Thursday, 16th October 2008
Unexceptionable
But was it? Joseph Muscat’s first speech in the House, I mean. Working from the report on his words in this very website, I suppose a casual observer would be incapable of finding much to grumble about.
He opened proceedings by saying that he and his party would work for the people to have fresh confidence in the country and its institutions. These are fine words, coming from the leader of the party that has – to date – consistently denigrated virtually every state institution. A glance at the MLP media, from its breezy but tabloidish maltastar.com through its breathless and smug radio and TV stations to Kullhadd, which I have occasion to describe as a chip-wrapper in the past (but I’m pre-conditioned by the way I’ve been publicised therein in the past) will provide positive proof that according to the Labour Party, nothing good ever happens here, everything is done badly, probably on purpose and anyway, it’s the PN-led government’s fault.
Now, I’m not saying that everything the government does is good, but compared with the mediocrity that was foisted on us by Mintoff and KMB, we’re light years ahead of where we were mere decades ago. Before the Lil’Elves start up with the “oh, there you go, mentioning the past again, forget about it”, let me point out that a) it’s the Lil’Elves who go on and on about how wonderful Mintoff was all the time and b) Muscat had quite a good trip down memory lane himself.
For instance, he told us that the MLP had made mistakes in the past and apologised for them.
Excuse me, what mistakes are these and when was this apology delivered? I don’t recall hearing any apology for the past – excuses as to why they lost election after election we’ve had skip-loads of, but a simple apology for the way human rights were laughed at, for the number of lives destroyed by the vicious class-hatred fomented by the MLP and its apologists, for the rubbish utilities we had to endure, for the destruction of the University and education in general and for making this country a virtual laughing stock I certainly don’t recall noticing.
And according to Muscat, the MLP’s intentions were honourable all through this.
It was honourable, the way trade was brought to a standstill except for those who were smiled upon by the regime. It was honourable the way vast swathes of the country were “released for development”, to the extent that being called by the name of the Minister responsible back then has become a reason to go to Court for libel. It was honourable the way we got all cosy with the least liberal regimes of the world, such as China, North Korea and Romania, making us look like sympathisers with them in their repression. It was honourable, coming closer in time to today, the way the MLP did its level best to keep us out of our rightful place in Europe, preferring ludicrous ideas of Switzerland in the Mediterranean – lucky for us we didn’t become Iceland in the Mediterranean.
It was honourable, the way every trade-union bar one – the ones that didn’t submit to the whims of the MLP, I mean – was bullied and the way their members were treated if they dared raise their heads above the parapet.
Yes, all the endearing traits of the MLP are clear evidence of its honourable intentions, rendering Muscat’s declaration of his party’s apology ever so slightly amusing. I’ve no doubt he’s sorry for all this, what decent person wouldn’t be, but please, my friend, don’t be disingenuous: the intentions of many of the players in that particular game were far from honourable.
We then got a nod towards what appears to be becoming the MLP’s target audience, the amorphous mass of people who are annoyed with the Government, that group which every supporter of every party that didn’t make it to Government says is larger than the group of people who wanted the PN to remain in Government. Fair enough, Alfred Sant’s cynical, and utterly mistimed, ploy in bringing what is becoming a clearly spurious issue into play late in the game appears to have diverted what would have been an absolute majority into a relative one, but the fact remains that more people wanted the PN than wanted the MLP and way too few wanted any of the other bunch.
Frankly, given that – with the exception of the AD, whose democratic credentials are unsullied – the other bunch are the motliest of motley crews, I’m surprised that Muscat makes even this small gesture at getting into bed with them.
After a little looking back in sorrow, we got the next box ticked, the one that reads “be upbeat and press the right buttons” in the check-list his marketing adviser must have prepared for him. The MLP led by him would work towards – deep breath now – promoting the environment, economic competitiveness which should go hand in hand with social development, education, high standards, the welfare state, the infrastructure, civil rights, a culture of private initiative, defence of the national interest, active participation at all levels of the European institutions, national and international solidarity.
Let’s see, did we leave anything out, I can imagine him saying, in much the same manner as one works through a mental list when packing for a trip. Socks, shoes, undies, shirts, trousers, passport, credit-cards, iPod, mobile, chargers, tickets … yep, all there, we’re good to go.
Dr Muscat told us that he comes from a generation which felt the state was strong with the weak, and weak with the strong. It was a generation which saw the state as being inefficient; which squandered taxpayers’ money; which represented powerful minorities and not the majority of hard working taxpayers. This perception created a gulf between the institutions and the people and between politicians and voters, according to Muscat.
Am I the only one who thinks that – all in all – his maiden speech wasn’t, really, all that unexceptionable?
That he come over too much, in fact, as a pretty smug youth who thinks everything that came before his generation was, in the elegant phrase of youths everywhere “a bit rubbish, innit”?
That, in fact, while sounding progressive and moderate, he wasn’t, really – he was just trying to be all things to all men?
It’s early days, yet, and I’m sure he’ll get better, but for the moment, he sounded too much like all those Labour supporters who look back on the Mintoff era with fondness, hankering after those days of glory, while – at lest the intelligent ones do that – trying to make the rest of us forget about it all.
RSS
Comments
Dr Saliba, let me cut and paste some of your comments exactly:
"Hippocrates if the proper name of an ancient Greek physician and not a translated Greek word "
"What I said was "Hippocrates is the proper name of an ancient Greek physician and not a translated Greek word "
> I asserted correctly that it is a Greek proper noun
Where???
>and that you had no right to corrupt it into Hypocrates.
Again, whether you like it or not... you are WRONG. Dr. Saliba.
On two accounts:
1) It is not I who corrupted it but
2) many many others concur that it can be written in many ways...
I gave you plenty of independent resources to verify that there are many various interpretations of Ἱπποκράτης in English... including Hypocrates.
See for yourself!
Please stop being stubborn on this point - you're on very shaky ground.
