after illness, while emphasising teamwork, in fact the MLP leadership claimed themselves to be It-Tim tal-Bidla (The Team of Change), as opposed to PN’s portrayal of Lawrence Gonzi as the ultimate leader, with their slogan gonzipn, which was criticised by MLP and Sant as Gonzi being ashamed of his colleagues so much that they were hidden and asked not to appear alongside him; Sant in fact accused Gonzi’s cabinet ministers of corruption.
Dr. Alfred Sant, post to his resignation as party leader was described as ‘…a fine, intelligent, and honest politician’. To the latter he expressed himself as he has, and will have no regrets at all, albeit the fact that the Maltese electorate failed blatantly in seeing such qualities in him, and preferring the arrogance, incompetence and lack of integrity of the ever-present P.N Government. Dr. Sant had to face unprecedented personal attacks, vilification and character assassination, which have certainly have made their toll on his recent decision to resign irrevocably from the Malta Labour Party’s helm. The orchestrated hatred attacks stretched not only from the P.N and its printed and broadcast media, but from the so called ‘independent’ English language newspapers in Malta, as well as from the State owned Television company Public Broadcasting Services – P.B.S. Such attacks were not limited to him or officials of the Malta Labour Party, but also to members of his family which have struggled to maintain a very discreet and low public profile.
This must surely have led him, Dr. Sant, to rethink his political career vis-a-vis his personal life, and how this was being effected, mostly in the light of his recent health issues, and his resignation will surely serve as a long term holiday and as an opportunity to stretch his horizons and be at the service, not only to the Maltese citizens as in the past three decades, but also at the Service of Europe and the World. Surely, his supporters shall miss him greatly, and the Maltese islands have lost a true honest,
visionary and progressive leader.
It is just being reversed by wikipedea users.
Any comments?
I believe someone is trying to turn ‘ASs’ persona into sainthood.
I.P. Tracker for above Wikipedia article:
Tracker:92.251.66.16
I.P Address lattitude: 35.88.69.02
I.P. Address Longitude: 14.402.500
ISP: Melia Cable PLC
Organisation:Melita Cable PLC
Whois: Route 92.251.0.0/17
Origin: 12709
This information can be publicly accessed by searching the IP address above on any ‘I.P. Tracking’ software.
Above I.P. Address has been shut down.
A very sorry attempt to excuse a very sorry ex-leader.
S. Galea, please – if Alfred Sant is too ill to be mocked, then he was too ill to stay on as leader and fight an election, trying to become prime minister. Unfortunately, this man failed to take three electoral messages from the electorate, and then went on to fail to take a far more fundamental message that said ‘enough now’.
Well said Daphne
‘Enough now’ in terms of flogging a dead horse was cavalierly and cruelly ignored by you, Daphne. Despite the fact that you ‘cherry pick’ what you take responsibility for in your commentary it has been noted by a multitude of decent people in our country that you are prepared to stoop to the very basest cruelty and will it seems stop at nothing to win. There are more honourable and less craven approaches to politics that you have chosen not to espouse in a flagrantly dishonest and at times inane way in your support for the PN. Ultimately I see this as your loss, and indeed there has been something lost by all of us, replaced with a taint after reading some of your more vicious diatribes which have verged on the pathological in some of the more wholly inappropriate and personal attacks you have made on Alfred Sant.
Any idea of what happened to Messrs. Michael Woods and Joseph Said…..or we need to wait for next Saturday’s Bla Agenda perhaps they’ll be interviewed by ex Rediffusion DJ Norman Hamilton….
Keep it coming Daphne, Alfred Sant deserves all that he gets and MORE!!!!!
The only thing inappropriate is Alfred Sant after 1998.
His resignation is one of the best things ever for Malta.
Once election fever is over let’s go back on to certain pending issues. What about the role of Mr.Justice Farrugia Sacco and Magistrate Tonio Mizzi and the way they have been ignoring the Ethics Commission and remained stuck to their role in sports.
Any idea of how a Judge can dispose of 500,000 Euros to be distributed to sports entities of which 75% of are funds given by Government.
