He rose to the occasion on the issue of the defecting Libyan pilots. However, in so far as leadership qualities go I think Eddie Fenech Adami remains unrivalled. I commented before the elections that Simon is not leadership material.

There is no rational explanation why the PN is keeping mum about the Dalli matter and has even gone as far as admitting it had offered Dalli a position, when so much has been revealed on this blog.

The PL has made some good moves with regard to civil liberties and animal rights, rightly responding to the people’s wishes. However, I am increasingly getting the feeling that it wants to pull Malta out of Europe and that we’re seeing a return of Mintoffian politics.

The stance on the illegal immigration issue reminds me of the botched up job done way back with the Egypt air hijacking. I am also fed up of hearing about the national interest and rhetoric against foreign interference. Labour has not changed its policies. It is following in Mintoff’s footsteps.

The latest wave of immigrants could have been handled better by increasing the resources of the Refugee Commissioner to ensure that asylum applications are speedily processed. I am sure that the majority wouldn’t have qualified for asylum. Expenses could be spared if asylum applications were dealt with in a timely manner and those not qualifying for refugee status repatriated.

However, I suspect the intention is to incite anti-EU sentiment by appealing to populist sentiment and that this was nothing but a step in the direction of withdrawing Malta from the EU. It is the same tactic used in the election campaign to forment discontent amongst the people to topple the PN. Only this time it the target is the EU. Labour has not changed its policies. It has merely become marketing savvy.

Do you think De Marco would have acted any different on the Dalli and the push-back issue? He strike me as too chummy with the Old Guard at the PN.

The truth is there is no suitable leader for the PN. If it were to disband, we wouldn’t even notice.

Government on the other hand is totally clueless on what to do and is taking the wrong decisions (or not deciding at all), under the illusion that it has the mandate to steam roll.

I have been waiting for a good speech from Simon. Thought I would never hear it.

At least I was proved wrong.

‘One can have, for example, a passionate interest in gardening,’

In which case one would go for a Hoe.

For those ignorant of gardening matters
http://www.internetslang.com/HOE-meaning-definition.asp

[Daphne – My posts are always rational, Steve. That’s why lots of people don’t like them, and also why lots of others do. Women are supposed to be emotional, remember? Otherwise they are ‘like men’ and must be burnt at the stake. And in any case, we are living in Malta, where even lots of the men tend to be completely irrational. I see you are one of them – irrational and illogical. This is your illogical reasoning: ‘I like it and agree with it, therefore it must be rational.’]

Passion is for people who can’t think. for people who’ve got to be goaded into action … perhaps even into thinking.

[Daphne – No, Reuben, again you misunderstand the nuances of English (and the realities of logic). Passion and rational thought are not mutually exclusive. When people lack feeling, it’s because they lack feeling, and not because they are rational.]