Snake-oil artist analysis:

There are the big lies, the little lies and the no-comment vacuums.

The little lies fill in the gaps and sound important. They are what keep the illusions alive. Almost anything that sounds reasonably pleasing and semi-intelligent and ensures the ‘investment’ of the audience will do. These become new-truths: the dogma until refuted.

When the new-truth is first questioned you get the no-comment, vacant look, I didn’t know, It wasn’t me, I had no choice – the shrug. Then when evidence gathers, there is the big lie deflection, having positioned the stack of proof into the no man’s land position of morally wrong but just about legally defendable and having ensured that there is zero evidence or zeroed evidence (this includes destruction, pay off and other types of action). The first attempt is to say this was a figment of your imagination. There was a misunderstanding (cultural, of location, of amount, etc.)

The snake-oil artist will then smoothly ride on to the next flurry of promises and visits creating a new vortex of chaos, sand-in-your-eyes details (wife, podium, we’re in club), and activity so that the lies get lost and forgotten. People generally have short memories, other things to do and hardly ever bother noting the whole into a complete list. The lies are too myriad and the context itself often needs explaining. The snake-oil artist will count on no one having enough time for all of that bother. That will take him to the next benchmark, and the next. etc.

A detailed tracking log of these lies, and traceability on paper and in point form is what is essential to keep tabs on such a person. No fear and hesitation in confronting this head-on is what keeps the snake-oil artist in check. The higher his public profile, the longer it will take for people to tackle him head on and have no qualms about embarrassing him publicly.

An exacting journalist may however find that undue pressure will be exerted in some form.

Generally audiences are kept separate and distinct, which gives the lies a longer life. In Joseph’s case his only crucial benchmark is the election.

It is important to know that the snake-oil artist will not magically reform or stop lying. You may quote him, but even then he may have been lying.

The we’re in club and the facebook likes are there to exert pressure against those on the outside. Internally the “we’re in club” too will become hierarchal and managed by divide and rule. Internal envy to secure the favour of the snake-oil artist is an element manipulated as a motivator.

(Perhapsthis is why Louis Grech, being both advanced in age and ill, has been placed in the position of Deputy).

The short one, Kurt I believe, is always guilty on this.

Political expediency is not political ideology.

In this mug shot he looks as if he’s going to cry.

Oops sorry, I misunderstood Joseph. He was referring to Toni Abela, and not to the President.

He did it when discussing his relationship with Anglu Farrugia (post forced resignation).

He did it more than once while defending Toni ‘Ice-Ice-Baby’ Abela.

He did it while discussing Austin Gatt’s last press conference, in the context of the Mallia/Bartolo/Farrugia Sacco press conference.

The list goes on.