No one is asking you to admit to being wrong (that would take a LOT on your part, it seems!) but just stop insisting you are right, when you're not will you?
I never questioned that Hippocrates was a Greek word. I asserted correctly that it is a Greek proper noun and that you had no right to corrupt it into Hypocrates.
c) >Whether that industrial action was a lock out or a strike is proved by available official >documents that you refuse to consult and not by the prevalent loose practice of >using "strike" as a substitute for any industrial action.
- I point out 'neutral' sources like the internet , The Times etc as points of reference.
- You point out 'official' documents that are written by one side of the argument. By one of the main protagonists of the STRIKE no less!! One who the Malta today refers to as fomenting the campaign against the STRIKE breaking doctors.
( You might perhaps recall that ironically it was during a Georg Sapiano programme that the Grechs might have "expressed their distress" at what they considered to be German’s indirect contribution to the tragedy....?)
Equally, would you, therefore, take my advice and refer to Mintoff's version of events as the only 'official' source you should refer too?
I think if you did you'd most certainly be the real ignoramous around here..!!
I think therefore your suggestion is a wrong one as there are plenty of NEUTRAL rescourses that readers can refer to...
>Stop asking the wrong questions!
Wrong?
For whom?
a)
>Where on earth did I ever concede that Hippocratic can be spelt in many ways?
> "Hippocrates is the proper name of an ancient Greek physician and not a translated Greek >word that you are free to substitute by Hypocrates as your fancy takes you".
Ok.. lets play silly games:
1) Hippocrates of Cos II or Hippokrates of Kos (ca. 460 BC – ca. 370 BC) - Greek: Ἱπποκράτης; Hippokrátēs
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocrates)
Even an ignoramous like myself can READ that in GREEK it is Ἱπποκράτης.
So if:
- Ἱπποκράτης is GREEK,
- and he was GREEK
- and the English TRANSLATION of Ἱπποκράτης is Hippocrates (etc)...
why is Hippocrates "not a translated Greek word" ?
By the way just like, as I have shown you (whether you like it or not!), there are MANY variations of Hypocatres please note above that again Cos (another translated Greek word) can also be spelt Cos, Kos etc
b) Thank you for pointing out that housemanship was NOT compulsary in Malta.
As it was/STILL IS compulsary rest of the world, we'll let the readers decide if the govt of the time was justified in modernising the archaic qausi-masonic situation ofthe time .
Where on earth did I ever concede that Hippocratic can be spelt in many ways?
What I said was "Hippocrates is the proper name of an ancient Greek physician and not a translated Greek word that you are free to substitute by Hypocrates as your fancy takes you".
What must I do to make you understand plain English?
The following reply was submitted a long time ago but, for unknown reasons, it was not posted.
Housemanship existed before Mintoff's time and I myself had served it at St Luke Hospital in the late fourties. It was not compulsory. What Mintoff tried to impose was compulsory pre-registration housemanship before medical graduands would be allowed to practice their profession in Malta. This is not required for any other profesion in Malta. It was unjust because he would not guarantee employment as housemen to all who qualified and who were willing to be so employed. This meant that politicians would be able to dictate who would be allowed and who would not be allowed to work as a doctor in Malta. Today, the problem is quite different because as a result of that lock out Maltese doctors have learnt that their services are better remunerated abroad and where their housemanship is better recognised for specialisation.
Whether that industrial action was a lock out or a strike is proved by available official documents that you refuse to consult and not by the prevalent loose practice of using "strike" as a substitute for any industrial action.
Stop asking the wrong questions!
It proves that Dr. Saliba is trying to rewrite history when he tried to tell us that the govt locked the 'poor' doctors out, rather than the doctor's striking (under political instruction to undermine the then Govt's policy to modernise?).
Rather than the govt locking them out,it was the doctors who opposed the govt's wish that a doctor should give back to society something of the investment that society had put in the doctor: HOUSEMANSHIP.
Just like in most other countries at the time and just like is still in place today (including Malta!).
Dr. Saliba tried to sidetrack for quite a while with Hippo/Hypo etc etc only to be shown (and to reluctantly concede) that it can be spelt in many ways...
He then tries to convince us that the Union did NOT order a STRIKE because of the housemanship issue.
A third party (the Times) comes along and impartially states clearly that it WAS a strike after all...
And the fundamental 3 questions on this issue remain unanswered:
- BEFORE the strike, was housemanship for doctors in place in Malta?
- Was the Govt correct to ask for such?
- Where was the abuse in that?
Clear JM?
Times refers to it as the STRIKE not LOCK OUT. Exactly what does that proof?
I comply with your request, today, in Fr J Borg's blog "The silence of the lambs". I start with your question 13 because I believe that it has not been asked or answered before.
"Why was Mintoff never taken to court for the alleged atrocoties you are all talking about?"
Answer: Because Mintoff was no fool and there were abundant underlings (e.g. the SantuWistin gang) willing and eager to do the dirty work as long as the police looked the other way when they were not actually participating or planting false evidence to frame innocent people!
A rather unfortunate but significant reminder of those days in today's Times, Dr. Saliba.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081022/local/investigations-into-karin-grech-murder-continuing
Please note that the Times refers to it as the STRIKE not LOCK OUT...
Clear?
>The MLP's dispute with the doctors was not about the compulsory post graduation >housemanship - that was only the pretext.
BE SERIOUS!!
As the Kebab guy you mention says "Science is the father of knowledge, but opinion breeds ignorance"
The science you need on this matter is physics.
Convert some potential energy to Kinetic.:Go down to the local Library & find some decent newspaper articles of the time.
And I don't mean Beano type comics like "In- taghna" of the time, either.
At least please tell use whether HOUSMANSHIP was in place at the time or not?
Come on man! Be honest... you CAN do it!!
:)
Was it WRONG for the govt to ask for it (just like in almost every other country in the world).
