You know things aren’t going swimmingly when Muscat holds his 1 May meeting in Bormla and talks about soldiers of steel

Published: May 2, 2014 at 8:36am

It’s a long way from the courting of tal-pepe switchers, isn’t it, posing about at San Anton School (or is it San Andrea), socialising with Elena Bagollu’s friends, and impressing my midlife crisis contemporaries who want to do something wild at 40 or 50 and think that supporting Muscat is a lot safer and easier than taking a boat down the Amazon.

From swanning around at cocktail parties with people who wouldn’t have scraped him off the sole of their shoe eight years ago, to standing on a truck at Bormla belching about soldiers of steel to a large crowd of dregs from the bottom of the barrel, whose fathers (if not they themselves) were setting fire to The Times building, smashing up the Courts of Justice, shops in Republic Street, the Archbishop’s Curia, Opposition party clubs and the Opposition leader’s home three decades ago.

Today’s Times of Malta front page photograph says it all. Or most of it.

Muscat - soldiers of steel




61 Comments Comment

  1. ciccio says:

    The Generalissimo calling on the soldiers of steel. He must be on the warpath.

  2. Calculator says:

    Where the f*ck are the switchers now? You’re sending us straight back to the 80s! Are you satisfied?! Are you entertained?!

    Oh, and Jo telling “it-tfal tal-Miżbla” to be “suldati tal-azzar” when he wants the bodies of their dead to go down ‘fid-dranaġġ’ along with the rest of the turds is rather rich.

    • Tom Double Thumb says:

      Joseph Muscat is itching to revive Mintoff’s battle with the Catholic Church.

      Just look at his actions and legislation passed since his election. So much of it seems to be aimed directly at provoking the Church to react.

      Wisely, the Church is not reacting to his provocation.

      This website has often described Joseph Muscat as a spiteful and vengeful little man. It is often better and more productive to let such people splutter in their own boiling fat.

      • Calculator says:

        That’s definitely the impression one gets.

      • Jozef says:

        Agreed. But the motive’s the inverse.

        Whereas Mintoff accused the PN of using the Church, Muscat will provoke her to get at the PN.

        There’s also the new masters to please, they have an issue with what basically constitutes the foundations of Western canons of civilization.

        Juche, Kim Il Sung’s theocratic legitimacy as an extreme, China’s state approved ‘Catholic’ Curias, as the more politically correct (at least that’s what the BBC will have it) are no different to Mintoff’s attempt at a real and proper schism in the fifties. (Now that’s something you could look into, Baxxter, when it comes to recounting this country’s history), leaving well known members of clergy, including those who say Dimech’s a hero, fixtures on ONE, at permanent odds with orthodoxy. Excommunication was primarily aimed at a minor group of South American revolutionary liberation theology types who accepted the five points of early Mintoffianism.

        Set up by Mintoff, Agatha Barbara, Cassar and other it recognised the use of violence as means to the social pact. It was the one point which broke all links with Archbishop Gonzi’s idea of Labour. One must keep in mind who Mons. Gonzi had been, founding father of the Labour Party, and whose reluctance to Independence was nothing but Mintoff’s integration thesis taken as social insurance.

        The symbol was Manoel Dimech, adopted as the model to follow to the letter. His history of plotting, formation of guerilla groups and refusal to acknowledge the adversary other than an enemy to remove by all means, taken as the philosophy to read.

        This country needs to embrace its history, recognise its failures and political losses and stop behaving like brutalised victims, who’ll do anything to live with a deep rooted fear of Labour.

        We owe it to Mifsud Bonnici(il-gross), Gerald and Mabel Strickland, Dandria, there’s so many others, but most crucially, Boffa.

        This was a place where politics were capable of keeping a country together notwithstanding the bourgeioisie being literally torn apart. Imagine Mintoff having been on the scene in the thirties.

        Muscat may be the perfect opportunity, he’s a test case which will show what delusion and lies lead to. And it’s nowhere near a flourishing of ideas. There’s this wait and see, a Jerusalem which we know isn’t plausible.

        And we wait.

      • Beingpressed says:

        Still trying to drag Gonzi back into the ring.

