Arani, ma, kemm ilhaqt
This photograph is perfect. It captures the very essence of what is wrong – ridiculous, actually – about Joseph Muscat as leader of the Labour Party. He can’t be taken seriously, and this picture says it all. It is my favourite.
I’ve just shown it to my colleague, who takes absolutely no interest in politics and never reads the newspapers. But sometimes people like this are the most perceptive, because they have no preconceptions and are not conditioned into holding one opinion or another. “He’s doing it for fun,” she said. “It’s obvious.”
That’s what I think, too – even though I am very interested in politics and always read the newspapers. I think that Joseph Muscat is on a joy-ride. I think he’s in it for the kicks and the thrills, and not because he’s a man with a mission to change the country for the better. He could only have got that far in a political party with no quality-control systems in place, like Labour. If Joseph Muscat is the best they’ve got, what does it say about the rest?
A party leader with gel and a fly-boy look, for heaven’s sake….
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dan gowzef lest ghat-terremot li qal li se jgib
http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10/MutantNinjaPoodle_450x400.jpg
Hmmm, blue tie (admittedly with red spots), and an EU flag in the background. Is there something we haven’t been told?
‘Dies irae’ (the Day of Wrath) well and best describes the reaction of Joe (mhux kanonku) Debono Grech, who decided to spoil the plesures of kisses, applauses, shoutings, old people sitting half-heartedly at ‘tal-hgieg’ MLP Headquarters, which all together had to be the culminating day of those hardliners who wanted Joseph Muscat at the helm of a lost Malta Lablab Party.
Dies Irae – Debono Grech is now out of the Malta Labour Party (I’m not sure whether this is another irrevocable / u-turn manoeuver built up by this old regime left-over). Joe the deserter has gained a strong reputation for his outspoken nonsense. He endorsed Marie Louise Coleiro’s candidature for the MLP Leadreship contest. All Malta had to swallow those disgusting utterances od JDG while adressing a small crowd of semi-sleeping MLP veterans/brigata-moulded supporters! Indeed, they very much looked like a bunch of Les Miserables.
This evening news showed Joe Muscat (wow, first day WITHOUT HONEYMOON) humbly promising to go on his knees behind JDG’s door…(joqghod attent ghax se jobrox irkubtejh jistenna).
JDG is a hot-head, stubborn, old-fashioned, more interested in the privileges of the Birkirkara Basilica Chapter than the Chapter’s founder himself. His loud voice is a timbre of confused irrationality, overdosed with passionate arrogance li tinzel ghasel lill-laburisti ta’ zmien zemzem.
That’s why Joe Muscat – whom I couldn’t stand on the MLP Headquarters stage moving around like an untimed swing – did not even start his honeymoon.
One thing is sure – Joe Muscat is going to spoil his thirties-forties. As we say in Maltese: MHUX HOBZ GHAL SNIEN GONZI U L-PN.
Meanwhile, Joe Debono Grech is pleased with his achievement…it’s the best way of hitting Alfred Sant’s favourite pet. Please, do not mention or think of revenge. This is the usual Malta Labour Party Babylon Fabric.
Do not underestimate JDG’s move.
Remember the Constitutional amendment which is only valid if there are only 2 parties elected into parliament.
Take this Scenario:
JDG resigned from the MLP and he forms his own party using his only seat to represent this party.
JM is co-opted into parliament.
The fact that PN was given the extra seats to have more seats than MLP is only valid if there are 2 parties represented unless one party gets 50+1% of the total number of votes which was not the case.
We approaching a Constitutional crisis.
Kemm jiddandan issa bil-bandiera ta’ l-EU warajh!!!! Oh kemm jaf jippoza ma, rajtu l-joseph?
It was lovely to see Wistin Abela back. How about l-Indjan?
Would someone please inform Mrs M that she is to be seen rather than heard – she is already over-powering her husband. Who is the leader of the MLP?
[Moderator – Are you serious?]
As far as I know, Zapatero assumed office when he was only forty, and if you Google images of him, you’d see the same “arani-ma” smile from him. But look at what he’s managed to do for Spain as their Prime Minister. Daphne, no offence to you obviously, you know I am deeply intrigued and entertained by your writing – but please, let us dig a little deeper than this superficiality. Let us look at Joseph (as he would like to be called) for his actions and policies rather than his smiles, soundbites, and hairstyle.