Where was the pretext in THAT?
I might be an ignoramous ... but you think we ALL are, Dr. Saliba??
>may I suggest that you read the well documented and authoritative .. by Dr L. J. German for >your illumination and guidance?
Great suggestion!
Of course, those more illuminated than I, might cynically take your suggestion to be the equivalent of reading Hilter's oppinion on Churchill. Why, I wonder..?
KompliGhallimnaDOTTSALIBA!!!!
Thank you for your reply Dr. Saliba.
Most enlightening!
Please excuse my insistence on the matter ... but after all I am, as you rightly point out, an ignoramous and bow to your much superior intelligence when it comes to such matters.
I do however try to learn. And right now I can do so from someone so learned... an oportunity not to be missed!
> Hippocrates if the proper name of an ancient Greek physician
I thought you were nit picking to the ridiculous again butno - you're right!
So.. we have established that he was a Greek Physician - thank you.
Being ignorant I always thought he sold Kebabs on 5th Avenue....
> and not a translated Greek word
So.. if it was not translated from Greek (alphabet) to English (alphabet)... what was his name translated from...?
> I was under an illegal compulsoryretirement from government service by the MLP ..
subsequently revoked as a "miscarriage of justice".
You're lucky! A certain Cardiologist Consultant who (worked in London Canada by the way JM!)was found by the Ombusman to have suffered a "miscarriage of justice" and was NOT reinstated to St Lukes.
Under the PN , DrSaliba!!!!
Hippocrates if the proper name of an ancient Greek physician and not a translated Greek word that you are free to substitute by hypocrates as your fancy takes you.
I took the Christianised form of the Hippocratic used by the Royal University of Malta in the late thirties.
At the time of the lock out of Malta doctors by the Mintoff administration I was under an illegal compulsory retirement from government service by the MLP and consequently I could not be "locked out". I was never a "blackleg". My compulsory retirement was subsequently revoked as a "miscarriage of justice".
The MLP's dispute with the doctors was not about the compulsory post graduation housemanship - that was only the pretext. The real bone of contention was the insistence that the recognition of medical degrees in Malta be taken away from a professional Medical Board and be invested into the hands of politicians.
Instead of vaccillating between pretending to be an authority and being an ignoramus about these matters may I suggest that you read the well documented and authoritative "Landmarks in Medical Unionism in Malta by Dr L. J. German for your illumination and guidance?
Out of pure curiosity - and since you INSIST in taking the main issue WELL AWAY from the main reasoning of my post! - would you care to tell us:
1) which version of the hippocratical oath did you swear to?
2) As you were a committee member of the MAM and you know what you're talking about (and I don't)
- what was your involvement in the strike & consequent lock out.
- if (as you claim) doctors where 'locked out' , how come other doctors BROKE THE STRIKE to put the patient first. where they LOCKED IN?
- did you put your patient first or did STRIKE/be locked out?
And what was the INITIAL argument about between MAM & the GOVT?
Is it true that the govt of the time wanted to introduced HOUSEMANSHIP (like in the rest of the world!) wherein the Doctor (once qualified) has to do one year's paid work in the govt hospital and MAM objected to this - hence the strike?
Is it true that housemanship is still in place in Malta (just like the rest of the world)?
So.... why isn't MAM striking now..?
hmmmm
1a) Hippocrates (beinga a translation from Greek) is also known as Hypocrates, Hipocrates, Hyppocrate etc therefore your pettiness re my spelling is quite childish. I expect better arguments!
1b) As if one cannot refer to the "Coronation Oath" as the Coronational Oath.
Or the "oath to confirm and support the Constitution" cannot be referred to as "the
Constitutional Oath".
Likewise, the Hypocratic Oath can be referred to as the Hypocratical Oath.
The "-al" at the end turns the NOUN into an ADJECTIVE giving it the 'Of / By' meaning.
Still not convinced? Google all versions of hypocratical above (and add oath) and see the result.
Still not convinced? Apart from suggesting seeking help elsewhere, I cannot help you further, sorry.
2) You also revert to "the lockout".
How CONVENIENT that you OMIT to mention what happened to CAUSE the LOCKOUT , DURING the lock out and what happened AFTER the lock out?
Or of the violence on Labourites and the pain that patients suffered as a consequence.
No mention of the oath here in your revert, is there?
We went to visit a close relative at Mater Dei Hospital yesterday, really and truly we thought that the ambience in general, the good manners and total commitment of the staff and the tranquillity leave very little to be desired. Indeed our new hospital is good enough to provide no reason for criticism and objection.
But then we couldn’t find the car as we realised that the car park had more than one level and none of them had any signs or zonings. Can anyone imagine the inconveniences when facing a situation like that?
This is a genuine appeal to the responsible entity; please put some adequate signage to indicate the different floor levels as well as dividing the levels into numbered zones.
And while at it, some decent road signs on the approach of the area would also enhance the other facilities.
There’s nothing negative in this please support the claim.
It was you, not I, who made the euphemistic allegation that the methods used by the MLP lacked elegance. I do not agree with you because your allegation takes the prize for the biggest understatement of the year. It is up to you, not me, to prove your point that arson (burning down the printing presses of The Times) down the printing presses was only inelegant. You should be able to do that by taking some time off the love-making about which you boast.
Joseph will get his chance in 41/2 years' time, then, whoever, will get his (or hers) five (or two) years later and so on. Its called "democracy" - you know, the thing we got back in 1987, having lost it (officially) for the six years previous, though, in reality, it was moribund by 1976.
Is it possible that you see no difference between "hypocratical" and "Hippocratic"?
Charles J.Buttigieg
"Their sins were few and venial ours were numerous and mortal. "
Exactly. I'm glad the truth has finally dawned on you
Your fifteen questions have either been answered ad nauseam in different media or do not deserve any reply. It is not possible for me to answer them repeatedly within the limit of 200 words and I am too considerate for the patience of readers of this blog to inflict on them serial installments and prologues and epilogues with nothing in between. I will not hesitate to give you an appropriate answer to any of your queries but I expect you to submit them one at a time so that my replies could be be properly digested and assimilated by you.
