Nathaniel Ebejer, Attard
Past, present and future
Referring to the editorial entitled First 100 Days As Labour Party Leader (September 13), it seems that the haze has not cleared but became even denser. Joseph Muscat 's demeanour since he became a member of the European Parliament made it oblivious to most that only five years ago he was a fully-fledged anti-EU exponent.
On September 7, during a gathering to which Lawrence Gonzi was present, David Casa MEP quite rightly and sensibly reminded those present that, in 2003, Dr Muscat was one of the architects that led Labour's campaign against Malta's entry into the EU. Mr Casa also invited those present to hold their breath just for a moment and imagine what Malta would be today outside the EU.
Only some months ago, Dr Muscat was also against Malta joining the eurozone.
What would happen to Malta should Dr Muscat as Prime Minister misjudge so wrongly Malta's future.
Surely those who opted to trust Dr Muscat failed to recall his very recent past.
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J.Borg
Sep 20th 2008, 10:50
@ N.Ebejer
Do you think that if D.Casa, who is a nationalist, would have gone against his party as for EU membership....i think he still would have voiced in favour.
So, what do you expect from J.Muscat.....
Also this EU issue has been cleared as the MLP has said more than once that the people wish has been accepted and that we should do our utmost to get the best from EU.
Or is it that u and ur friends can't find anything to come up with against J.Muscat...
Michael Cutajar
Sep 20th 2008, 10:24
Well, Mr. David Casa seems to be Nathaniel Ebejer`s hero. I have no problem with that. But let me remind him that politicians should walk their talk and talk their walk.
As for your attacks on Joseph Muscat, truth is that the Leader of the Labour Party and soon to be leader of the opposition proved himself in the European Parliament and he has put forward his best diplomatic abilities
He won a glowing endorsement from Martin Schulz, the chairman of the Party of European Socialists
Nationalists became experts in scaremongering tactics . It worked very well with Alfred Sant. But that game is now over. All the Maltese know Joseph Muscat as a deeply convinced pro-European and you can do nothing about it.
M.Gauci
Sep 20th 2008, 01:30
What lousy comparisons.
Dr. Gonzi is running a country with unlimited variable circumstances. Most of the times, where it counts he took correct decisions. One must not forget that he also has a full term to carry out his proposals. However I do not think that the price of oil is his call!
Now for Dr. Muscat, his crusade against Malta joining the EU and the Eurozone, not conceeding defeat during the referendum etc,., What changed within the EU that made the EU, the devil in persona for Malta ok? The argument that the people have spoken is foolish, the MLP, Dr. Muscat and all had the polls in hand, they knew what the people wanted way before. In any case the referendum returned a no brianer result. They didn't even want to hear Mr. Joe Public. So yes, one can indeed infer what Dr. Muscat's decision making will be should he pilot Malta based on his past. And one can also do the same for Dr. Gonzi, even if the circumstances, the data available and the countless parameters involved are indeed different. and there definately is no referendum to tell Dr. Gonzi the price of oil (as an example)
Kevin Chircop
Sep 19th 2008, 19:16
Well done Mr.Ebejer. Good choice of words. One problem only, can you please tell which sound decisions are being taken by our Leader Dr.Gonzi right now??
It seems that his vision of Malta 2015 with budget surplus in 2010 is all "duhhan fl-ajru". Was it a sound decision not to hedge when oil prices were a $60 per barrel saying that it's a bet and then start hedging when the prices exceeded $100 per barrel??? I bet you haven't received the electricity bill until now. Believe once you do you would really appreciate these sound decisions taken by our Leader.
I. M. Dingli
Sep 19th 2008, 18:14
Mr. Dalli, you have doubts with respect to Dr. Muscat’s leadership abilities, correct? Were you by any chance referring to his leadership within his town’s band club? I doubt that.
My comment was referring to Dr. Gonzi’s leadership abilities too, so I was pretty much speaking about the same subject but in relation to another person (in fact if you note, at the end of my comment I pointed out Dr. Gonzi as leader of PN and the country).
