Jeffrey knows that the best way to wreck Simon’s chances is to pretend that he approves of him
I am afraid that Simon Busuttil is about to find out what he should have learned from the experience of others before him: that ‘good will’ meetings and bridge-building chats with a viper like Jeffrey Pullicino are a very bad idea because he will only use them to his own ends.
Pullicino is literally, and I mean literally, in bed with the Labour Party, and the Labour Party does not want Busuttil to become PN deputy leader because this would improve the PN’s situation in the eyes of the electorate.
But apart from that, Pullicino’s very obvious and public personal animosity to certain individuals in the Nationalist Party should make it clear that there is no way he will back Busuttil.
This is because of Busuttil’s perceived alliances to those very individuals. Because of those perceived alliances, Pullicino will do his best to obstruct Busuttil and reduce his chances of becoming deputy leader.
And how best to do that? Why, by saying that Jeffrey approves of him, of course, and suggesting that Jeffrey will be back in the fold if there is a new deputy leader called Simon Busuttil.
Unfortunately, Busuttil handed this poisonous and vengeance-ridden viper, this hostage to a Labour activist, a golden gun to use against him, by calling him to see what he thinks when Pullicino is no longer even on the PN ticket and has been barred from standing from election on that ticket, so what he thinks is technically irrelevant.
How many more people have to die before others fully understand that if you attempt to build a bridge with somebody like Jeffrey Pullicino, he will burn that bridge with you still standing on it and then laugh as you are engulfed in flames.
Pullicino knows that the best way to bleed support for Busuttil is to suggest that he approves of him or that he has Busuttil’s ear.
If Pullicino publicly objects to Busuttil, support for Busuttil will increase. If he publicly supports him, or suggests that he supports him, support for Busuttil will decrease.
If you have considered Pullicino’s neurotic rants as closely as I have, you will know instantly who he is most likely to favour as a candidate for the deputy leadership. Not that it matters anyway, or is relevant, because Pullicino is no longer in the Nationalist Party. He resigned. He moved out. What he thinks is about as relevant as what Joseph Muscat thinks.
But you will have to deduce this for yourself, because he is not likely to breathe a word about the subject, for the reasons outlined above.
Pullicino knows that the best way to wreck his favourite’s chances is to say that he is his favourite.
As for the favourite himself, I know that he will hate to be associated with Pullicino in this way, and will be mortally wounded at any suggestion that he has sought his backing or support, or that he wants it. So I will just keep quiet about it. And as I said, what Pullicino thinks is about as relevant as what Muscat thinks. Neither of them is in the Nationalist Party and both of them share a bed with a Labour activist.
And the moral of the story is: nobody, for the sake of their own safety and survival (to say nothing of other reasons) should ever seek to have a cosy chat with Jeffrey Pullicino. Not unless he or she is Labour and has received the stamp of approval of Mrs Pullicino as being in the interests of the Labour Party.
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I really think you are underestimating Simon’s intelligence.
I do believe you’re right Natalie.
I don t think she s underestimating his intelligence at all. she s just playing the game.
So will he or won t he contest the Deputy post? the unnamed person that JPO supports.
Why don t you ever mention DeMarco by name?
I fear that Simon Busuttil’s change means ‘reconciliation’ with Franco, Jeffrey and Jesmond. And not even Alan Bates can remove this fear now.
Simon seems very clear about it and I am beginning to wonder whether Joseph’s PL would be better than PN with Franco, Jeffrey and Jesmond.
Joseph Muscat’s Labour IS with Franco Debono, Pullicino Orlando and Mugliett. And John Dalli.
Daphne, can you or someone explain to me why Simon, a supposedly intelligent chap, has embroiled himself with the riff raff. Should he have not stayed above the despicable fray, untainted, clean, and then present a new face?
Simon Busuttil’s naivety has been a great surprise to me.
I never took him to be a heavyweight, but for goodness’ sake.
What on earth does he, in his abject ignorance, think he can gain from sounding out the likes of PO Smith, Mugliett and Psycho Debono.
He should have consulted the party grass roots. The sane ones, I mean.
Simply following Joseph’s steps – better with me than against me.
A leopard doesn’t change its spots. JPOS may well be able to charm a bird from a tree but he is unlikely to be able to hoodwink the same audience time and again.
Once a second-hand car salesman, always a second-hand car salesman.
I really cannot understand why Simon Busuttil had to ask what JPO and Jesmond Mugliett, of all people, think of his running for the post of deputy leader.
If he feels that he is not fit for the job and needs other people’s reassurance that he is, then the best thing he can do is forget all about it.
As someone once said to me, ‘I pay you an exorbitant amount for your recommendations but I am still at liberty to completely disregard them’.