I tell you that there is no such thing as a hypocratical oath. You yourself quote Google to confirm that it should be called the "Hippocratic" not a hypocratic oath. You want us to believe that there are real doctors in your family who agree with you and do not even know that it is called a Hippocratic Oath
For a long time I was a committee member of the MAM and I know what I am talking about - you don't. There was a "lock out" of doctors by the MLP government, proven by press photographs showing the police and prominent MLP politicians preventing doctors from entering St Luke Hospital to give the essential medical services that the MAM doctors were instructed to provide and in Gozo doctors were actually prevented by the police from proceeding with a planned surgical operation.
You ask " ..... says a lot that doesn't it?". Of course it does! It says that you are singularly uninformed.
1. Who killed Raymond Caruana?
2. Who killed Karen Grech?
3. Who killed Wilfred Cardona?
4. Who tried to assassinate Richard Cachia Caruana?
5. Who planted the bomb on Dr. Laurence Pullicino doorsteps?
6. Who planted the bomb at the Sliema Police Station?
7. Who were the police officers who killed Nardu Debono?
8. Why was the officer in charge of SMU promoted to a higher rank in 1987 by the then newly elected PN Government?
9. Who dropped the balustrades at Zebbug?
10. What was the arson, found by the police, doing at the PN head quarters in Pieta?
11. Who ransacked the residence of Joe Debono Grech?
12. What went on during the clandestine meeting under a bridge at 2 am between Zeppi l-hafi and EFA?
13. Why was Mintoff never taken to court for the alleged atrocities you are all talking about?
14. How many cases of discrimination committed by the PN were proved in our court?
15. How many cases of discriminations committed by the Labour regime were proved in court?
You seem to have the answers? If so, let us hear your version!
The Police Commissioner (il-paraventu?) is all ears.
“I know, having experienced it I, that there was no NP violence on any scale remotely comparable to the notorious sustained and tolerated MLP violence. I know also that the NP never condoned the rare isolated violent incidents and prosecuted the perpetrators as soon as they were identified.”
Their sins were few and venial ours were numerous and mortal.
Dr Saliba (PN supporter) suffered injustices and got the sack during a Labour administration. Mortal sin.
Charles J Buttigieg (Labour supporter) suffered injustices and was given the sack during a Nationalist administration. Venial sin and he deserved it.
Well, just to confirm I asked members of my family who are doctors who disagree with you. I even googled it up. Interestingly this was one of the quotes that I found which seemed rather appropriate:
"Reciting the ancient Hippocratic Oath was once the high point of any medical school convocation. Now, the noble pledge of traditional medical ethics is being altered or even suppressed, to accommodate modern prejudices and taboos. "
Hmmm.. says a lot, that, doesn't it?
>there was no "infamous doctors' strike" but there was an infamous doctors' lock out by their employer,
Now you are falling into the ridicoulous.
Are you saying that no strike was ordered by the Doctor's Union?
What about those doctors who wanted to keep to their hypocratical oath and place their duty and their patients way before shear politics?
Who were seriously threatened by their fellow doctors, who experience and suffered much much much much much more than shear physical violence?
Again I speak from UNDENIABLE PERSONAL experience, Dr. Saliba not politically biased pure emotion and propaganda.
For you to try and bluff your way with such statements shows crassness beyond belief.
Alas, Dr. Saliba,
What a different face to history we have seen.
I can assure you without hesitation that the violence and threats by PN 'supporters' I have seen both on a personal level and those close to me are way beyond what I have seen from labour supporters.
>I know also that the NP never condoned the rare isolated violent incidents and prosecuted >the pepetrators as soon as they were identified.
Again, I have heard many a story from PN protagonists of the 70/80 that show otherwise.
I prefer to believe them than you. Of particular note are some great personal diaries of one who was gentleman enough to admit to certain orchestrations that were carried out. Enough said.
>Please check your facts properly before presuming to pontificate about honesty and political propaganda.
I assure you that I know what I am talking about.
Yes sir.
Part two.
1. Who killed Raymond Caruana?
2. Who killed Karen Grech?
3. Who killed Wilfred Cardona?
4. Who tried to assassinate Richard Cachia Caruana?
5. Who planted the bomb on Dr. Laurence Pullicino doorsteps?
6. Who planted the bomb at the Sliema Police Station?
7. Who were the police officers who killed Nardu Debono?
8. Why was the officer in charge of SMU promoted to a higher rank in 1987 by the then newly elected PN Government?
9. Who dropped the balustrades at Zebbug?
10. What was the arson, found by the police, doing at the PN head quarters in Pieta?
11. Who ransacked the residence of Joe Debono Grech?
12. What went on during the clandestine meeting under a bridge at 2 am between Zeppi l-hafi and EFA?
13. Why was Mintoff never taken to court for the alleged atrocities you are all talking about?
14. How many cases of discrimination committed by the PN were proved in our court?
15. How many cases of discriminations committed by the Labour regime were proved in court?
@Francis Saliba
Part one
Your Question “Re your admission of the MLP's "lack of elegance" (among other sins) would you please explain how its mobs should have, with due elegance, burnt down the printing presses of The Times with workers trapped inside, ransacked the Curia and the residence of the then leader of the opposition with his family trapped inside etc?”
Tell you what, you tell us how. I make love not war and am totally ignorant about the ways of organising arson elegantly or otherwise. Maybe you can get some help from Joe the barefoot or the .........But why am I wasting my time?
And.....while you’re asking questions see if you can get us some answers for the following short list: -
I know, having experienced it myself, that there was no NP violence on any scale remotely comparable to the notorious sustained and tolerated MLP violence. I know also that the NP never condoned the rare isolated violent incidents and prosecuted the pepetrators as soon as they were identified.
