Gonzi, Muscat meet for timesofmalta.com debate

J. Pace

May 29th 2009, 01:10

Further to what J Martinelli said, I remember myself when I was a kid queuing at one of the MLP favourites ministers of those days to get the first colour TV and other things. And what about the Radio of those days?

Some people also told me that nothing related to computers could be imported. Ridt taghmel mossa ninja biex timporta xi haga related to computers those days!

Anyway Muscat and his 'new' team does not convince at all. I heard his clip last Sunday evening on TVM and that clip basically says the manifest of the next general election and NOT what his people will do in Brussels!

Mr. Muscat, as a floater voter myself, I want to know clearly what your team will try to do in EU and not what are your ideas to win the next general election. Are the PL candidates in favour of the EU in the first place?

Shame, since I thought we will be having a stronger opposition, but is basically the same.

Galea. L

May 28th 2009, 23:19

J Martinelli
Again your comments show that living in far away Canada you only rely on the PN propaganda machine.

Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Typical arrogant arguments and implying that whatever happened was PL's fault and that the PN were virgins all along when history shows otherwise. You can try but you shall never change history.

Patrick Cilia

May 28th 2009, 22:25

A wonderful opportunity there for Joseph to make a real U-Turn and decide to really work with Government and act like a responsible opposition leader, he owes it to his followers! No lies, No spin and certainly no more empty smiles!!! When can we see a PL or MLP leader who has all the prerequisites of a true leader??

J Martinelli

May 28th 2009, 20:59

@ A Cassar

Your reply to Mr. Castillo begs a little reminder.

First of all no one expects Joseph to make another U-turn, - that will take him back to where he was until the last election - hardly winning stuff. But he is still very much unconvincing.

Secondly, commenting on life in the 70s and 80s, why do we have to keep reminding you that Mintoff made begging ILLEGAL but did NOT eradicate poverty. What Mintoff unsuccessfully tried was to lower everybody's standards so that poverty no longer felt so bad, after all. Why did he exercise control over everything including what and when you could eat food of your choice, import what you wanted and spoke your mind when you felt like it - like what YOU are doing now?

And for the cherry on the cake - he may have left some money in the kitty but what about protesting tourists wanting decent water to drink and bathe with in first class hotels? What about an aging power station which was more often off than on? What about an antiquated telephone system hardly acceptable in third world countries?

And what about a decimated education system?

Giselle Farrugia

May 28th 2009, 19:26

The look on their faces augurs well....maybe they were asked some human questions for a change....

Joe Vella (Mellieha.)

May 28th 2009, 19:15

@ Andrew Cumbo

Joseph Muscat is not in favour of abortion, however if I am not mistaken Joseph Muscat and the PL are aligned with the European Socialist that are indeed in favour of a Women's choice to choose (aka. pro abortion). if I am wrong, please correct me. Otherwise i stand corrected in what the European Socialist stand is in this regards.

Just to remind you, there is a Maltese saying that goes something like this; " Ma min rajtek xebahtekk." perhaps this Maltese saying explains why the PL MEP's voted the way they did on the illegal immigration issue. I guess the PL MEP's and Joseph Muscat all they wanted was to please their European Socialist Masters and the heck with us Maltese. Guess the advice the European Socialist gave Joseph Muscat and the PL was just stomped your feet a few times and treat the EU with the veto right and don't worry about those stupid Maltese because they will be on your side.

Shame on Joseph Muscat, Shame on thePL.

Joe Vella (Mellieha.)

May 28th 2009, 18:59

@ Mario Gellel

You made it clear for Mr. Castillo. I am going to make it clear for you my friend. Many of US in the 70's and 80's DID NOT want Governments handout; only the Dignity of Productive Employment.

Guess the phrase PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT is foreign to you and not able to understand.

Productive employment not only provide for decent jobs to those who are employed but whole of society benefits along the way as well.

Joe Vella (Mellieha.)

May 28th 2009, 18:54

@ A. Cassar

Talking about the 60's you should be ashamed. I just want to remind you that the 60's were inherited from what had happened in the 50's.

What went wrong in the 70's and carried on the the Earlie's 80's was that the Government of the day could sustained the economic growth inherited from the 60's. God bless "the Korpi tax-Xoghol" but please no more. Productive and sustainable work anytime over dead end employment that was noting more then a noose around Malta neck's.

Should I go on?

Fenech M D

May 28th 2009, 18:05

I think that Gonzi is saying, 'If we invite you to the Mistra's party, would you come?'
And Joseph's look is saying, 'You're kidding right?'