You admitted that you were pinching a little which shows that your intention was merely to raise the political aspect and not just criticising Dr. Muscat’s leadership and please, I just raised a question so there is no need to start calling people names, etc.
e.fenech
Sep 19th 2008, 14:44
my, my ,mr. ebejer you have certainly rattled the elves' cage, who it would seem have been given the full time task by the mlp to elbow everbody off these blogs. let us consider the two options in the e.u.debate (1) joseph muscat compared & contrasted the pros & cons of e.u.membership (known) with what partnership involved (unknown to us - we weren't told what they were, but surely he was). then since he opted for partnership his political judgement is truly suspicious. (2) joseph muscat was not told what the partnership involved, but still opted for partnership, again poor political judgement ! the e.u. membership was the single most important decision the country had to take since Independence. getting it wrong on such an important issue, as muscat did, does not convince the level headed, would it now !
A.Dalli
Sep 19th 2008, 14:17
Does Mr. Dingli understand the simple English words "This is above the political aspect of Red / Blue but about leadership". Well of course not. Thus I will ignore his silly question. It seems when one pinches a little, persons like Dingli become so furious that they cannot even fathom what the argument is about.
Send a letter to the time of malta about Dr Gonzi Mr. Dingli and I will reply as I have on this subject (and have done so in the past).
I. M. Dingli
Sep 19th 2008, 13:22
Mr. Dalli, isn't your level of confidence in Dr. Gonzi somewhat altered based on the fact that prior to the 8th March 2008 he made a lot of promises (even written black on white in letters sent to the concerned bodies) and now, the moment of truth, we are hearing all kind of excuses to prepare us for the forthcoming budget?
He is the leader of the PN and the country.
Nathaniel Ebejer
Sep 19th 2008, 13:02
@P.Schembri : The contents of this letter are not scaremongering, they are simply factual. And you claimed that the "MLP respected the people's choice" - Do the words "Partnership Rebah" ring any bells Mr. Schembri? Labour had to wait for a general election to respect the people's choice, that's the reality. Ok, you claim that MLP is pro-EU now, fine - what I don't understand is how the delegates elect an international secretary, who until a few weeks ago was actively campaigning with the CNI. Enough said. (The phrase "shut up and accept it" has been noted - this is an online site Mr. Schembri not an MLP general conference).
A.Dalli
Sep 19th 2008, 11:57
I don't think you understood what Mr. Ebejer was saying.
If Joe Muscat, misjudged, the EU entry for Malta, The Eurozone entry for Malta and God knows how many other things that Dr. Sant opposed and Dr. Muscat supported the oppostion to. Then what is your level of confidence in Dr. Muscat to take the correct decisions based on his erractic (grossly) decisions in the past.
This is above the political aspect of who is the best to lead the country..whether blue or red. This is about leaders ! If one took such bad decisions in the past, he potentially will do the same when at the helm of Malta in the future.
M Vella
Sep 19th 2008, 11:23
If Malta is to turn a corner to reach out to pleasant funcionality away from the utter mediocrity that pervades our every layer, we need to throw the spin in the bin and climb the stairs of objective exchange that will make it a pleasure to reach out, explore, implement and enjoy.
It seems that we have a long long way to go.
Joseph is at least a hope.
P.Schembri
Sep 19th 2008, 10:56
SCAREMONGERING!!! Still a long way to the general election. It has already been said before, MLP respects the people's choice and that's what it's doing. So shut up and accept it. MLP is now pro-EU and there is no turning back.
I. M. Dingli
Sep 19th 2008, 10:43
Mr. Ebejer, I think U-Turns are pretty much the order of the day by all parties and not Dr. Muscat only. Moreover, Dr. Muscat had stated that since the public had decided in the referendum in favour of the EU, he cannot go against the will of the public. I guess had he done differently, you would be sending a letter to The Times with the same heading but with the opposite line of thought, correct?