There is no such thing as a hypocratical oath and there was no "infamous doctors' strike" but there was an infamous doctors' lock out by their employer, the MLP administration, heedless of the havoc it caused to patients, medical students, doctors and their families.
Please check your facts properly before presuming to pontificate about honesty and political propaganda.
“Do you HONESTLY think that such violence was only one sided?”
Yes Ivan Yes he actually believes so and you are wasting your time . Saliba and Martinelli can’t be helped. Il hazin kollu Mintoff ghamlu u huma puri u vergni. Just agree with them even though they will still not shut up and look forward. Ummi ma xi dwejjaq ta nies veru fihom hasra.
Do you HONESTLY think that such violence was only one sided?
Have you no real grasp of the WHOLE and the REAL political history (not just as portrayed by PN propaganda machine only) ?
And why both sides had their violent moments?
And shall we just refer to physical violence (only) in the 70's 80' s only.. for (very) convenience sake? No mention of other forms of violence...?
I would expect better from an MD.
And from one who knows well what a hypocratical oath is all about. And how it was thrown out of the window in the infamous doctor's strike with the excuse to change something... which is still in place till this very day.
No that is not a personal attack, but a humble reminder that politicians who should have known better incited violence of ALL sorts ... and on both sides.
So lets not beat someone with a stick that can also be used to beat us with equal justification.
Please.
Your response to me post was (a) too emotional and therefor irrational (b) does NOT in any way answer to my indication that this log ('sic!') is propaganda.
a) Just because I read about what is happening in Zimbabwe (whether with the latest or oldest technology) in no way gives me any 'live' feeling as to what Zimbabwean citizens are actually experiencing. At best I'll get a rough indication and even that is dependent on what/who is transmitting the 'idea' to me.
Same applies for you living on Canada and 'reading' about Malta's present.
Sorry.
You also call Dr. Sant my hero.
>Yet it is for the whole world to see like we saw the famous Birzebbugia, >Goooooonnnnnzzziiii comedy by your former hero!
I have already told you that I resigned when MLP was in GOVT under Dr. Sant. So much for being my hero..
Please switch off emotions and think before you write as you don't get carried away. Better thinking required and it would be better to stop evading the 'accusations' and answer them more directly.
Re your admission of the MLP's "lack of elegance" (among other sins) would you please explain how its mobs should have, with due elegance, burnt down the printing presses of The Times with workers trapped inside, ransacked the Curia and the residence of the then leader of the opposition with his family trapped inside etc?
It seems he needs more help than I do.
Cheers Charles!
@ Ivan Grech Mintoff
You wrote, " He's in Canada -one can understand that he's not as 'in touch' as those of us living here". According to you, at least I have an excuse, being so far away,
but what is your excuse? What is your excuse for twisting and spinning? What excuse does your party have for being anti-everything, only a few months later to feed the excuse that, in hindsight the NP was right. Right to join the EU, right to adopt the euro etc, etc.
You seem to forget that thanks to the Internet and modern inexpensive communication methods, one can be close to whatever happens in the four corners of the earth. It is most embarrassing when some self proclaimed experts comment about currencies, banks, , markets up and markets down, and other topics when they do not know what they are talking about.
Yet it is for the whole world to see like we saw the famous Birzebbugia, Goooooonnnnnzzziiii comedy by your former hero!
This MD is not at all annoyed by your jealousy and lack of elementary courtesy in repeatedly alluding to a doctorate to which I am perfectly entitled. I will disappoint you greatly if you expect from me the "courtesy" of not challenging your preposterous defence and excuses for what you now admit belatedly as the past "shortfalls", "lack of elegance" (sic), "political discrimination" "police brutality" and "corruption" of the Mintoff-KMB era.
Joe,
JM's aim seems to be one.
To deflect and take the argument away from the simple 'accusation' for want of a better word:
That this blog (sic!) and the blogger (sic!) have a predefined 'formula' and its aim is pure Pappa Nerik propaganda: blacken MLP to make PN look brighter...
No defense for this has yet been offered - no acceptance or denial. But the formula seems clear and it carries on unashamedly each week, everything fitting to the infamous tick list.
However, there are plenty of attempts to deflect and take the argument into side issues.
At least, that is my oppinion.
JM's states that there are those whoare making up 'the stench' . He's in Canada -one can understand that he's not as 'in touch' as those of us living here.
Reality is clearly not as he paints it.
@ Il-Bocca
>Of course, budding Woodwards and Bernsteins
(Misquoting uncle Oscar) some say that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit...
An equally approprate piece of such, that fits the mood might be:
1st Person "Shut up, will you?"
2nd Person "Oh, I'm sorry, Your Highness, should I go get you your cookies and tea now?"
Part Two. The Epilogue.
I can find lots of short falls in Labour and on many occasions I spoke publicly and wrote about them and I do not deny the lack of elegance, cases of political discrimination, police brutality and corruption that happened during Labour administrations. The basic difference between us and them is that the like of Mr.Martinelli, the man who addresses himself as Doctor and forgets to show courtesies to others (not Joe Martinelli as he has class), and Dr. Borg-Cardona, have a selective memory and portray their precious PN as God’s gift of Lilly white pureness to mankind. People who share my political views, at the last count, amounted to a few votes lesser than those of the Puritans but, quoting Mr. Martinelli, “what goes up comes down” and if the difference between us was greater the harder will their fall become.
Had the question be put to Mr.Martinelli during a time when Malta had a Labour government his reply would had been very direct and without any hesitation. Good old Joe, such a pity that he can’t be helped.
@ Peter Muscat & Ivan Grech-Mintoff.
Part One. The Prologue.
