Comments on: Can The Times be serious?

By: Ryan Sammut

Ryan Sammut — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:26:57 +0000

The worst part of timesofmalta.com is definitely the readers’ comments.

By: C Falzon

C Falzon — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:58:46 +0000

There is hope yet for tThe Times.

For a change Franco Debono is no longer a prominent criminal lawyer or reformist politician making passionate speeches, but just ‘Nationalist MP Franco Debono.’

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120216/local/franco.407115

By: AA

AA — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:35:44 +0000

So according to The Times, ‘ghaqal fit-tmexxija’, PL’s slogan translates to behaviour in leadership?

By: mandango

mandango — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:59:03 +0000

In reply to el bandido guapo.

I think you are missing the point that DCG is making. It is not the “behaved well” you should be looking at but “I think we need to look at this contribution in a positive way”, and its coded meaning. According to DCG of course.

As for me, I have a totally different reading to this. Gonzi was not speaking in any coded way. He said what he said because he wants Franco to keep quiet and behave well, as Gonzi wants to hang on to power at all costs. Even if the price is appeasing, humiliation, prostrating and whatever.

By: Angus Black

Angus Black — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:26:37 +0000

“Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday only had words of praise…”

It is such a relief to note that Dr. Gonzi had words of praise in regards to Dr. Debono, only once – yesterday.

Other times although not audibly and definitely not in front of the Times reporters he may have uttered a string of four letter words which could only be forgiven by his late uncle Archbishop Gonzi!

By: Kenneth Cassar

Kenneth Cassar — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:23:21 +0000

The Prime Minister only had words of praise? From the quote, I gather that the Prime Minister was only being polite (kind would perhaps be the better word).

The key text is “(Franco Debono) made a number of valid points that have been made by other people before, not just him”.

By: Taks Fors

Taks Fors — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:22:06 +0000

The Times and Franco Debono must be on a permanent communications open-line.

Whatever happens in Malta The Times has to ask Franco for his opinion and duly reports his ‘thoughts’.

I bet that after the paternalistically-sounding ‘behaved well’ comment by the newspaper, Franco must have felt like a little boy being encouraged by his dad. What a sad situation at The Times.

In trying to compete with Malta Today, it has descended to almost unacceptable levels.

By: David S

David S — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:16:32 +0000

Standards have long fallen at the Times – I wouldn’t be surprised to read “walks well” as a translation of “mexa sewwa”

By: el bandido guapo

el bandido guapo — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:35:56 +0000

“behaved well” – Oh dear, so that’s what “mexa bil-ghaqal” or whatever was actually said translates to.

Yes Franco Debono’s antics may be childish but he’s over the age of eight, so there is no doubt that Gonzi would never have used that phrase had he commented in English.

By: Ivan

Ivan — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:07:51 +0000

Probably they expected the Prime Minister to conclude by saying, “…he acted as a total prat, as always”.

Are we sure Sabrina did not infiltrate The Times?