Why has Marisa gone to ground?
Marisa must be having a great time mixing with Joseph and Manwel Cuschieri.
The Labour Party loves to accuse me of being a paid hack for the Nationalist Party or the government. They have no way of explaining, giving their cultural background and their approach to life, why I would write like this against Labour if I weren’t paid to do it.
I am paid, yes – but by the newspaper which employs me, and certainly not for this blog, which I do for fun because I find it a hell of a lot more interesting than tennis, golf or bridge (and please, let nobody be offended here; it’s just a matter of personal preference).
The fascinating thing is that way back in September, the Labour Party acquired a paid hack of its own in an attempt at fighting back – because nobody could be found to do it of their own volition and conviction and so persuasive payment had to be deployed.
Of course, what the Labour Party failed to see – spectacularly so – was that the moment it announced that Marisa Micallef would be paid with funds from its depleted coffers to write articles in favour of Labour and against the government, that would be the end of her.
They might as well have put a bomb beneath her credibility and influence – such as they were to start with – and detonated it.
Micallef made one attempt at getting an article published in The Times – there may have been more, but if so then I am not aware of them – and failed. She was left with no option but to send her piece in as a letter to the editor, and it was published in the correspondence columns.
I thought it best to remind you of it, because since that fateful day, Marisa Micallef has gone underground, appearing only briefly at the Labour Party’s New Year drinks thingie, ringing up tal-pepe people to ask them whether they would like to meet Joseph Muscat (I mean, what do you say to that? You have to say yes, so as not to come across as appallingly rude or, more pointedly, burn your political bridges for the post-2013 scenario), and taking instruction from fellow functionary Kurt Farrugia, as he revealed in an email which I now suspect was sent deliberately to the entire press corps. It was either that or a Freudian slip of some magnitude.
Her communications function appears to have been eradicated completely, but when you re-read her first and last published attempt at drumming up support for Joseph Muscat and stirring up anti-Lawrence Gonzi sentiment, you will not be surprised.
It’s cringe-making, more so when you remember that this is the woman who not so long ago made the prime minister cringe for an entirely different reason: she wrote about him as though she was in love with him. I used to read her stuff and blush on her behalf.
The Times, Letter to the Editor, 29 September 2009
The ‘blurred’ kingdom – Marisa Micallef, London, UK
There was once a very pretty little kingdom tucked away in a beautiful sea. It was made up of two peoples who were very similar to each other but who each had been brainwashed to think they were very different. One were known as blues and one were known as reds and they led very separate lives. Outsiders called this the kingdom of the “blurreds” because everything in this kingdom had become so confused, difficult to unravel and fake.
The democratically-elected king was from the blue tribe and had been loved as a prince. His father had made him in charge of society’s poorest and he did that job well. When he became king, though, he became too close to certain vested interests. He controlled most of the communication in the country. He started to believe his own propaganda. His judgment became clouded but he didn’t want to give up these contacts, who were powerful and kept him in power.
As a consequence, strange things started to happen. People who were caught receiving large bribes were let off with nothing. Young people who were caught with drugs were sent to prison. The king came down hard on mothers whose fathers didn’t support them but was happy to finance students with four times as much money as he gave these mothers. The king was very clever and knew he would gain popularity if he kicked the same single mothers he used to so lavishly support when he was a prince.
The king wanted one National Day allegedly to bring his subjects together because even he was getting tired of the terrible division. He felt his kingdom was happy and fair, so why didn’t everyone else? To be honest, he was worried. Even his blues were getting tired of double standards. So the king suggested a day that was dear to the blues and less to the reds, so the reds sighed because they too wanted to feel part of the kingdom but they wanted their part in history to be recognised too.
The king said his three priorities were jobs, education and the environment.
Jobs were usually there but the best jobs and positions were reserved for the blues. The reds had to be punished because 20 years earlier they had led a rebellion and their leader had done some bad things. The children of this kingdom were the most heavily tested in the whole world. There was huge stress among them and their families, which didn’t become less when the king made a former teacher their minister, as the system remained unchanged. And the environment in this kingdom was awful. Cancers were on the rise and the dirty dust-filled air was making blues and reds very unwell.