After all both of them seemed quite confifdent MLP will be in power and their case to be shelved……
S. Galea, I totally agree with you, you can either have constructive critisism or just be down right rude.
I still cannot believe that some people still have any doubt in their mind that JPO is guilty of the accusations made by Sant. It is beyond belief that some people are so blind and dont recognise the truth when it slaps them right in the face.
No one thinks it is fishy that a ‘giebja’ was not allowed to be built on his land but suddenly.. oh my… an outdoor nightclub gets the permit!!!
Oh and btw not knowing who you rented your land to is absolutley ridiculous. Does JPO think the maltese ppl are so stupid???
Can someone please tell super on (or One 0r We Are One) that the election has gone, they lost and PN won?
They are still dishing out cheap propaganda and mud slinging – come on, these people never learn. What do they need to change their ways? Maybe some DNA engineering?
S.Galea, hey hang on… You talk about raining scorn and ridicule on the good fellow. Did he hold back from raining the same things on his fellow countrymen, his followers, the journalists??? Did he ask his friend the wise doctor to stop insulting the university students and their parents?? Did he condemn the doctor’s furious declaration that he would “jaqa u jqum” etc ?
What do you have to say about the fact that the PR man tried his best to keep us out of EU and insulted top people by calling them names and threatening to bite their tongues? My friend, true respect is earned, not demanded. Did he not act like the Emperor who wanted to believe he had fine clothes and enjoyed the admiration of his people, only to find out, alas too late, that it was all a fantasy? He expected to run Malta on a non-programme, shrouded in mystery because it was all hollow.
Why the heck do you expect us to respect such a person who risked our future and the pride which we now have in our country?
Ray actually he did apologise on Xarabank, especially for the DNA comment. still I understand that S.Galea simply meant that passing a nasty jibe about a person who is very ill downing alcohol (obvious reference to the alcoholic rumours) is simply inhumane, irrespective of who he or she is.
Daphne, now that he has stepped down, what or who on earth are you going to write about???:)
S Galea – A man “enduring chemotherapy” should simply not have stood for election. If he is not fit enough to take critiscism (which he should expect, as a politician), then he is even less fit to run a country.
I actually heard yesterday that the operation was not the success he thought it was and he is now ill again, but I do agree that he should have taken time out and stepped down earlier.
The election is over and we are finally rid of the biggest threat to our development as a European nation.
The election should have been (and I guess finally was) about macro issues not the micro ‘one off’ issues. Our quality of life will only improve if we get the right balance of macro and micro issues right.
AS concentrated on the micro and totally ignored the big picture. Ultimately, he had no macro proposals to crow about and the ones he did push were torn to shreds the minute they were given a public airing.
The MLP have a longgggg way to go to pick up the pieces and reform themselves and ditching Mr Pepsodent will be a good start. It is in our collective interest that the MLP get their act together and one day, when they do eventually take over the running of the government, I look forward to being disappointed but still experiencing the serenity that half of us felt since Sunday.
Prosit Daphne – I have really enjoyed following the blog posts and look forward to their continued presence.
Somewhere amongst these posts I read that someone was already regretting voting Nationalist – would you kindly add that phrase to the Elve Comment Generator…….
[Moderator – With pleasure.]
A. Mallia- There is criticism and then there is destructive and tasteless personal attacks on a person that serve to engender sympathy for the attacked and scorn for the attacker who feels compelled to speak so cruelly .Your sister is guilty of stooping to the level of the people she would have us shun. Leave aside his personal habits and picayunes and let’s concentrate on the issues. We are surely able to be better than a fish wife with a grudge? Ray has made some pertinent points: there is so much that has been indefensible about Alfred Sant’s actions and these should be given the oxygen of publicity- not his odd peccadillos.
[Moderator – But why, when it is the picayunes and peccadillos that are so piquant?]
Mike, the PM has asked for investigations by competent people (who, btw, are not paraventi) about the JPO matter. Why don’t we let this process run its course first, so that all facts become known? The PM has publicly declared that wrong-doers will get what they deserve, whoever they are. If there was any fault, then it would be foolish not to call a spade a spade and let it get what it deserves.
Of course two wrongs don’t make a right. But then, are not the pre-election accusations utterly hypocritical, coming from a party which during its ’80’s regime excelled so much in virginal righteousness?