    • manum says:

      I wish to clarify something regarding the “mizbla”: that word means ‘dump’ and was used by Mintoffjani in a metaphorical way that went on to be taken literally.

      In reality, Labour supporters, during the battle with the Catholic Church, were buried in a burial ground reserved for non-Catholics. Hardly a dump.

    • Toni says:

      The so-called “mizbla” was no real mizbla but a stretch of unconsecrated burial ground where non-Catholics were buried.

      But the sewer where they are suggesting that we flush our dear ones is a real sewer.

      • Calculator says:

        That’s why I said Jo’s appeal was ‘rather rich’: he’s telling them to support someone (himself) who’d rather have their dead dissolved in chemicals and flushed down a sewer even as he uses the name ‘soldiers of steel’ to resurrect the memory of burial in unconsecrated ground.

        The irony would have been lost on them.

  3. tinnat says:

    He sounded rabid.

  4. pablo says:

    I can hear the words “Avanti popolo” said in a Burmarrad accent.

  5. Volley says:

    He’s going for the Benito Mussolini look.

  6. Gahan says:

    Now he will go to Sliema to tell them his father was a businessman.

  7. marks says:

    There is a general feeling among those who voted Labour, at least the ones I know, that they have been betrayed by the introduction of policies that weren’t in the electoral manifesto – the sale of citizenship scheme, the tanker in Marsaxlokk bay and adoption by gay couples are the most prominent among these. The PM is trying to win them back by appealing to their base instincts.

  8. Spock says:

    Now we’ll see if switchers have a linfa and admit their gargantuan mistake

  9. Salvu says:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqZ01Zn9BKo

    Agreed 100%. I would go a step further.

    He said ” Hijja elezzjoni illi fijja l-poplu jghid jekk iridx lil dan il-gvern ikompli bil-politika tieghu li jnaqqas il-kontijiet …..”

    That clearly indicates that he has a multitude of complaints coming from disgruntled Labour voters who were promised a lot and who are not happy with being told to be patient.

    Note that he does not ask for the approval of the “malta taghna lkoll” slogan.

    • Salvu says:

      And the “tnaqqis ta’ zewg centezmi” is not exactly the “tnaqqis” the Labour voter expected.

    • Jozef says:

      Yes, that was rather definite and final. Shrill and not unlike an ultimatum.

      I remember my nanna explain how they’ll turn on their own first, onto any opposition by necessity.

    • ciccio says:

      “Hijja elezzjoni illi fijja l-poplu jghid jekk iridx lil dan il-gvern ikompli bil-politika tieghu li jnaqqas il-kontijiet …..”

      I thought that the electorate had already decided to have lower bills in the last general elections.

      Why is he tieing the result of the MEP elections to the bills again?

      I take this as a hint that if he wins a majority, he will introduce new taxes to make good for the loss of revenues on the lower utility bills.

      • michael seychell says:

        Ciccio, he has already done that when he increased – or rather exploded the licence fee for trucks and vans.

  10. giraffa says:

    The Mussolini body language is settling in nicely with Muscat, perfectly in synch with his political attitude towards everybody and with his undisguised hatred of all who seem to oppose him.

    The Opposition Party has since the electionregrouped nicely around its new leaders and is re-gaining its confidence.

    Yesterday’s massive response by its supporters in contributing funds towards the MEP elections campaign is significant.

    The PN should use such momentum to dare to be even more bold in confronting the arrogance of ‘Il-Duce Muscat’ and to continue to use all fora, especially the EU Parliament, to expose this vile man who has been sh***ing on this country for the past 14 months.

  11. Kevin says:

    Great photograph: Captures an image of shameless cruelty.

  12. AG says:

    The photo screams ‘energija posittiva’. Way to go, Joseph.

  13. watchful eye says:

    Joe Grima on Facebook yesterday, and this is the true face of Labour:

    “Rega wasal iz zmien ghall generazzjoni taghna u dawk kollha li, minn dak iz zmien l’hawn , hasbuha bhalna. Rega wasal iz zmien ghall generazzjoni tas suldati tal azzar, li darba kienu l-famuzi 51,000, li sfidaw id dnub il mejjet u vvutaw Labour.
    Is sejha ghamilha llejla f’Bormla l Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat. Is suldati tal azzar urew min kienu darba. Issa qed jigu mistiedna jergghu johorgu ghan nofs u juru min huma billi jaqdu dmirhom ghal darb ohra.”