@ Baxxter, what blue tie “admittedly with red spots”?!?
Those are yellow spots which appear orange – that’s what is known as the “EU tie”… where’s the bucket…
[Moderator – I enlarged the original image and the spots actually appear to be dark pink polka dots. I’m not sure which is more worrying.]
yellow stars, not spots actaully
Joseph Muscat, 34, is the second youngest leader of the Labour Party, the first having been Dom Mintoff who was a year younger when he ousted Paul Boffa in the split of 1949. Mintoff went on to lead the party for 35 years.
Born on January 22, 1974, Dr Muscat ventured into the political scene in 1992 when he answered a call by new Labour Party leader Alfred Sant for all those who wished to contribute to the MLP to come forward.
Our NEW Leader is a unifying instrument. As for the resignation of Joe Debono Grech I will not make a comment or pass a judgment but will convey a short message to him.
“Now is the time to demonstrate that you are one for the party and its people, do not give service to your adversaries even though they will support you for it. You had pleased your life time political enemies and pained your lifetime admirers.”
I am sure that Joseph will be knocking on his door to ask him to come home.Yesterday, most of the ‘lost sheep’ were back in the fold.The rest are to follow in the coming days.
Joseph brought the early Christmas about and is giving out the oxygen for a national reconciliation. I appeal to all those of good will ( this includes all posters in this forum)not to stand in the way of the bridge which Joseph started yesterday.
Many of the Posters in this forum have a lot to learn from Joseph’s first national Speech.
I am convinced Joseph would a SUPER job at Party level and National level. Time would prove me right.
WELL DONE JOSEPH!
@ Caphenni,
Are you kidding!!! This will be written in history and from now on even il-pastizzar ta wara zuntier tal-Knisja can become Prime Minister…
This is really a sad day for Maltese Politics…..
By the way I would like to ask if he kept his referendum Vote, cos I remember showing the vote as AS did!
Shame on Malta….
Errrrrmmmmm yes his smile and gelled hair says it all. Are you suggesting he should have looked a bit more grumpy and unkempt for his post win photo session. I mean really.
@ Mifsud … Yes JDG might cause what you called a ‘consitutional crises’.
There is only TWO options to avert that crises:
1st: JDG to cross over to GONZIPN! or
2nd: JDG to return to the MLP fold.
Might be interesting to know how the ‘daily posters’ here feel about these 2 options.There is no other option.
I am no constitutional expert but I think the allocation of seats to the PN cannot be retracted even if there are changes in the oppoostion party. The rule applies only at the time of the election I understand, so I don’t think that if JDG had to “form his own party” as you are stating then the PN would lose its extra seats.
More than that I think JDG will be back in the fold hugging JM very shortly. :)
@Mifsud
Ever since 1981, when the PN falsely claimed that there was a constitutional crises, we have been throwing around this expression each time something a bit unusual occurs. There is no constitutional crises in the making. An election was held, the result is what it is, according to the rules of the game. That is a closed chapter. An MP does what he deems fit. He can resign his party, resign his seat, whatever. This is all regulated and there is no trouble for the running of the country. This JDG matter affects only the MLP. My take on this is that this is a temporary situation. While I cannot comprehend JDG’s action, I can understand how hurt this person is right now. And being a temperamental person something which happened in the last weeks could have made him blow his fuse. Those who know JDG, however, know that after blowing his fuse, he will be back to his jolly old self soon enough!
@Caphenni
Once again, have you not yet understood the strategy of the PN’s apologists? This is not a question of giving Joseph a chance. You dont give the “enemy” a chance. You begin attacking him where it hurts most, and where he cant really defend himself. So you attack looks, for example. Or his origins. His family. The very same tactic used by schoolyard bullies. Thus you undermine him. No matter what he says or does. In the hope that after a while whatever he says or does will begin to seem ridiculous. Workplace bullying is another example of this tactic. Once you undermine a person enough by ridiculing his looks, his gestures, his background, whatever this guy says or does will begin to sound funny, non-sensical.
I really hope that you understand this, and that level-headed people understand what is going on here.