A Cassar

May 28th 2009, 18:03

@Anthony Castillo
You are against U-turns..so if I understand correctly you think joseph muscat should persist with an anti-EU stance and get Malta out of the EU?

And you said that in the 70s and 80s we were in the Third world......do you by any chance remember the 60s?? Were we in the "first" world back then?? Do you remember beggars in Valletta in the 60s?
The 70s and 80s were far from perfect, that's why we voted MLP out of office....but there was Lm500 million in Malta's coffers, free health care, free education, social services, a tourism and manufacturing industry. None of these existed before. Then things got a bit nasty and we turned to PN....who in the end got nasty too....we've got 2 choices now; either try out labour again, or vote for someone new like AD.

And re Iceland; the country wishes it was in the Euro zone so it could be bailed out. We didn't need any bailing out by the EU thank God. Please read a bit about what happened in Iceland, then afterwards you can comment more intelligently.

MARIO GELLEL

May 28th 2009, 17:39

@ CASTILLO
I AM GOING TO MAKE IT SHORT FOR YOU,BUT WHERE YOU AN ASYLUM SEEKER IN THE 70'S AND 80'S,OR WHERE YOU ONE OF THOSE WHO WAS ALWAYS ASKING THE POSTMAN IF YOU HAVE ANY MLP GOVERMENT CHEQUES LIKE BONUSES,CHILDREN ALLOWANCES,PENSIONS,AND A HUNDRED MORE WHICH WAS ON A DAILY BASES.
NOWADAYS NOBODY DARES OPEN THE LETTERBOX COS OF GETTING A HEART ATTACK LIKE GETTING A PN GOVERMENT 400 euro ELECTRICAL BILL

Duncan Sant

May 28th 2009, 17:21

@Anthony Castillo....

Please speak for yourself. I have FULL trust in Joseph Muscat. The bankruptcy of Iceland has nothing to do with it not being an EU member, but purely because of their irresponsibile banking policies.
And please, stop mentioning 2003 and the fact the MLP didn't want EU membership. That has now gone, policies have changed, ideas have changed and MLP MEPs have brought a lot home for us maltese.
Only idiots don't change their mind.

Andrew Cumbo

May 28th 2009, 17:09

Beware of what Mr. Borg? May be from another document that might be released in the coming days? Like the one issued last Monday about government plans to make payable health services. Beware of Dr. Muscat because he is telling the truth, how we are betrayed from this Government after all those promises before last year general election?
You know what makes me beware Mr. Borg? False allegations like the one pleaded by Dr. Gonzi last Monday, when saying that Dr. Muscat is in favour of abortion. A statement intensified to mislead people, and to capture votes from innocent people.

Anthony Castillo

May 28th 2009, 17:02

We the Maltese people realy have to be aware from Muscat becouse if we did what he told us to do and stay out of the EU we could end up like Iceland the country that listen to Muscat and EllulBonnici just about to a bankcrupcy and what about the U TURNS that alhtough he just about starting in politics he already prove himself that he is only an expert in U TURNS. How could we the Maltese people Trust in a person like this without principles and could change how to govern in no time att all and after all this where could we all end up. A third World country like we was in the 70's and most of the 80's or may be even worst without experience.MALTESE PEOPLE PLEASE BE AWARE OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO US.,

Galea. L

May 28th 2009, 16:13

It looks like a cunning look, contrary to that of the Prime Minister who is smiling like the proverbial Statues' Angel (Anglu tal-Vara).

L.Coleiro

May 28th 2009, 16:11

@Frans Borg

yes beware you might be caught in the landslide!!!!!!

Joe Grima

May 28th 2009, 16:08

In spite of my many years in and around politics,even if I dig deep enough, I will find it hard to discover ordinary,non professional political spinners who will nail their flag to a mast that has to do with one's alleged sincere or insincere looks as the ones who have contributed so far have done. Why dont you wait for the debate to be published and then comment?. We have seen one debate already in Bondi where we could all judge who was being sincere and who was doing one's utmost to hide the facts. Premepting the Times debate will not help the side you want to forward.. Never knew what a devastating effect a looming defeat at the Euro elections could have on some people.

M Ellul

May 28th 2009, 15:39

@Frans Borg
Beware of What????

Frans Borg

May 28th 2009, 15:39

To me it is not a sincere look...

but that is just my opinion ..

Frans Borg

May 28th 2009, 15:28

Joe Muscat's look says it all....

Non verbals speak more than words....

beware