    • Rumplestiltskin says:

      The so-called ‘suldati tal-azzar’ were those who burnt down The Times of Malta offices and printing press, ransacked the Curia and wreaked havoc at the Law Courts. They were the same thugs that formed ‘l-aristokrazija tal-poplu’.

      Using these same catch phrases some three decades later should scare the living daylights out of those switchers who handed Malta on a platter to this dangerous crowd.

      It also clearly shows that despite the front that Joseph Muscat puts up, deep down he continues to model himself on Mintoff. The photo on Times of Malta’s front page today is damn scary.

    • Angus Black says:

      Joe Grima should have mentioned that Muscat’s Bormla rally for soldiers of steel was on the same spot that Mintoff called dockyard workers a bunch of eunuchs (though in far more vulgar terms).

      We have come full circle.

  14. Joe Fenech says:

    Watch 3:16:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCJDpEBog3s

    “Dan huwa moviment li ma beziex li jmur l-infern ghax jghid affarijiet li jemmen fihom”

    So he’s assuming that his people still believe that heaven and hell nonsense (probably they do)? Oh, then sod the secular state then.

  15. Pandora says:

    This is really scary. The mask is slowly falling off and the old Mintoffian is starting to show (for those who haven’t seen through the fake pulitezzi ages ago).

  16. anon says:

    Just like Leonidas at Thermopylae…. Yeah right.

  17. jack says:

    Where is Jason when you need him? Do you call that a proper tie knot?

    • Blackarrow says:

      Yes, in fact that is the correct way to tie a knot with a crease in the middle of the upper end of the tie.

      The other creases are probably due to the cheap quality of the silk and the lining of the tie.

      The V knot or Windsor, despite its name, is the knot favoured by hamalli and those ignorant of such matters, therefore in this case at least, Joseph Muscat has learned (or been taught) something.

      • H.P. Baxxter says:

        It depends. Most ties are too thick and stiff, presumably to accomodate those who tie the schoolboy knot, so a Windsor knot turns out looking very chunky and politician-like.

        On the other hand, a Windsor knot still looks splendid on a tie made out of thin silk.

        It’s the colour of Muscat’s ties that disturbs me. This is way more sinister than it looks, gentlemen.

        Did you notice how the colours of Labour’s campaign have been carefully chosen to include only subdued hues? The “movement” is nowhere and everywhere, it is all colours to all men. It is and yet it isn’t.

        The Nationalist Party, being miles behind in campaign strategy and light years behind in marketing, foolishly chose those 1980s primary colours. L-Ewropa u Malta. Which is why they will lose this election very badly.

        Muscat’s ties are the same colour as his campaign. He is a salesman, not a leader.

        Oh and I wish he’d take off that ghastly Rolex. It’s only the ultra-hamalli who think a chunky metal watch is class.

      • It-Tezi ta' Mario says:

        It’s the teeth and that horrible mouth that I find so disturbing.

  18. RF says:

    I am baffled how supposedly mature men like Louis Grech and George Vella continue to support somebody like Muscat and his empty words. So much for their self-respect.

    [Daphne – Why be baffled? They supported Dom Mintoff.]

  19. Floater says:

    Jien issa nara hux veru sa jrahhas id-dawl u l-ilma, umbad nimxi minn hemm. Dik l-aktar haga importanti.
    Jekk ikolna government Made in China (bhal ta’ l-Ambra), imma izidilna l-ispending power, well, all would be well so far. Hux tassew?

    L-iehor fniena….tghidu ghax mal-PN nimxu b’kejl differenti ahna l-floaters u s-switchers.
    Iva, ghax il-PN made themselves expensive…..in order not to think outside the box like Joseph and not make deals with the likes of China and Azerbaijan. As if their internal matters are of our concern. Hallina………..Yes, from the PN we expect more……

    • watchful eye says:

      Why are you speaking on behalf of others Mr floater/switcher. You are either one or the other to start with.