@kenneth Spiteri
Well, what do you know. You hit the nail on the head. You have actually answered the question that yesterday Joseph asked in his first speech. “Why does the MLP exist?”. Yes, it exists exactly to make it possible that “il-pastizzar ta’ wara z-zuntier tal-knisja”, as you put it, becomes Prime Minster. You seem to be troubled by this. I understand you. Infact, what I like about this blog is that all the class-based sentiments of the Nats are coming out so naturally! Of course, though they might never say it from an official podium, it is anathema for the Nats that someone who has lowly origins should rise up the ladder! It is a sad day indeed for people like you when that is made possible. Well, bad news for you. It IS possible. You probably believe that only it-tifel tat-tabib Cuschieri Calleja Savona Ventura can become Prime Minister.
You know, I used to think that class distinctions were growing weaker in Malta. I myself refuse to acknowledge their existence. Apparently, however, there are many, like you, who are trying to widen them again further apart. In this regard, I can only thank you. As you are giving more reasons for the MLP to exist! And to carry on its struggle.
I really admire MLP supporters, although they might lack some analytical skills they really have high spirits. These people see Gonzi’s government as unstable and claim that it can be put down any minute by a dissatisfied insider, if you ask me I think Muscat has a job a zillion times harder than that.
HELOOOO, wake up…… did you forget the report analysis that highlighted in what a situation the pary is with people doing all it takes to remain in power, the shocking financial situation, do you think those sucking the party will just stop doing so because a young journalist turned economist has been thrown in power. Even if JM wants us to believe that he is as pro as it gets to be a pro-EU, the majority of the delegates do not have the same fundamentals, see the email that was passed around showing GA’s family members attending IVA rallies, they still think it is a great sin to speak your mind. Isn’t funny that they tried to condem someone, actually someone’s family, who was right, ermmm…where exactly was JM at that time? let me think….
The delegates might be convinced that it is a necessary evil to change, because that is what is needed for their beloved party to be re-elected. But deep down they will still believe that the last election was stolen by stealing votes, airmalta strategies and so on…, in short they still believe that by being who they really are they can win because they were so close, this coupled with change that will start affecting them personally might be a dangerous mixture. I am not sure about JM but I am sure of one thing, he has one tough job and it is going to be one hell of a ride. Having said that, I believe it will be very easy for him to become PM come next election because people will want to try him out, but then it will be fun to see how he is going to satisfy those that are so hungry to get their part of the pie, after promising everything to everyone like he seems to be doing!!
Good luck Mr. Msucat, you really need some. I wonder why would anyone with a phd in economics go into politics? Especially, Maltese politics and at such a young age.
Albert Farrugia: “Class-based sentiments of the Nats?” Whatever those are, surely you’re not suggesting there are no class-based sentiments elsewhere?
@Corinne Vella
Sure there are class-sentiments. But these are to be diminished and eliminated. I took exception to a comment about the pastizzar becoming Prime Minster. Why not? We have read elsewhere in this blog that leaders can only come from those sections of society which breed them. Well, that is what the MLP has fought. Admittedly some have been hurt. Change ALWAYS hurts. Even Malta’s entry to the EU has hurt some. But just because some hurt, it does not mean that one makes no changes.
[Moderator – Albert, be realistic. We already know what happens when a pastizzar becomes prime minister: you end up with plenty of qassatat.]
Ghax ahna il-partit tal-haddiema…………..iss hej ghax mhux kolna nahdmu ahna hej..
please get your act together and convince your ”love” leader that when he stops being a pompous, patronising, cocky upstart, then maybe, and only maybe, he might get some credibility going for him.
otherwise you had a great chance to change the party to a decent one and get some nationalist votes, which you need to win an election,…….and you blew it.
Wenzu Gonzi and Peppi Muscat are to have their first meeting today at the PN’s Headquarters.
First sign of ‘new politics’??!!
@ alex Please do not jump to any conclusions. Please note that everything indicates that the e-mail in question was ‘created and fabricated’ by someone ‘in the opposite camp’!
More about this matter later on.
@Albert Farrugia
The pastizzar’s son does not need the MLP to rise up the ladder. The PN have created enought opportunities for that to happen. As to the PN trying to prevent this from happening, just look at the origins of people like Joe Saliba and Guido de Marco himself, and you will realise that your argument is baseless.