Some blues and reds continued to talk to each other despite the risks. Eventually, the reds had a new leader who, in fact, was the result of a union between a red family and a blue family. The king was incensed. The order went out to rubbish him, to question the value of the cars he and his wife rode and other pathetic attacks. The ruling blues hated to see wealthy reds. They even alleged he was anti business and, because most of the media was controlled by the king, many believed it.
The trouble was the king and the few blues who really ran the kingdom and took all the profits had got so used to this state of affairs and thought it was theirs by divine right.
It wasn’t just the reds who suffered. Anyone blue who didn’t toe the line 100 per cent feared for their business, their children being refused certain jobs and more. The king had discovered there was no need to use prisons or violence. You could control people by controlling their earnings. The trouble was that, although people had accepted this state of affairs for many years, they now wanted to give the half red, half blue leader a chance but they were scared.
Whatever would happen next?
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Shrek came along, rescued the princess, and they all lived happily ever after.
There were quite a few Shreks, actually, before our heroine ran out of options. Perhaps she’s hoping that the Labour Party will provide her with a fresh market of male flesh, even though most of it is terribly naff. In pre-WWII parlance, she would have been known as an adventuress.
Oh how right you are, Isard, except that most of it was “wishful adventuring”, because she only managed to “adventure” with a small percentage of her targeted prey – trust me.
Good one, Lino Cert, this Marisa is now living in Fantasyland.
There was once a very pretty island kingdom tucked away in the Atlantic sea. A blurred princess who had escaped from the depredations of the Labour King of another pretty island kingdom, this one tucked away in the Mediterranean Sea, needed a way to stay in her adopted home because the island kingdom from whence she came was not part of the greater kingdom of Europe. So she found a subject of the royal purple queen and married him. Once the requisite five years were up, she used the Atlantic kingdom’s divorce laws to dispense with his services and ran away with her British passport.
Then when her biological clock began to tick hard in her late 30s, the blurred princess found another subject of the queen and married him, and in no time she gave birth to a lovely daughter. She brought both back to her island home in the Mediterranean where she became a court favourite of the Blue King and took him for all he was worth.
Having acquired a baby and an income, the blurred princess dispensed with this second husband and set about erasing him from her life and that of their daughter. For this purpose, she made use of the divorce laws of the island kingdom in the Atlantic Sea. She even changed her daughter’s surname from her husband’s to hers.
The blurred princess placed enormous restrictions on her ex-husband seeing their daughter; there were times at which the blurred princess would not allow him to talk to or to see his daughter. Many times he was not even aware of their whereabouts as she eluded him.
This convinced the blurred princess that she was a hard-pressed single mother and the champion of single mothers everywhere – though she must have been the first tragic single mother to be chased by her ex-husband begging to be involved in his daughter’s life and to contribute financially.
But the blurred princess had no need of his money because she had found herself a red prince to pay the bills.
Malta Today Archive:
“When it’s time for me to guide my daughter as to her career choice, I’d guide her into thinking about the financial side. I never imagined I’d have to maintain myself financially. I hope she’ll realise that a lot of money doesn’t make you happy, but it does give you the luxury of choice.”
Give me a wad of cash and I’ll give you a smile.
Pat, from the name of the previous contributor (Eyjafallajokull), he is more likely to give you some ash, rather than cash…
If the blurred princess really did what Nigel is saying – “the first tragic single mother to be chased by her ex-husband begging to be involved in his daughter’s life and to contribute financially” – the Blurred King-in-waiting has to explain to us many things.
He has to give us an overview (at least) of his family values.
He has to give us an outline (at least) of his vision for FATHERS. Too much talk about “single” mothers has diverted the attention from the other progenitor of new members of society.
He has to give us a summary (at least) of his projects to avoid such selfishness happening on a wider scale: do we want the blurred princess to serve as a role model?
He has to give us his word (at least) that there will be no free votes on family-sustaining measures. Where family-friendly measures are concerned, the average citizen expects party discipline.