There are places in the world that I wouldn’t mind relocating myself to one of which is London Ontario but for a number of other reasons the final option becomes Malta, whoever is running the government does not come into my equations. I’m stating this because I think it’s silly to keep on harping the same question. Joe Martinelli may have a thousand good reasons to prefer Canada but that wouldn’t alter the fact that as far as he is concerned the PN are the obvious choice and the MLP are a bunch of all time high idiotic violent and corrupt individuals. This Man can’t be helped but he is a great entertainer as well as a good asset to our Labour Party; read what he writes and your beliefs will be strengthened.
i do not blame`you for getting frustrated with the word GATE , but twisting it up and turning it round how much you want it still means the same like corruption case with the goverment invovled .
having mistragate , mittsgate and bridgegate in less then few months is amasing .this is all`orchesrated by our big brother.
Don't tell me that you have been in London, Ontario ! But, besides your lack of information about the city I live in, why, just why do you and a few others keep bringing up the question regarding my residence? For your information, I visit Malta regularly and the last time I visited was this past August.
Of course not everyone is happy in Malta. I know some of the 49% who have so many pills to swallow that they don't know which dose to swallow first.. You are one of the 49%.
Challenge me about facts not wishful thinking or by trying to re-write history or by pretending that your party has a winner. You have been proclaiming that for the last three elections and a referendum. Now, to make it worse, you have a leader who was against the EU, had the gall to stand for election - and won a seat in no other than the European Parliament and for the icing on the cake, was against the adoption of the euro! Thank heavens that in hindsight, he admitted being wrong on all counts !
What a pinnur (weather vane).
Up to December 2007, even here was, to use your term 'el dorado' but since then, those like me who had worked for their retirement savings saw their investments shrink by as much as 20% in a matter of two weeks. But, experience tells us that what goes up, eventually comes down and what is down eventually will go up. The sooner the better!
If the Gonzi government has turned Malta into a paradise, it changed it primarily for you and irrespective of your political bias, you should be grateful for every inch of progress. I do not adore anyone except my maker and unfortunately I do not even have the privilege of voting, so your inane comment does not apply.
Circumstances change and the government cannot be stubborn and implement promises which were feasible at election time but now are no longer advisable to adopt.
I write about who an uncommitted voter should trust. Muscat or Gonzi? Maybe Muscat for his youthful but inexperienced youth, but when it comes to governing a country, being respected by leaders both European and others and leading his country to prosperity, then the choice remains obvious.
The Watergate Affair referred to the cover-up that Nixon's Administration perpetrated after a break-in at the Democratic Party offices in the Watergate Hotel in Washington and not to the break-in itself. The mere fact that the MITTS, Regional Road Bridge, Mistra and Judges' Bribery matters are (or were, in the case of the judges) actively under timely investigation by the relevant authorities precludes accurate use of the suffix "-gate".
Of course, budding Woodwards and Bernsteins should not be discouraged from having their fun, though in the meantime, they'll forgive the rest of us for suggesting they should calm down a little,
What a load of wishful thinking! Your leader is going downhill and looks tired and worn out. It's not easy for someone to run a country with peace of mind after promising El Dorado and delivering hardship!! He is now facing the music of his promises and "we did not predict world problems" is not an excuse except for the gullible and naive.
And by the way, Martinelli, if you adore Gonzipn so much, why don't you come and live here in the country he has turned into paradise on earth for you? Surely you are not a masochist praising and avoiding the same country. What keeps you in Canada when in Malta everyone is happy? What's wrong with Malta? Are you ungrateful? Many have asked you this question before, and you always avoid answering. Tell us, Martinelli, if Malta under Gonzipn is such a wonderful place to live in [as you try to convince us] why the heck are you living in London, Ontario - not one of the most attractive cities on earth?!
@ Muscat Peter
O too watched Xarabank and all I can say is that Joseph was all over the place with criticizing the government but offering no new ideas. When questioned about the water and electricity rates and where he would get the revenue to subsidize them he had no answer. Grinning and shaking his head showed immaturity and arrogance. Besides, constantly interrupting Dr. Gonzi during his allotted time was irritable and showed that he tried to get him off the track. But the more seasoned Dr. Gonzi held firm and it was Joseph who clearly was out of his depth. Joseph is a carbon copy of his predecessor - lots of talk but no substance.
@ CJB
Rationing was introduced during the war. There was a Labour government post WWII why did it not abolish rationing then?
Homosexuality, sodomy and adultery are still criminal offences in some countries while in others you will find out that they were decriminalized in the 80s and 90s, possibly taking the lead from Malta ?
Towns and villages without draining systems meaning sewage or storm drains? My town was always serviced with both even before I was born.
Continued...
I have never seen septic tanks being pulled by mules and collecting sewage since my town had a sewer system even before the war. With apologies to Mellieha, could it have been that in those days, this practice was still in place in 1971? I seriously doubt it.
Beggars were outlawed by big Dom, but poverty was not.
The majority of households did not have proper bathrooms. I suspect that most of the 30,000+ vacant homes still don't.
Social housing and social services back then were primarily handled by church run institutions which your Labour government gave such a helping hand.
As to the rest of your points, let me tell you that in Canada, the mandatory pension plan contributions (CPP) was instituted in 1967 followed shortly by Province wide Health Plans. Thanks to Dom, Malta lagged Canada by only four or five years. I'll give him a hand.
With so much good done by Labour, I am baffled that in the last twenty two years it only governed (sort of) for twenty-two months.
As to me waving the MLP flag only , I am presently inactive within the party and I think you will not see a single piece of writing praisingor otherwise the present leadership.
You talk of spin: do not therefore spin me as a "rabid MLP flag waver no matter what". That is not me and my track record proves it.
>Connecting the 'stench' you talk about to the government is wrong
Why? Because its a PN Govt?
>if you smell the stench, then you are indirectly insulting your fellow countrymen
I think you'll find that most actually agree that there's a stench, even though some (through PN loyalty) wouldn't admit to it in such a publical forum.
Which is what is amazing me about your protective stance. You honestly smell... nothing??