As for attacking JM – the PN will attack him when he says ridiculous things or acts in a ridiculous manner. It is very easy to label this as “bullying” or “personal attacks”!
to anyone interested in working at JM’s call center: no skills required. Just get your last chit from Toni Abela’s supermaket and a copy of your fixed deposits at clyde joe cassar’s MLP bank.thanks
I just can`t believe that they have made that clown the leader of the party. It is like having a neighbour with an chihuahua which keeps you up all night with its yapping. Finally, the dog grows old and goes mad and the neighbour has mercy on it and have it put down.
Your neighbour says that he is going to get a new pet but you take comfort in the fact that nothing could be as bad as the bloody chihuahua.
You breathe a sigh of relief until two days later you look out your window and, to your horror, see your neighbour leading a pack of howler monkeys up his garden path.
“Howler monkeys are the loudest land animals in existence.”, he informs you with a smirk. “They can be heard from three miles away!”
@Adrian Borg
You should become more familiar with 20th Century Maltese history. The present setup of the PN is trying to re-write that period of history. It is the MLP’s duty not to allow this to happen. Regarding attacking JM, just look at the opening of this blog, right up to where Joseph’s picture is, and read the comments. And, please, do not tell me that this is not coming from the PN. So long as the PN does not disassociate itself from these comments, for me they reflect PN thinking. A political party should carry the responsibility for the behaviour of its supporters.
@Moderator
Well, the whole idea of having a leftist, progressive, socialist party is NOT to be realistic…rather to work against what for some is the “natural order of things”. The job of a leftist party is to work towards realising a dream. Not to fix in cement what some consider to be permaent features in society. Sometimes I cant believe we are disussing this. I thought this was all achieved and behind us. It’s like we are back to the 19th Century. Where everyone has his place and is promised heaven for living a good life.
Albert Farrugia: Meritocracy is admirable, but it is baseless to believe, as you seem to do, that it is the sole prerogative of the MLP, which, incidentally, is not well known for being free of class bias or for any major attempts to dimnish or eliminate it from among its own ranks.
You say you take exception to the comment regarding a pastizzar becoming Prime Minister and ask ‘why not’? Indeed, why not? As long as the pastizzar does not view that as an end itself and sees the role as an opportunity to maximise opportunity for all rather than to wreak havoc and take revenge, then no one need lose any sleep over the matter.
Class prejudice probably doesn’t have much to do with it. After all, it’s not like the PN is overflowing with old Etonians. I sense that Daphne and co simply find Joseph Muscat “antipatiku” just like millions of French people find Sarkozy unbearable and even more Americans can’t stand the sight of La Clinton.
Fair enough, I say.
What Malta needs is more satire. It’s certainly less cheesy than “love” and more honest than “we’re all one big happy family now”.
@ Mifsud
Does this mean that if JDG forms his own party, according the constitution and the election result none of the two parties is leaglly allowed to form a cabinet?
What if JDG will be followed by more members of the MLP? or members of the PN
@ matthew leonard
Brilliant!
Lighten up Albert Farrugia. Based on close observation of Maltese society, I’m practically sure that Lawrence Gonzi would feel more comfortable in the company of Joseph Muscat than he would in the company of Mrs Caruana Galizia. By and large Lawrence and Joe speak the same lingo, feel massively proud about being Maltese and – reasoned guess here – share a similar sense of humour. In many respects Daphne inhabits a parallel universe whose inhabitants feel that Malta isn’t quite ‘their home’. That sector of society is largely unrepresented politically.
[Moderator – Do you think that Malta is your home, and do you think that you are represented there?]
@Albert Farrugia
I am very familiar with Malta’s 20th Century history, it is a subject which interests me greatly, it is also the reason why I have always voted PN in spite of the fact that I have never been a “tesserat”. I also lived through the 70s and 80s and it was Mintoff’s policy on the university that caused me to be one of the victims of the numerus clausus and not being able to enter it at the time!
It is impossible to get an unbiased view of recent history, every historian knows that. I know what I saw and experienced myself with certainty and nobody can reqrite that for me. Like me there are several thousand other Maltese people.
You will probably mention the 50s and 60s and the interdett. I admit that the PN and the Church may have adopted undemoctratic and controversial measures to delay the spread of socialism. This was not the right approach and probably was the one of the cause for the hardline brand of socialism that Mintoff imposed on the country. But it was hardly unique for Malta at the time!