He has to give us his own personal reassurance (at least) that he has something positive in mind for cross-border families, and proper implementation of European legislation on the subject.
If Muscat is going to get Marisa Micallef to advise him on these issues, I really cannot see any progress on this front, but only further destabilization brought about by more atomization and the individual putting himself or herself above the family unit.
This isn’t funny, but tragic.
Sorry Marisa, but I like Nigel’s story better.
Kumment brillanti, Nigel.
tripe……. “Once upon a time” stuff!
The Labouring party have paid about €20,000.00 for that letter, imsieken. Can you imagine the reaction amongst the PL grassroots? ‘Din min iz-zobb hi? Tikteb ittra wahda u taqla paga izjed milli naqla jien f’sena shiha!’
If and when the PL are elected in 2013 and Marisa is rewarded with a plum, cushy job, can you imagine the griping then?
They’re already griping. You couldn’t possibly have missed the smugness of Kurt Farrugia’s put-down that she’s just another functionary like him.
Tim, what I’m afraid of is that even if it’s the PN which is elected Marisa will still land a plum cushy job. There’ll be no end to MY griping then.
What a childish satire – I don’t think she has what it takes. This is more Cuschierism. Can Labour come up with any coherent policies?
Can’t wait for the next episode – The King and The Red Clowns.
Should that read ‘The Red King-Clown’?
EUR 40,000 a year for THIS ? By her standards, and if you were paid for it, your salary would make the King of Brunei look like a pauper.
Life in the parallel universe at tasteyourownmedicine:
“KMB may have failed inlocal politics because he is too kind and peace loving and EFA could not stand the calm and tranquility the island was going true when he wa P.M.”
If these are the fantasies mummy and daddy taught them, why don’t they carry out some independent enquiries of their own, as to the ‘calm and tranquillity’ of Malta in the years 1981 to 1987.
Perhaps they could start by asking Marisa Micallef why she left Malta.
How ironic to write ‘true’ instead of ‘through’ just as you’re uttering the biggest lie EVER!
Oh Daphne, what a pleasant pic.
After the trouncing at the referendum and the last three general elections, I was counting on not seeing this twerp’s face ever again.
“Papal visit will also promote tourism-President”
Duh.
Profound observation worthy of both office and event
For crying out loud
No Paul, the President is correct.
The Pope’s visit already HAS promoted tourism by putting Malta on the map for a while.
Having made world news, we have our Luqa monument to thank for that.
We always seem to bring world attention to us for the wrong reasons.
First we constantly have the piss taken of us because we are the only country in the world that does not have divorce.
Then we want to join the EU, freeze our application, and beg to be allowed to apply again.
Now our monument taz-z***.
I dread to think what utter stupidity will have the spotlight thrown on us next.
… and to answer my own question, here it is :
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100417/local/luqa-phallic-monument-hidden-with-banner
For my own sanity, I’m going to go live in a cave somewhere.
Great! Malta’s resident Taliban have, in their infinite wisdom, decided to protect the Pope’s delicate morals by covering the Luqa phallus. Perhaps they think the Pope has led a life as sheltered as theirs.
Joseph and his wife carrying their children to an official presentation at the Palace!
What I loved best was the comment of one of the last men interviewed in the video on the link, which went something like “M’ghandux wiehed ukoll hemmhekk?”
From 1981 to 1987 Malta was not calm and tranquil. It was as dead as a door nail. Most normal activities were snuffed out as a result of ten years of gross mismanagement by the Labour government. The coup de grace was a desperate last ditch attempt to cling to power at all costs. No jobs, no electricity, no water, no telephones, no computers, no tea bags, no toilet paper, no chocolate, no clothes, no groceries, no nothing. The only signs of life were the regular orchestrated episodes of criminal violence by known thugs at the service of the regime and with the blessing of the police. I lived through it and I do not have Alzheimer’s (yet), thank you very much.
Hadn’t someone pointed out that this once-upon-a-time article was a piece of plagiarism?
“The king had discovered there was no need to use prisons or violence. You could control people by controlling their earnings. The trouble was that, although people had accepted this state of affairs for many years, they now wanted to give the half red, half blue leader a chance…”
Perhaps that is why Marisa accepted a Euro 40,000 salary from the Leader of the Reds then?