The trouble with the non-voters of this last election is that they seem to suffer from amnesia and have forgotten the not-so-distant past and the fact that many of the 1980’s workers’ aristocracy are still present and have not changed their ways.
I don’t want to remove any credit from Daphne’s excellent writing, but it’s worth following this journal just to read the Moderator’s comments. Haha!
Dr Alfred Sant said that he will be stepping down , as far as I know. And this decision is irrevocable.I think he wants to have a say which candidates drops which district for the by-elections .
I am not a great believer in forgiveing and much less in forgetting.
However, whilst not in any way condonning AS’s actions (I still feel that at least his last act should have been the laying of the defeat soley at his own doorstep, rather than misleading his party faithfull by finding excuses), I think that we should move on.
AS has taken his last bow, made his swansong, and he should be left to exit from the political scene, although I do agree with Daphne that he should completely retire from politics, but that is his (and his successor’s) problem.
He is now a part of history, and we, Nationalists and Labour, Alternattiva and whatever, should all make the first step towards our common future together.
We have worked hard and most here have partied even harder, but now is the time to go back to work. And I kid you not, there is a lot of work to be done.
Excuses for being a wet blanket :(
I agree with Vanni that we should now all be forward-looking, no doubt boosted by Gonzi’s belief in us all. A.S. is now part of history; or is he?? Won’t the labour mentality take time to change after all these years? Mentality is one of the hardest things to change, but of course there is always a Bidu Gdid.
One thing is sure. All of us Maltese have to learn from the past while we are moving forward. Both PN and Labour have lessons to be learnt from the election results. Nothing can be taken for granted, much less the people, the taxpayer, the environment. Of course, it is a blessing that despite the magnanimous-altruistic-conservationist-hunters’ patriotic stand, the non-voters, the mud-slinging tactics, the Dr.’No’ obstacles, the PN still got elected. What a great party (excuse the pun)! But there is still need for soul-searching to find out what past mistakes must be avoided in future.
Brilliant, first of all the rebha! secondly we got rid of Fredu ,thirdly Gonzi got the message that we want mepa to be run as it should be , tax cuts on the way, and after being in power all this time pn should be able to make some unpopular decisions which have been on hold because fear of losing votes. Hopefully MLP will choose a good leader so it will not make a difference who wins next time. (The last one is wishful thinking)Perfect ……..
keep it up Daphne.
When will there be a judge with b…s who will jail the mud slinger!
It is very easy to say something about another person and present it in a different light, with intent to slander – we should have laws – even a murderer is not pronounced so unless PROOF is submitted and substantiated beyond any reasonable doubt! So how come its so easy to commit political murder; are there no safeguards…and I am not referring to …il-multa…sentej wara ta tlet mitt lira!
My 96 year old granny (nearly immobile due to arthritis) voted last Saturday, leaving her home for the first time in 3 years and against doctor’s orders. She did so mainly as a gift to her children (my parents) her grandchildren, and her great grand children (my kids who are about to enter sixth form). Granny lived through many experiences, good and bad, and she voted so that she could do her little bit to ensure that my kids get more good and less bad experiences.
Thank you Granny!
Shame on those PN voters who abstained for some petty reason. But as my Granny said yesterday, watching the telly with a wide grin of satisfaction, we should forgive these people and above all help them see the consequences of abusing their right to vote. A right to vote obtained by all our grannies!
PRosit tassew Dr. Sant, that is one fine decision.
Daphne do you believe in God? Do you believe that there is life after death Do unto others what you want others do unto you
I definitely wouldn’t have risked the life of one of my family members to see a particular political party in power. This is all madness and such “heroic” acts don’t impress me much. It is not as if democracy is being threatened. You are all pushing this fixation too far. Every person has the right to support whatever party he or she wants and the issues each party proposes but as far as we know, neither party proposed anything that breaks the law and trying to instil such fear is a handicap that most people of your generation are passing on to the younger generations.
It is incredible how some people can be insensible at the misery of other people. I never really agreed with Dr. Alfred Sant yet I don’t despise him. It is incredible that some of you in here cannot feel pity for a person who is still undergoing chemo and going through all the hardship of such a cruel and self-destructing disease. Whether one agrees with Dr. Sant’s policies or attitude is irrelevant. Seeing his determination to fight his disease without using it as a tool for propaganda is inspiring. Likewise is the energy he dedicated in the campaign. Had it been another politician, I am sure most of you would have reasoned differently.
