Franco Debono, dissected
I really enjoyed watching Dissett tonight. Reno Bugeja discovered what some of us have known for some time: that an exchange with an irate Franco Debono who feels hard done by or cornered is in fact a ranting monologue.
It’s the same with Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who now doesn’t want to be associated with him because, by observing Franco, it’s probably dawned on him at last how he comes across.
Reno’s line of questioning was really good, and there were times when he visibly lost patience with his irascible and irrational interviewee. Right at the end, he clearly couldn’t contain himself any longer, and almost blurted out his last question:
“Don’t you think you were more than a little insolent towards the prime minister, without whose say-so you wouldn’t even have been a candidate (for the Nationalist Party)?”
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http://youtu.be/M3xiJGAQC2c
Franco Debono was very agitated during the interview – not just his voice, but even his body language.
Reno’s questioning was tough.
Yet, the best bit was when, turning to Michael Falzon and staying with the topic, Reno commented that the general elections were like Arriva…coming, coming, but then they never come.
[Daphne – Like Arriva? ]
I meant the Arriva buses. Sorry, I am tired.
And Franco claims state TV is back to the eighties.
He obviously declined Bondi+ for Dissett, and got a grilling there more than Lou Bondi would have ever managed.
Franco had a choice of grilling, on state TV, and opted for the one with most heat. Run, Franco (rabbit), run – sure, back to the eighties.
Debono was certainly very uncomfortable with the legitimate questions posed by Reno Bugeja, to the extent that without success, he relentlessly tried to ridicule Reno, who kept his calm, hence piling more pressure on Debono.
During the programme I received a text message reading “Did you see Dalli?”. I hadn’t, so I called the sender to see what the EU Commissioner was up to now.
Apparently he featured in a NET news item covering an event organised by AZAD.
I am told that unless it is a severe case of “Ballo di San Vito”, Dalli came across as a very, very anxious person as had happened during his tete a tete with Joe Grima on Super One. Did anyone here watch it?
Reno not only kept his calm, he got more excited when he saw Franco in difficulty and kept pushing.
In contrast, I could see Lou reach for his tissues when he saw Joseph Cuschieri in difficulty a week or so ago.
Words of wisdom from a great statesman:
“I think it is most unfair on the Prime Minister, who has been delivering, and delivering as best he can and with results.”
“I think the government has to carry on doing the work it’s been doing with very effective results, ….. I don’t think now is the right moment to disturb the progress that is being made.”
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111106/local/-Mess-created-by-Debono-is-unbecoming-Fenech-Adami.392342
Did everybody see Franco Debono’s reply to Dr Fenech Adami on timesofmalta.com’s comments board? What cheek!
Franco Debono has absolutely nothing to teach Dr Fenech Adami and everything to learn. If only he was one-tenth the gentleman and politician Dr Fenech Adami is.
How anybody – Nationalist or Labour for that matter -can vote for Franco Debono after the way he’s behaved is beyond me.
Debono is living on a different planet.
He claims Dr. Fenech Adami’s comments were highly unfair because they make no mention to ‘the mess’ of public transport.
Dr Debono does not get it.
His vote in Parliament has rendered the issue of public transport of little relevance when compared to the perception that he has created that the government is unstable.
There were clear instructions from the PN executive for all PN MPs to vote against the motion.
He chose not to follow those instructions. No matter how justified he thinks his actions were, he was disloyal to the PN , to the party leader, to his PN colleagues and to the people who voted for him in the elections. People are right now to question the stability of government.
Up to the confidence vote, and probably beyond, the discussion will focus on his actions in parliament and not on public transport or on any other (far more) important issues.
Ironically, Franco’s Debono’s actions in parliament moved the spotlight away from public transport.
One word of advice I wish to give to Franco. Before the last general election, he came knocking door to door telling us to vote for him and not for Louis Galea and Ninu Zammit, because according to him, they have been elected for too long now in the 5th district and they have nothing new to offer.
He succeeded that time.
Now, dear Franco, don’t come knocking again telling us other precious theories, because now we know what you have to offer.
Franco, thank you but NO THANK YOU.
Rather out of subject, I know, but allow me Daphne to congratulate you on the excellent column carried in today’s TMIS.
It is superb. Really and totally superb. You echoed my thoughts exactly and I was crying (figuratively) when I thought on Friday that whilst we were all at work, our Parliament was in session, for a whole day (if you please) wasting precious time which could be used in another manner surely, to discuss a stupid motion and even stupider subject.
I’ve had my unfortunate episodes with buses (getting to Valletta two hours after being on the bus stop in Siggiewi and so on) but who cares? I have a job and a home. What the hell?
When people complain about how late they were for work, the blinking obvious is staring them in the face: they have a job and a home which they leave every morning and to which they return at night, a home which has not been repossessed.
If only we could trulyunderstand what the really big issues are.
Anyway, your column was cathartic for me.
So, again, and for a million times more, well done.
Let’s hope that Franco Debono does not dance to the PL’s tune and that he does not vote against the motion of confidence on Tuesday.
Let’s face it:, at this point he’s got nothing to lose. You said it very well in your column and that’s the (sad) reality for us all.
Anyway, have a great Sunday and, again, well done. And keep on writing! You’re the only columnist worthy of the name on this blasted island of ours.
Franco can’t play with the big boys. It was patently obvious last night.
Franco Debono’s performance would have been much better on Bondi+ as, perhaps, Lou Bondi would have let him off the hook; but on Reno Bugeja’s excellent Dissett, he was on the ropes all the time.
[Daphne – I disagree with you. On Bondi+, Debono would have been unable to contain his animosity towards the host, and would have given free rein to the personality traits which others have so far been privy to in a far less public context. He was almost off at a certain point on Dissett – this is when he starts ranting angrily and erratically and refuses to stop – but he soon contained himself. I think it is crucial for electors to know just how self-obsessed Debono is, and how he rants without listening, which is a really bad psychological sign.]
Is there a link that I can access where I can watch yesterday’s Disset?
I missed it yesterday.
Thank you.
[Daphne – Go to di-ve.com]
Link. http://www.dissett.tv