In any case neither the PN nor the MLP can devise its policies based on what happened 20 years ago and more. Quite simply, till now the MLP’s leaders and policies were out of date and not in synch with the people’s mentality. Just because Joseph Muscat is young it does not make him automatically modern. He needs to show that he can bring the MLP out of the past, and that he will be allowed to do it by those who worked so hard to have him elected (put names here)…
[Moderator – The interdict has nothing to do with the state, because it is an institution of the Catholic Church, and the Catholic Church is undemocratic by its very nature. It is a private organisation and it can bless or bury whoever it wants, and the government has no right to interfere with that as long as it does nothing illegal. If socialists didn’t like what was happening then they could have very well abandoned their religion.]
Let me put it this way, Moderator. I sometimes share Mrs Caruana Galizia’s feeling that, quote, “Oh well, that’s Malta for you – a bit of a joke”. I don’t think you’d ever catch Lawrence or Joseph or their ardent supporters thinking that.
[Moderator – And I think we’d be alarmed if they did.]
@Albert Farrugia
First I am not it tifel ta tabib Ventura, I am a worker I was raised in Paola, secondly what I meant that you didn’t understood the logic part of it, is that
Yes il –pastizzar he can be better then it tabib Ventura in doing pastizzi , but for sure tabib Ventura can cure you a cancer better ( I hope so) :),
My logic behind it was that JM has no experience to back him in such an important position, and I don’t digest the opinion of some that you need to
Give him time etc… Malta doesn’t afford losing time by teaching people to then deliver; we need already experience people that once elected deliver immediately
JM doesn’t have the skills, experience, figure and the stature to lead …..
@DF
Oh yes I agree with you..we NEED satire. But look at what happened with Super1’s show TELETUBI. But even then, I do not consider that political stations themselves can genuinely produce satire. Satire comes, and should only come, from the world of the performing arts, the world were free thought reigns supreme. Sure, satire is not an end in itself. It helps people sense the absurdity of certain situations and utterances. It is a reflection on society as a whole. And, of course, its consequences are political. Like everything in life. But the point is, from WHERE it originates. Satire cannot be the tool of one party against another. Well, it CAN, but it would be senseless and dry.
One guy who I feel would produce wonderful satire…and he already has a bit…is Joe Demicoli, though now he is totally identified with the Labour camp. Ray Calleja might could be a good satirist. Though his characters are simply too repulsive.
Anyway, my point is, satire is the mark of a free society. The fact that it is lacking in Malta is quite an indicator of what type of society we are. Not really “Western” in the way we usually understand that term.
[Moderator – Actually, the mark of a free society is a free press. A lack of satirical productions is only the mark of a certain kind of humour.]
“party with quality-control systems” ?!
Come now, surely such a thing does not exist in Malta? Or how would you explain the current crop of MPs on both sides of the House?
I think the ‘quality-control’ that DOES exist is the type where you’re a Super-slick marketed Phd/DBA and/or Super-slick marketed EU guru/MEP/consultant enjoying your predecessors’ trust enough to be personally invited by Dottor Sant/Katie to take the party reins…and of course, the departments of rubber-stamping anointed-ones (aka party delegates).
@europarl:
Oh lordy! It’s even worse than I thought!
thank you for the laugh out loud moment! you are so SPOT ON , as always Daphne!
@Jason Spiteri
I do not want to sound trite, but doesn’t “control” go against the spirit of democracy?
Saw him on telly: ” Inhobbkom…HObbu lil Xulxin”. Is this the start of a new rapprochment with the Church, practicing homilies? I almost expected someone to faint and start yelling that a Healer was amongst us. I guess he is an ardent follower of the Spiteris and the Hinns of this world.
How naive to think that the Nationalist attack dogs (and bitches!) would hold off from going for the jugular until after giving JM a honeymoon period to establish some sort of rapport with his party members and the general public. It is obvious that the PN strategists feel that they have to poison the public’s perception of JM as soon as possible and by all means possible. This is truly a sign of a party that has been in government too long and has such a sense of entitlement that it feels it can do anything by any means possible to hold on to power against the odds. These tactics will backfire with the group that determines elections in this country – the thinking floating voter.
Stand back as we witness the death throes of PN in government. Labour is back in business and the folks at tal-Pieta can smell defeat in the air.