Perhaps that is why, when in government, the Labour Party left so many people unemployed, and closed all opportunities, including university, and the EU, and offered the military corps and government jobs, so that it could control people through their earnings?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100417/local/veal-fillet-for-popes-in-flight-meal
Iktar dettalji, please! Ridha minghajr melh? Kondimenti provdewlu? Il-furketta u s-sikkina kienu tal-plastik jew acciaio inox? Tawh opportunita’ jixtri ftit sigaretti duty free fuq l-ajruplan? IKTAR DETTALJI! MA NAFUX BIZZEJJED!
BREAKING NEWS.
Charles Abela Mizzi names the type of paint used on the papal throne.
Fil-live feed tat-Times, Kurt Sansone ghadu kif irrefera ghat-
‘tieni tappa tal- papa’ ‘
Qisux qieghed fil- Constructors’ Cup tal- Abu Dhabi Dirt Track Rally Championship?
Vroooooom! Arah xi clutch control!
Il- madonna xi stroke job dan il-live feed! X’laqizmu! Imbaghad joqoghdu jitmejjlu b’ Kim Jong Il.
OQTLUNI, pls. Daqshekk…daqshekk…ma niflahx iktar.
Jien kont ghedtlek biex titlaq minn Malta. Il-Maltin m’ghandhomx monopolju fuq l-injoranza, imma hawn tilhaq critical density.
I am watching the Pope on the telly at the moment, and I have to say I am ashamed of the crowds screaming hysterically in front of the Palace, a-la-rock-star concert, at a mere hint of the Pope’s appearance.
I know there is deep religious fervour out here, but somehow it just doesn’t seem right.
Precisely because it isn’t religious fervour on display there, but mass hypnosis and the madness of crowds.
It’s an example of the ‘Eidola Fori’, the strange power of words and phrases over the mind. You try your best to disabuse the fools of their foolery, but it only makes things worse. They cannot survey or comprehend their own imbecility because they only have their ‘vulgi sensus imperiti’ to draw on, i.e. the imperfection of undisciplined senses.
Which is why the Catholic Church can always count on these invincible idiots as its fan base.
It is an ugly obscene mob out there, with nothing godlike or holy about it, I assure you. Talking to those people about ‘holiness’ would be akin to describing colour to a creature born without eyes.
L-ahjar wahda meta kantaw “Happy Birthday il-Papa”, as in “Happy Birthday to John”.
The crowd in front of the Palace consisted of children. The square was packed with them and yes, they screamed and SANG beautifully.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100417/local/luqa-phallic-monument-hidden-with-banner
OH MY GOD !
Someone PLEASE tell me this isn’t true, and that these banner-bearers did not do a ‘ring-a-ring-o-roses’ job while the popemobile went round the roundabout ?
I wondered what Joey and Lil Din would do today. Arrive late perhaps? Ask him if he liked his veal ‘n cream lunch on the plane? Nope. They went one better – turned up at the palace with the kiddies. Such a pity all the other MPs left theirs at home.
Was in front of the TV moments before Lil Din showed up, and I told my wife ‘Min jaf what Joseph is going to be up to?’ Bingo – all one happy family greeting the Pope.
If they think they were cool, they’re really mistaken. Dr and Mrs Muscat, you showed the nation that you are prepared to abuse your position today if it suits you, ahseb u ara when you’re prime minister. Shame on you.
[Daphne – I think it’s actually the result of sheer ignorance and bad manners, rather than mere opportunism. Did you catch the look on the prime minister’s face? Priceless.]
No, it was a deliberate ploy for an excuse not to curtsey, shake hands properly or kiss the Pope’s ring because both pair of hands were occupied holding the children.
Now they have a star and a sun blessed by the Pope himself. How many people can say that ?
“How many people can say that?”
Shitloads.
Isma ……tafu li ser jghidu li qeghdin tghamlu abbuz minn tfal zghar?
It’s the parents that everyone here is commenting about. The children know no better, having been taken there by their parents.