> because quite often the stench you talk about is the product of the minority
Are you serious ??! Open up the papers (any bar PN ones) and read for yourself...
I guess we're all rabid lil'elves making silly stories up, right? That fits in ok with your picture of things?
>whether employed in the civil service or the private sector.
??? huh?
I can see this turning into a 'slinging match' through which you will subtley (?) try to take us away from the real and my main subject matter: that this blog ('sic!') seems to be pure Papa Nerik ....PROPAGANDA.
> I do NOT condone wrongdoing and do not believe for one second that two wrongs make >one right.
Good at least that's clarified. Nice words. Now lets see their worth as so far the impression is that you defend anything PN by trying to paint a bleaker picture under MLP.
>What I believe, however, is that one should place blame where it belongs
Are you suggesting that for all things that fall under a minister, the buck should not stop with the minister or above?
>In fact, I think that had Labour been governing, you would at best keep silent or even reach >back at blaming the former NP government for having instilled a lackadaisical attitude >across the board.
When MLP was in govt, I resigned from the party as I disagree with the leadership.
That does conform at all with the image you portray of me does it.
I wrote about the "age of reason" which is attained automatically by anyone surviving to about the age of seven. The skill for logical "reasoning" is something quite different and some people never seem to attain it.
You are entitled to your complacent appreciation of the performance of the respective political party leaders and your gratuitous advice to an adversary party about changes in its leadership as proposed by you. Time will tell but recent experience of premature false predictions about election and referendum results from your camp would suggest great caution and circumspection before counting chickens so long before they are due to hatch.
I watched on Xarabank the first debate between Gonzipn and Joseph. I am afraid that Gonzipn was no match for Joseph - who has only been leader of the opposition for a few weeks.
Joseph chased Gonzi like a political bulldozer, leaving the older politician out of breath and removing the PN leader's traditional smirk - which he used this time only when cornered.All viewers could easily detect Dr Gonzi's constant deceptions,lies, half truths and packs of empty promises.
Gonzipn had better beware as Joseph intends to pressure him into delivering his pre-electoral promises without any excuses of world disasters on the horizon.
I would say that the time has come for the PN to start thinking about a new leader who can withstand the siege of a young, energetic and charismatic leader of the opposition.
Be logical. Nationalist Party supporters have nothing to feel apologetic about . Their party does not need apologists because it has has been running on a winning streak almost uninterruptedly for twentyone years. It is the MLP that must strive to discover a winning formula and it cannot do this as long as it remains hamstrung by unrepentant relics of its violent past. That much should be obvious to anyone who has attained the age of reason
@ Joseph W.Galea
In reply to your remark “Some would think that would be a Maltese trait.” He he he
It’s not just a Maltese characteristic it’s an international feature. Did you detect in me a notion that my late old man, God bless his soul, was a great philosopher and\or Andrea the Blabber, beg your pie I meant Blogger, is an original strategist? Blabbering is cheap, when made extensively it becomes ineffective and insignificant.
The way that some NP apologists keep refuting present realities by running in their tinted sun-glasses to ages past to justify the performance of a Nationalist Government that sits on its horrendous record of material, spiritual, environmental, democratic financial and what-not deficits with the nonchalance of a sleeping-beauty, has become indeed a cause for intense pity.
ABC does not simply utter empty words but practices his own advice. I listened attentively to Dr BC's forensic speech in Court and my opinion is that it was brilliantly delivered. It is true that he said the same things that others before him have said during the past 20 years, but that doesn't mean that it was not brilliantly delivered.
May I also congratulate Andrew on his self-confidence, poise and elegance during his speech. It makes of a good statesman. It is a great pity that he keeps ignoring several genuine friends who believe in him and encourage him to be a candidate for the European Parliament. June 2009 is only a few months away.
Come on Andrew, make up your mind. We are behind you!!
My father, a down to earth man, used to warn me that when one marries an intelligent and elegant woman envious people will find hundreds of flaws in her looks and character and they would also demonise her ancestry to get to her
Some would think that would be a Maltese trait. :-)
Beyond Dr.Joseph Muscat's maiden speech in parliament it is only fair to give him a sporting chance to carry out his promised "earthquake". In the meantime let us all be thankful for those vociferous and unrepentant PN apologists who keep on proving that they are still in denial about the PN's violent past record by making excuses for it, trying to justify it or by an outright denial that it ever existed.
what is your political agenda ?
why are you mentioning the labour past when we are living in the same situation right now ?
aren't MITTSGATE and BRIDGEGATE enough ?
can you put some words on this cause it looks that you are diverting your subject and trying to avoid the answers ?
all the people in this country , independent or not , are aware that these accusations are serious matters but it looks that pn strategists ( the ones that push abc ) are trying to minimise the subject .
THESE ARE SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS
1. Bread, sugar, pasta and oil were rationed.
2. In days of inclement weather workers stayed at home with no wages.
3. Sick leave was the privilege of the few.
4. Homosexuality, sodomy and adultery were a criminal offence.
5. Towns and villages without a drainage system.
6. Human excretion was collected from door to door in septic tanks pulled by mules and urine was kept overnight in a bucket to be
Disposed off in the middle of the dusty street at the crack of dawn.
7. Beggars were landmarks.
8. The majority of households were without proper basic facilities i.e. proper bathrooms.
9. Primary medical care was inexistence.
10. Social housing and social services were almost inexistence.
Through their efforts hesitant floating voters, who have forgiven that horrendous past ,are being constantly reminded what may still lie in store if these people are ever entrusted to govern.
@ The Caretaker.
Do you consider Minister Austin Gatt’ refusal, to order a Magisterial Enquiry in order to establish some plausible facts on the MITTS affair, good enough to provide no reason for criticism or objection?
After Mistragate, The Bridgegate, The Judgesgate can you blame the people to suspect a Mittsgate?