Anyone have a guess as to what will happen to JM’s Euro seat. My guess is the MLPN will co-opt member by passing Cassola. Last thing PN wants is to give third party a chance to prove itself in an elected position. Anyone have a different take on that?
I know you will not publish this mail. I posted an earlier one just to test you. You preach democracy and freedom of speech, and when you don’t like something you just don’t publish it. You write horrible things about people and people’s kids. Even Joseph’s baby twins have been mentioned in your bolg, but as soon as someone mentions your son, you stop. The truth is that Joseph Muscat is a good looking guy, and very intelligent. As you well know, to study law you don’t need the high qualifications one needs for science like Alfred Sant had, and
economics. I am still waiting for you to raise hell about not knowing exactly why Dr. Fenech Adami is in hospital – like you did when Alfred Sant had his operation. Yes Daphne you are very democratic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Moderator – I’m publishing this because I think it’s actually quite funny. The names Sun Sophie and Star Ella could easily fit into Ben Elton’s Blind Faith, alongside Gucci KitKat, Caitlin Happymeal and Princess Lovebud.]
@the cast of the Adams Family
Floating voters will decide who to choose as their PM based on actions and not words. “Peace of Mind” and “Credibility” are two very important factors as well. Nobody likes change for change’s sake (as the MLP has just learnt the bitter way). The PN “strategists” know this and they realise that belittling the great leader will be counter-productive if he starts delivering what he has promised. This would mean that he can win voter on those two important aspects (peace of mind and credibility) and will indeed stand a good chance of winning. On the otherhand if he proves to be just another talking head, unable to bring about real change within the MLP then the PN propaganda machine will have a field day. I don’t expect them to hold fire simply because he has just been elected. After all the MLP propaganda machine started berating Gonzi about JPO and not delivering all the electoral promises in one go from day one! If he acts as a buffoon he will be treated like one. If he acts as a serious politician with good intentions, no amout of dirt will stick to him. Just look at Eddie and Gonzi’s history and see how they were treated by the MLP media over the years. Did it damage them or dent their credibility? I don’t think so.
hehehe…OMG JM seems to be getting to u lot !!!I guess when u are in the public eye one has to accept the fact…u f’ malta iktar u iktar…. that u are going to be crucified.I guess it goes with the job …..but this guy has not even started yet !!! I find it ridiculous though that he is torn apart because of his smile ?? his age?? the fact that he got a good education ? For the names they chose for their children? ax jilbes l-arlogg fuq il qmies hehehehe….e u ax ginger…!!!!
@ Adrian Borg. Your assessment is spot on. Let’s see what happens next. Never a dull moment down at the two funny farms on the island!
Actually i don’t give a dam what Joseph called his daughters. I’m sure he’s a loving father who sees his kids as his sun and his stars. In Sliema many parents called their dAughter Stella, after all Stella Maris is star of the sea. What makes me see you for what you are is that you seem to have two measures, don’t ever say you are independent, if you are prepared to make fun of other people’s kids, why not make fun of yours. After all I said before is that Joseph Muscat is more handsome than your son, and better mannered. What you say about other people is much more cruel.
[Moderator – I haven’t got any children.]
Agreed Uncle, pure entertainment!
Please “xewka” we want more. Your posts are exactly the ones that make our day! The MLP needs more people like you.
As for EFA being in hospital, i personally don’t want to know what he is suffering from, I just hope (like I did for Sant) that it was something that could be cured. What you are missing is that Sant could, at that time, still potentially be our PM, unlike Eddie. So what interested people was whether he would be healthy enough to do the job, and not morbid curiosity. This is quite normal in most countries (just look at McCain medical reports which he published himself). But I am being naive, this is not a “normal” country is it?
What Malta needs pronto is some independently-produced political satire to put all the over the top antics into perspective. Having said that, it’s heartening to see what an optimistic crowd we are: 20 years in the Opposition doldrums and a “We Were Crap from Top to Bottom” Report to crown it all. Then a smiling face gets elected from among the We Were Crap Brigade and it’s Euphoria with a capital E. No wonder we come out tops in those Worldwide Happiness Reports.
Malta – The Party Island.
hmmm..is that the EU flag I see in the background?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080609/local/flimkien-kollox-possibli-gonzi-tells-muscat
Check out this photo of Gonzi and Muscat.
I’m sorry Daphne but I have to disagree with you.
Muscat looks clean and smart.