I cannot conceive how those that profess themselves to be christians and church-goers manage to spread such venom at a person whose struggling daily against such an illness. I am sure there are some of you out there who have experienced cancer, directly or indirectly, and all of us know how evil the disease is. So how is it that everyone can pity any other person than Dr. Sant?
Lastly, I cannot further more conceive how the university students, our future professionals could have been so insenitive to the mentioned issue especially if there were any medicine students. They were very sensitive to their pockets with regards to the stipend issue (which was red hot when most of those students were in their primary school) but not to a man’s suffering. I would be appalled to be one of their patients, God forbid, when I am older and they will be fully professionals. Only God knows what kind of treatment I would get from people who belittled such an illness.
I believe in human love and respect above all political issues and views and for this reason, I express my gratitude to Dr. Alfred Sant and wish him a speedy recovery.
[Moderator – The Leader of the Opposition should command respect, not pity.]
M. Aquilina – your rhetorical question would be more appropriately directed at the newly resigned leader of the Labour Party.
Mary Borg, I’ve reread G Grima’s comment and it seems to me that ‘granny’ voted not to put a particular party in power but to ensure that the country her descendants live in is one that flourishes, and not one that is run into the ground. Whether any party’s proposals in this election were illegal does not seem to have been the central issue for G Grima’s grandmother. Her concern seems to have been to vote in a competent government.
You do G Grima’s grandmother an injustice in assuming her life was put at risk by her family. She strikes me as someone who would not have been too pleased had her family obliged her to stay home instead. My late grandmother had the same attitude. She’s one of those who was determined to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum on EU membership and did so. No one forced her to go out and do so and no one would have dared tell her not to.
The lady G Grima simply calls ‘granny’ – as did my grandmother – was born and grew up at a time when women were not allowed to vote. She can appreciate the right to do so so far more than people who have always been able to take it for granted. It is inspiration, not fear, that she is passing onto the younger generation by her act. Why insult her by belittling that?
Dear G Grima – I would just like to bring to your attention the fact that Granny (and all women in Malta), know their right to vote to the Labour Party. And I really do not think that a good example was set to others to say that she went out of her home against doctor’s orders! I totally agree with Mary Borg when she said that she wouldn’t have risked the life of one of her family members. Well said!
Hbieb tieghi: wara li rrifflettejt fuq li rrispondejtuni fuq il-kaz ta’ JPO ikolli nammetti li ghandkom ragun ilkoll. Il-borma min ihawwad fiha jaf x’fiha.
B’referenza ”The Winner takes All”. Dak Saviour Balzan min iz-zikk jahseb li hu? X’bokka ta’ sorm ghandu bih innifsu! Sewwa qallu sehibna hawn fuq: nahseb kieku Daphne taghzel li tikteb fil-MaltaToday se jghidilha le! Jien ghalissa qed naqraha ‘l Maltatoday; bdejt naghtiha titwila dawn l-ahhar gimghat minhabba s-sondaggi fuq l-elezzjoni generali … u ghalxejn izjed; jien il-Malta Independent naqra regolarment – qed nghid hekk ma jmurx dak Saviour Balzan jimla rasu li ghandu xi qarrej regolari tal-Malta today!
M Cutajar: why is it alright to deny people the right to vote if that is what they wish to do? Forcing people to go out and vote against their will is a bad thing. Forcing them to stay home and not vote when that is what they want to do is beneath contempt.
Let me put a couple of things straight. The MLP might have been the party to give women, including Granny the vote, but it was the MLP to abuse that vote (of both men and women) when it hung on bitterly to power for 5 long painful years governing against the express wishes of an ABSOLUTE majority. It was during that time 1981-1987 when granny lost one of her sons (my uncle) who couldn’t take the authoritarian rule and emigrated. No one forced her to vote or to abstain. No one who knows my granny would dare do so, not her sons or daughters nor any Mary Borg or M Cutajar. She insisted on doing her civic duty, and actually told the good doctor that a granny has got to do her duty come hell or high water.She went even further than that. She might not have taken the doctor’s advice, but she took Toni Abela’s, offering the Rosary for the good of the country. I just wish and pray that that at 96 I will still have the lucidity to distinguish between good and bad, and the determination to put country before self. Once more from all of us Thank You Granny, it is the best present and the best lesson you could have given us.