    • H.P. Baxxter says:

      Kemm int stupidu, Floater. Tispara kliem li ma jfisser xejn.

      “Made themselves expensive”. What is that supposed to mean?

      “Think outside the box”. If that means signing secret deals and sealing unpublished contracts with dictatorships and oligarch buddies, then no thanks. I’d rather have them think within the box of legality, transparency and good governance.

      “Internal matters.” INTERNAL? These are national matters. These are your matters.

      It’s your sort who allowed the Nationalist Party to get away with corruption and bad governance. And it’s your sort again who allow Labour to get away with much worse.

      Good luck using your increased spending power.

      • ciccio says:

        Toqghodx titbaqbaq Baxxter, ghax l-Amlodipine qeghda fuq il-pentink orter.

        “Jien issa nara hux veru sa jrahhas id-dawl u l-ilma, umbad nimxi minn hemm. Dik l-aktar haga importanti.”

        Isn’t that like “enough said”?

    • Toni says:

      That is exactly the problem here. From the PN you always expect more. From PL you satisfy yourself with whatever you get.

    • Angus Black says:

      “Yes, from the PN we expect more……” – meaning that you expect LESS from the PL?

      In that case, you lose again because not only is the PL government delivering less, but it is also destroying what was in place and delivering the exact opposite of what it had promised.

      Floater, my foot.

    • manum says:

      @floater, from the PN, you expect more? How rich. And why should you expect less from the PL?

      I take it is a compliment that you do admit PN has better brains, while Labour is just a heap of jokers.

  20. H.P. Baxxter says:

    My late grandfather Vincenzo Camenzuli-Baxxter was fond of reminiscing about that fateful day in 1940 when, peeling potatoes in the galley of HMS Arethusa, he’d heard a certain speech from Piazza Venezia on the wireless. Something about “l’ora delle decisioni irrevocabili”.

    “Load of bollocks”, he would snarl, “from a pompous, bald-headed sack of shite!”

    They say history repeats itself, but really.

    • ciccio says:

      I’m just wondering where Muscat will find his Piazzale Loreto.

      Piazza San Gorg, Misrah il-Helsien, Piazza Gavinu Gulia, Piazza Tigne, or Piazza Tlieta (the remake) with Lou Bondi?

    • Angus Black says:

      A few hairs away, but otherwise morphing into another little Italian tyrant, including the (lack of) height and the girth.

  21. Ta'sapienza says:

    Looks like the tie is at the 50th shade of blue. It will gradually shift to baby pink and reach full blown scarlet by the next election campaign.

    • Neo says:

      I think that the prime minister is just handing him jobs to spite us taxpayers, driving the point that he considers us a pile of manure.

  22. Silvio loporto says:

    Thank God we had persons like your grandfather who, I’m sure, deserved a medal.

    Where would we be now if it was not for persons like him who peeled all those potatoes during the war?

    As for what he said, “sack of shit”, it proves he knew his job pretty well, as it takes shit to grow potatoes.

    • H.P. Baxxter says:

      Considering he lost his parents during an aerial bombing ordered by a dictator claiming he was only trying to “liberate us from the oppressors”, I’d say he knew his job, yes.

      • Silvio loporto says:

        Sorry, nothing personal.

        I like the way you shoot from the hip, that sometimes I try to provoke you.

      • H.P. Baxxter says:

        I shoot from the shoulder, in nice, controlled, three-round bursts.

        Take cover, aim, fire, manoeuvre, take cover.

    • Silvio loporto says:

      Does Coraggio fugiamo come after “take cover”?

  23. miles says:

    “Issa l-mument tal-prova ghas-suldati tal-azzar” declared the Generalissimo.

    Mument tal-prova, you know, do or die. Armageddon is nigh. A time-warp — so anachronistic in this day and age.

    The metaphor of soldiers battling against God-knows-what is so old-fashioned that no European politician uses it anymore, not even those from the old Warsaw Pact.

    Such theatrical terminology belongs to a bygone age and would have sounded realistic on Stalin’s lips as he rallied the Russians to fight “the great patriotic war” during Operation Barbarossa.

    I think not even the offspring of the 1962 suldati tal-azzar (now many of then deceased) will be impressed by such poor rhetoric.

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