At the end of the day you have roughly 5% of the population that are floaters and that is the target audience that both parties are dealing with here. Labour has elected someone that appeals to this target audience – see Malta Today surveys for confirmation. PN attack machine had better be careful about the tone, intensity and vitriol of its negative campaign to tarnish this young man’s image before the public has had a chance to form its own opinion. The negative and very personal campaign may well work to solidify the ranks of the PN faithful but will almost certainly backfire with the floating voters who will see through it. So far the worst I can say about Muscat is that he appears a little young for the job but certainly has an impressive record of accomplishment. And if he has the effect of making Joe Debono Grech want to run for the exit door then he may well be the man to appeal to the center. In fact if one thing emerged clearly from the voting it is that Old Labour is definitely ancient history. Old Labour’s candidate – Marie Louise Coleiro Preca – made a miserable showing. Good luck JM – many fair minded people out there are watching you closely, seeing through the b.s. coming from tal-Pieta – and wishing you the very best!
@Moderator
Mocking the names of JM’s daughters is pathetic! They are not called Star and Sun. Even though that’s the English literal translation, Sun and Star are not names while Soleil and Etoile (as is the Italian equivalent Stella) are!
[Moderator – Am I not allowed to think that it’s funny?]
My oh my
All you blue eyed die hards seem so sad out there!
Enjoy the last few years will you?
@Moderator
Sorry for my late reply but I am dead serious.
Why do I once again get the impression that The PN have basically chosen Labour’s leader and they have today invited him to their home to sign off the achievement? And DCG, knowlingly or not, was an intengral part of the project.
Also has anybody thought of the irony of Daphne referring to JM as Sant’s poodle? Couldn’t that definition also apply to LG? After all LG was picked by EFA for greater things and promoted over the heads of people in the PN who had fought the good fight in the 80s. First EFA made his “poodle” LG Speaker, then he made sure that he was elected to parliament and then the party machine loyal to EFA made sure that he was elected leader over Dalli. Turns out that EFA’s poodle has done very well and is very much his own man. What makes Daphne think that AS’s poodle won’t do just as well? People like EFA and AS have the ability to look around themselves and notice people with the qualities needed to fill their shoes. May JM fill AS’s shoes as well as LG has filled EFA’s.
X’harsa tad-daqqiet ta’ harta!
George Abela on Bondi+ “Joseph Muscat should not be awarded the Fair Play trophy (for the way the campaign was conducted)”. Joseph Muscat’s response “Fair comment”!!
I love it!!
I have just seen Joseph Muscat on Bondiplus. My God, he’s just another pompous prat.
Xewka – Good thing his wife didn’t have triplets! Imagine the poor third one being called Moon (though JM must have been thinking through HIS when naming the twins)! Talking of which … you likened “Etoile” to “Stella” as in “Stella Maris”. What would you liken “Soleil” to? “Sun” as in “Sun City”, for some unknown nostalgic reason? “Xemx hamra hanina” after MF? Please enlighten us.
As for your comment regarding JM being good looking – Let’s just say that it takes all sorts. (And please don’t misinterpret me, because I certainly don’t agree with you on that point, amongst others.)
Oh, and maybe this would this satisfy your curiosity about the President of Malta:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080609/local/procedure-performed-on-president-successful
Caphenni – Clean and smart? He looks more like a smarmy smart-Alec to me! And what’s it with the rainbow tie?
Albert Farrugia: John Dalli is the son of a Hal-Qormi pastizzar.
@Mifsud – the constitutional amendment applies only at the time of the election, and isn’t brought into play (or otherwise) in respect of developments and changes that take place during the five-year term. Joe Debono Grech can call himself the Joe Debono Grech party, and the Nationalist Party will still have a two-seat majority over Labour.
@Uncle Fester
I totally agree with your comment on JDG. Let’s hope we see more of these old loons vanish into obscurity.