Yes, G Grima’s granny, thank you. And may Mary Borg and M Cutajar enjoy the same lucidity at 96 so that if they decide then not to exercise their right to vote it will be their decision, and not that of some busy body relative who thinks she knows better.
Yes, G. Grima, “thank you” to your granny, too. Yes, our grandmother did go to vote “yes” in the referendum, and at a year older than your granny at that. She did so not for herself – because, despite her good health at the time, she knew that at her age she would not live to reap the benefits – but for all her loved ones. (Sadly, she passed away unexpectedly prior to the PN’s next election victory.) She would never have dreamt of not voting, come what may. I admire people like her, much as I despise the people who frivolously throw away their right to vote.
After watching xarabank (14.03.08), I came to the conclusion that if someone tells me that the Nationalists are arrogant I will smash his face in.
PRosit Fred ghal darba!!!
Jason Micallef, Anglu Farrugia, ex-Alfred Sant & Labour Co will keep PN in Government and the nation without a good opposition party for Almighty God knows how many years. Our nation doesn’t need to watch anymore toothbrushes-shining teethy samples to remind us that IL LEJBER are ‘kelb li jinbah izda qatt ma jigdem.’ Labour, please keep having a good sleep! Your sleep started about 5 weeks ago…now they’ve matured into a FIVE YEAR NIGHTMARE! Wow…
Where is Jo Said? I am so glad that the PN just managed to gain power by one seat. That is precisely what it deserves. Gonzi is not the PM, really. He is there only to do what his MP’s have to dictate. Like Gonzero did for the last four years…a perfect yes-man.
Watch Joe Saliba go….bye bye Joe, like it or not you are OUT. That’s victim number one…watch out for the next one, guys and gals….that is what happens to arrogant persons. And worse will happen to the corrupt. I started it and …….who finished it?
Relax guys and watch the clock …tick …tick …tick. The majority has dumped you just like it dumped Mintoff in the eighties. And no, I have not forgotten those ugly days as I was there when you were all at home, cuddly cuddly. I was fighting for democracy just as I am doing now. My principles do not change.
But then you are acting just like Old Labour did. What’s next? Any seats for sale?
you know Jo, there are some pills I could recommend.
and just in case you’ve been on your world travels, Joe Saliba had announced his intention to retire months ago, regardless of the election outcome. so wake up mate.
Finally, may I suggest you jog your memory and hit the Blair button. His party has ”ruled” England since his historic win with 43.1% of the vote in 1997, and his party is still in power. I thought you were a management consultant in London then. Surely these percentages mattered to you.
U hallina kwieti trid, and come back in 5 years time. (unless you intend becoming a consultant to the NEW labour party). Believe me, they need all the help they can get.
so how about that mate.
Ara x’ qala l-bahar. Joe Said the great Nonentity. Int X’taf Joe Said? skoss hmieg minghajr sustanza kellek, u hekk int. Mur iddobba qara xbin. Nies bhalek qatt ma kienu nazzjonalisti imma opportunisti. Ma xbajtx iddur lil kullhadd, il GRTU, Il MHRA u ma nafx min izjed biex tiehu jobb tac-cejca bhala cermen tal-MTA ? ma kontx titkellem kif tkellimt kieku kienu mgienen bizzejjed biex tawulek. Kredenzjali tghid li kellek ghax hdimt go hotel tal-korintja. Tahseb li Malta zghira u n-nies mhux maghrufa? Mur erga hu b’idejn Sant u hallina bi kwietna. Gonzi mitt darba ragel iktar minnek. Qas biss int denju taqfillu z-zarbun. U darb’ohra tigix hdejja Peppinos ghax quddiem kulhadd inkixxik l’hemm. I have no time for grassers my freind, or turncoats. they lack a lot of things, sincerity being the first one. Ma kellek xejn u ppruvajt taghmel hoss. Bzaqt lejn is-sema u rega gie f’wiccek. Issa arana naghmlu success b’dan il-pajjiz u gawdi, ghax int ukoll Malti!
