During Sunday lunch, a friend received an email from Joseph Muscat, who addressed him as "Dear Friend".

I know most of my friend's friends and Joseph isn't one of them. My missus also got the same thing not much later, and I'm pretty sure she's never had the ineffable pleasure of befriending Muscat.

Be that as it may be, the email is evidence of way more than the presumption with which Muscat's minions try to insinuate him into people's lives, and during their free time, too. It contains statements that justify the feeling many of us have that these people really don't have much of a clue.

The email tells us what responsible action Muscat intends to take to address the speculation and instability that is wracking the country. This responsible action seems to include proposing a no-confidence vote with such unashamed speed that many feel this is now incontrovertible evidence that Muscat is simply gagging for the keys to Castille.

Muscat (for it is he who signed the email, after all) goes on to tell us, with scant regard for the truth, that the Prime Minister has lost control of the situation [and that] "worse he is off the case, even going to Tunisia and Qatar at this crucially sensitive time."

This is a blatant untruth, because the PM cancelled his trip days before Labour's machine trundled into action and blitzed out this pathetic little email. This is incompetence, of course, but worse it shows a disregard for people's intelligence that is almost breathtaking.

The patronising tone of the rest of the email fortifies this impression, it need hardly be said.

The recipient receives a stirring call to arms, reading the following almost Churchillian prose:

"Today I ask you to join me in calling for this government to step aside. It is time for new leadership, a fresh and innovative economic policy and a renewed commitment to forge and create the future our families deserve. Together, we can rebuild our economy and revitalise our schools, hospitals and roads. We can unleash our country's true potential and make our country a fairer, more prosperous place for us all."

Excuse me, but have we had a devastating war that passed me by, recently? Have we all moved to Libya or Greece and not noticed? What? Come on, get real, why don't you?

Muscat then goes on, spiralling down into emotive gibberish that doesn't even make political sense, much less any other sort.

He writes:

"This cause [presumably his effort to bring down the Government] cannot be successful without your support. Do join me and support this vote of no confidence in Parliament next week. [None of the recipients of the email who I know are MPs so how can they do this?] Let us have this vote so that the people - NOT the politicians [presumably including him!] - the PEOPLE, can exercise their right to choose the strong government we need without delay."

I've nothing against electioneering, but seriously, is this the best they can come up with? Asking random citizens to support an opportunistic Parliamentary motion? How, by rolling up on the day to wave placards and blow foghorns? By wearing some silly bracelet or ribbon, New Wave Hippy Style?

Or simply by ignoring the blatant, supercilious, incompetent, patronising smugness that is continuing to ride the anti-Gonzi wave created by Debono's self-aggrandisement?