@Caphenni – I never said that Joseph Muscat was dirty and unkempt. And maybe you don’t notice these fine distinctions, but I do: Gonzi cleverly got Muscat to call on him at his PN ‘home’, rather than the other way round – a power-play chess-move, and Muscat didn’t even notice (no experience, you see). And no, this isn’t because he is the prime minister. Lawrence Gonzi received Joseph Muscat in his role as party leader, not as prime minister – one party leader meeting another, which means that they could have met at either ‘home’. Ordinarily, the first such meeting would be between the prime minister (as distinct from the party leader) and the leader of the opposition, at the prime minister’s office in Castille (because the leader of the opposition goes to the pm, and not the other way round). But because Muscat is not leader of the opposition, the meeting was downgraded to one between party leaders, in the not quite so salubrious surroundings of the party ‘home’. And so…..no television cameras filming the fancy trot up the Castille stairs and the formal meeting in the ambassadors’ room on those gilt chairs placed on either side of the fajjarplejs.
@Matthew
…well…John Dalli didn’t become Prime Minister…why dont you ask him why? LOL
[Moderator – What’s your point?]
@Uncle Fester – yes, we agree on the fact that Muscat is going to fill Sant’s shoes as well as Gonzi filled Fenech Adami’s. But I suspect that we don’t have quite the same meaning in mind.
So the ‘Made in Brussels’ boy decided to tell a little story of this hero who made it to the top, even though he came from a ‘lowly’ family. And guess who the hero in the story was? Himself ! Very modest indeed. Right at that point he reminded me of good ‘ol Dom who was always keen to tell stories to the crowd infront of him and the crowd was always awed by his eloquency and skills. But that was 30 years ago and people are not that gullible these times.
This is not a matter of giving the lad a chance. This is a matter that the way he’s acting and communicating is leaving many people with a bad taste. It’s him who publicly wanted to thank the Labour party for providing free hospital services to his parents, that he went to university (well, we all know who had the key to decide who studies at university and who is to be refused the opportunity), it’s him that chose to hark about his children etc. Well, maybe when his twins grow, he will also find the time to tell them that if it was for him they would only have a Maltese passport rather than an EU one. That they would have had to present a valid passport to enter other EU nations, that attending university in other EU nations would have been too much of an expense for the vast majority of Maltese families.
After all, as far as I know, this ‘Made in Brussels’ lad has had nothing more or less than Gonzi himself. Our PM also comes from a modest family. The only difference is that Gonzi decided to enter politics out of his determination to stop the silly, dangerous and suicidal path Malta was going through during the church-schools debacle. At that same moment in time, Joseph was only 10 years old and was probably oblivious to the harm Labour was to democracy in Malta. He may adore Mintoff as much as he wants but with people who suffered under Mintoff no amount of apologies will ever suffice.
@Peter Muscat: If the lost sheep include Joe Grima, Wistin etc, may you get them all back. Too bad Lorry can’t join the queue too. In the meantime however, what we are witnessing is Debono Grech’s departure, Herrera who lost interest in running for deputy leader and two leadership contestants who went public and declared there’s no way they will ever work the Jason. These are the facts. Are you sure this is the earthquake Joseph keeps referring to?
Looks like Muscat has really got you worried.
Amanda Mallia Monday, 9 June 2236hrs
“He looks more like a smarmy smart-Alec to me! And what’s it with the rainbow tie?”
How Kitch can one get! He looked like a over-eager, used-car salesman to me. Would you buy a car from him ayway?
:)
@Ganni Borg – amazing! You got it in one! Yes, that’s our point. Joseph Muscat has got us worried, but not for the reasons you imagine. We’re worried that he’s just another Labour leader who means trouble, who’ll make a rotten hash of things, and who doesn’t have what it takes. READ OUR LIPS: people who vote Nationalist tend to do so on the basis of rational choice, not blind loyalty. The average PN voter isn’t concerned with power for the party but with stability and a peaceful and prosperous life. We don’t care who gives it to us and we don’t trust the Labour Party to do it, because the Labour party is the sort of party that….puts somebody like Joseph Muscat at the helm.
JOSEPH AND HIS MULTI COLOURED DREAM COAT
That lovely striped tie and joseph’s teatrini on stage brought images of the musical. Joseph’s love for everyone and sickly sweetness was joke to watch. I thought I was following one of those American GOD channels.
What’s more the clever Nats got Gowzeff to take Gejsin along with him to the PN’s Dar Centrali. Qed jiblaghha s-sunnara bl-intelligenza kollha li jiftahar li ghandu.
The rising star of Maltese politics:
http://www.kullhadd.com/?task=2§id=&articleid=11589
Hlewwa ta’ qalb guaranteed!
Should we open a beatification cause in her lifetime?