Dear Jo Said
For some reason my last comment was not posted. Must be my labourite computer.:)
Let me remind you of a U.K.headline in 1997.
”Labour’s sweeping victory with 43.1%”
AND THEY HAVE BEEN THERE EVER SINCE.
so don’t stop breathing ! !
Jo Said is glad. Any Gonzi is a yes man lol. But he said no to your megalomanic demands Mr Said – so you have no personal experience of him being a Yes man. And Jo Saliba is OUT ( disgraced too ) according to Mr Said. My what a cheek you have Jo !! Please keep writing in this forum as besides the laughs we get from Daphne’s wit we can laugh as well at your stupidity.
Just an observation !
Mary Borg, Maxine Borg and Marie Benoit methinks are related :):)
Can we please stop duscussing jo said…I must admit he had a connection with the prosy points writer but come on with life. JS did not inflict any damage before the election, and now all Malta knows him and how he acts and what were (and probably still are) his intentions. JS : get serious.
Tony Pace – I know exactly what you mean. (See my comment on Daphne’s Sunday, 16.03.08 blog, which I’ve copied below_
Amanda Mallia on Mar 16, 2008
Francis V. – I think that his comment to her was the straw that broke the camel’s back, seeing that so many people have been “thinking” about her on Daphne’s blog! (And despite the fact that she hasn’t commented on it – under her real name, at least, that is – rest assured that she probably has been following it, judging by the verbal vomit she wrote in her various articles today … Miaow!
:)
My dear Joe… or is it Jo?
Insomma what’s the difference? They’re both referring to the same old guy, who spent his last days roaming around from one political party to another…. ;) Maybe it’s because he’s an important person and want to be different from the rest of us plebei!
back to my question… What happened at the English airport please? can you please tell us exactly your side of the story? Why did the BBC, CNN and Police commissioner ignore you TOTALLY? An intelligent person like you should have been given all the attention you deserve.
Can you also please give us more details about the ‘information’ you have on the scandals? Whay did the police state that you have NO proof at all?
You are a BIG man,, intelligent chairman,, an idol to Malta. We should all get on our knees in front of you….. he he he. I’m sure that with your chairmanhood of the Tourism Authority, the latest figures would have tripled, or more. X’cuc huma tal-MTA kumparati mal-intelligenza formidabbli tieghek.
We are so proud to read your posts again. We thought you ran away… Malta ghandha bzonnok! ;)
Please do us a big favour…. Resign yourself
Jo Said, you are a retired nutcase, to put it bluntly.
I was one of the thousands (probably) who received your letter directed to the people at home, stating how much your ex-friend Gonzi has become arrogant and that the proof of cases of corruption that you had was turned down by him. In a nutshell, I extracted an appeal to either abstain or vote Labour, from this letter.
For the record, Joe Saliba has decided to resign on his own accord. I don’t think Gonzi would have liked to get rid of him by any means – he has been a critical figure for the PN over the past 9 years and would have been welcomed to stay on in his post, believe me.
Secondly, I really would like to know what you’re implying by ‘the majority has dumped you just like it dumped Mintoff in the eighties’. If you’re referred to the fact that the PN didn’t win by an absolute majority, then you’re right, of course. However, this does not mean that the PN didn’t have the majority of votes! Thank God for the Constitutional amendments of 1996… if they weren’t there, we would have had the same situation like 1981, i.e. MLP governing with more seats but less votes. While you were fighting for democracy back then and I wasn’t even born, I might as well just remind you that that was possibly the most undemocratic thing that happened in Malta, ever.
This is democracy, Jo, and it is democracy because the people – albeit by a margin of 1,580 votes – voted in the PN. For the first time in history, a party with the majority of votes – be it a relative or absolute majority – is governing the country. And there’s nothing you can do about it.
As you said in your letter Jo, you lived abroad for a number of years. If you detest the current administration so much, why don’t you go back to England? Alternatively, give me a ring and I’ll be more than willing to book you a bed at Tal-Frankuni.
Jo Said,
I recently had my garden pruned and have loads of lemons – would you like some?
That you are pathetic is a given but I really suggest you don’t advertise it!!
By the way, do we know it really IS jo said?
[Moderator – Yes, it’s him. He does hide behind bushes but he doesn’t hide behind false names.]