@Harry Purdie
The only explanation I can come up with is this: Busuttil’s intention is to prolong the life of this government which frankly depends on Franco and JPO, thereby giving Busuttil more time to consolidate his deputy position with the PN councillors while the PN is in government.
Thank you, Matt. If his intention is to prolong the life of this government, must he do so by shortening his own political life?
Simon should consult a psychiatrist about personality disorders, especially the kind Jeffrey and Franco have. Manipulative self-centred creatures of the worst kind, that the party needs to bar once and for all from its folds.
I must admit to have been quite looking forward to Simon’s “descent” to Maltese politics. However, I do tend to have a level of disappointment through his efforts of appeasement and reconciliation. What you explain above is probably best described as naive.
My impression is that Simon is seeking to garner the votes of the delegates loyal to JPO, Mugliett and Franco – not too many probably, but always crucial. In doing so, he might have alienated many others.
You have mentioned Jeffrey’s comments – yesterday Franco was all praise for Simon. Nothing to be proud of.
While there was a certain prisoner resident in Brussels, Simon Busuttil was ‘il-mibghut ta’ Gonzi’.
The prisoner and confessional father is set free and his disciples go into panic mode.
Change of plans. Simon is all of a sudden the right choice who can unite the PN.
Simon, in my books, this is entrapment. Yes, I choose their favourite word. They will cuddle up to you and then hold you hostage to their cause, whichever it is.
Maybe Simon is offering his services as a replacement father confessor to the newly orphaned.
I cannot wait for other candidates to announce their intentions to run for deputy leader. However if no one else does, it says a great deal about the party.
I personally prefer de Marco, for a myriad of reasons, but will deputy suffice?
I do not want a PN with Franco and company in our shadow. We already have had more than enough of them.
It is better to fall fighting an honourable battle than to appease madness.
Any type of agreement or meeting with these turncoats and traitors will put me off.
Reconciliation with these c**ts is out of the question and PN, please note.
Min jittanta jirkeb fuq dahar it-tigra – jispicca f’zaqqha!
If Joseph Muscat didn’t have the complicity of John Dalli, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Franco Debono, Muscat wouldn’t have a chance with Lawrence Gonzi.
And what about Franco Debono who approved Simon Busuttil like Jeffrey did, and still is in the PN? They are seeing Simon as the only hope for the PN for reconciliation.
Remember Labour had the same problem with Mintoff supporters who despised Sant. Sant always ignored this and had a problem to be elected. I think that the PN should learn from Labour’s past problems, and present itself to the electorate as a united force.
Can I kindly ask you a question? Why are you so supportive of the British system of parliament, where there is a near system of democracy and here in Malta it is wrong to have a government MP not voting in line of the government?
[Daphne – We HAVE the ‘British system’, Luigi. It’s called the Westminster model. What we don’t have is the British sense of fair play. It is not a vote against one’s own team that makes for approval or disapproval, but the motivation and malice in that vote. Jeffrey, Franco and Jesmond did not vote (or abstain) as they did to further the interests of their constituents or because of their conscience, or for the good of the country. They are and were motivated by sheer malice, and nobody decent could possibly approve of that. You are wrong to approve of overtures to the unbalanced and the sociopathic, whichever politician makes them. It’s called amoral pragmatism, and embedded within any such action is the petard by which practitioners of this line of thinking are eventually hoist. As, indeed, was Sant himself.]
And today in The Malta Independent on Sunday he shows utter and complete amnesia of what he did to the Nationalist campaign in 2008 with Mistragate.
Tad-daqqiet ta’ ħarta.
What is enticing our MEPs to contest the general elections? Is there something which I’m missing?
Ok they will have a pension from the EU?
But what else would they have if people are against the “raise”, and these MP’s will probably work more with no office help and get a pittance in return?
Simon is being incredibly naive. His well intentioned but hopeless attempt to achieve a rapprochement with characters like Debono, Pullicino Orlando and Mugliett will soon turn out to be their offer of a poisoned chalice full of hemlock to the brim.
More is the pity if he allows them, and their Labour co-conspirators, to succeed in their nefarious plot.
Not only will that be the end of his hopes for deputy leader but it would write “finis” to more remote prospects of leadership of a rejuvenated post-election Nationalist Party.
Simon has already shown weakness and that he will be led and not lead. He will make a good minister but not a good leader.
I fully agree with your assertion.
Din l-ahhar mossa ta’ Simon stramba u mhix tajba ghall-partit.
Ghadni ma nistax nifhem ghala Dr. Busuttil mar jitkarrab ghand id-dentist meta id-dentist lanqas vot ma ghandu fil-kunsill genrali tal-PN ghax telaq mill-partit.
Allura dan, possibbli ma jafux Dr. Busuttil? Jien hemm nithawwad ghal Dr Busuttil ghax qisu hemm xi haga izjed fonda minn hekk.