@ Antoine Vella
I wrote-'This blogger certainly does not sound like one who doesn’t think that Joseph Muscat’s maiden speech in parliament is good enough to provide no reason for criticism or objection. "
You asked- “What?”
I’ll spell it out for you - Fact number One: Joseph Muscat’s maiden speech was good enough to provide no reason for criticism or objection.
Your Grande Fratello, Andrea the Blogger,admits that he is ‘in doubt’ as to whether he’s the only one who thinks that – all in all – Muscat’s maiden speech wasn’t, really, all that unexceptionable.
Fact number Two. Your Grande Fratello is fully aware that the discourse was unexceptionable, indeed impeccable but sadly he tried to emasculate his own judgement. And this came out as loud and clear as the deafening tolling of a thousand bells at midnight.
Can I help you further Antoine or perhaps I should rephrase that - Can you be helped Antoine?
Please remember that the 'present' in 1980 was by far more precarious than the present. Of course Labour tried to make us forget the 70' and 80s - they had every reason to! They were desperate because they could see the writing on the wall since the 1981 election, so you cannot compare those times with the present.
Do not call us 'NP apologists' because we do not apologize for restoring democracy, freeing trade, filling store shelves, modernizing the infrastructure, creating more jobs, having less unemployed, improving social services, for joining the European Union, for adopting the euro, for fixing age old problems including the shipyards or for mega projects like SmartCity Malta. Would you?
With regards to ideas may I remind you that the government has a vision extending to 2020.
If you are a fence sitter, get off and land on one side or the other!
Please do not twist or spin what I wrote. I do NOT condone wrongdoing and do not believe for one second that two wrongs make one right.
What I believe, however, is that one should place blame where it belongs and not be so politically biased that anything wrong that happens in the country is automatically the government's fault. In fact, I think that had Labour been governing, you would at best keep silent or even reach back at blaming the former NP government for having instilled a lackadaisical attitude across the board.
No, I do not agree with all the government does and also think that some things can be done better, but I am one, while a government is thousands and the greater the number of cooks, the greater the possibilities of a few spoiled broths irrespective of how good the head chef is.
Connecting the 'stench' you talk about to the government is wrong and if you smell the stench, then you are indirectly insulting your fellow countrymen because quite often the stench you talk about is the product of the minority whether employed in the civil service or the private sector.
I was wondering what had happened to the cavalry...!!
Frankly, I'm surprised that you feel it your 'duty' to defend such behaviour.
If you knew me better, you'd know that when things were (in my oppinion) wrong with the MLP leadership, I was most vociferous and I resigned from the party.
I'm afraid that you are most wrong that in my eyes "All things MLP = good and all things bad =PN"
Can we say that of you: I have not seen you say where the PN is not performing?
Are you telling us that the 'stench' is non existant and that everything is well?
You accuse me of the very thing I'm trying to point out that is happening in this blog ('sic!')
>When you write, keep one important thing in mind, whatever you deem the Nationalist >government as doing something wrong, past Labour governments did worse, much much >worse
Let us for the sake of argument say you are right.... does that therefore mean its ok to happen today - excusable even?
Is then just a matter of who is doing wrong to make it acceptable?
I always thought that wrong was wrong no matter what.
By constantly harping on about the past, ABC and other PN apologists are starting to sound just as tired, just as desperate and just as bereft of ideas as Labour did back then.
You amuse me so much, it hurts.
Your main target, quite evidently and constantly, is the government. In your defence, you may say that if Bocca targets the MLP then the government (NP) is fair game. The operative word here is "fair".
So, directly or indirectly you keep mentioning ''stench of bad news, fraud, cover ups" in several cases including the now famous Manwel Dimech bridge case. How much of these abuses can you put on the government's doorstep? Or, maybe, you want our Ministers to hide behind rubble walls (il-hitan tas-sejjieh) spying on the workers ala the 70s ? That didn't last long, did it? It didn't stop the malaise. What was the solution then? The hiring of thousands into government corps? Sure added more labour for less or no work, but still wages had to be paid, albeit in 'allowance' form.
When you write, keep one important thing in mind, whatever you deem the Nationalist government as doing something wrong, past Labour governments did worse, much much worse.
Of course, that was decades ago, therefore we should erase history so that the MLP's slate can be wiped clean for its convenience.
All around, there is a stench of bad news, fraud, cover ups, and financial/economic cliff edges...
Some will no doubt argue that not all are real. But the stench is definitely around.
And some very interesting topics to be blogged, discussed and analysed.
Yet we get the same tick-list, week in week out.
Exceptionally predictable,
Exceptionally wearisome and
an Unexceptionable record of dull comment.
(Faggy Maggie, where are you...??! )
Why can't you 'blog' about serious matters? More in line with your field of work, for instance/perhaps?
More stimulating and portraying you with more dignity and aptness.
Take your colleague Anna Mallia, for instance.
Take a feather out of her cap and write something relevant to today. (Live the day!)
Here's a good example of what I mean
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2008/10/15/anna.html
(No I'm not a fan of hers. Just that this article hit me as a sensible one reflecting what most are presently feeling)
It has all the mixtures of the above stenches.
Why ARE all knights in shining armour (who clamoured so valiantly in the 'dark ages' (sic!) so quite about this one ?
What makes this different to those days?
Very similar circumstances indeed yet the silence is deafening...
Prices drop to levels not seen in more than a year, after government report shows larger-than-expected growth in the nation's supplies of crude oil and gasoline. - CNN MONEY.
Can anybody explain why we are asked to pay more today?
hahaha....
yet again:
Tick
Tick
Tick.... dear, oh dear....!
This is unexceptionallly unexcelptional.
And,in my oppinion, incredibly insulting to our intelligence and even more to yours.
Blogging?
More like, another lump of regurgitation. (One is simply amazed at the amount that comes out week in week out and that still seems necessary to come out )
Pure unashamed, one-sided propaganda. A very weak attempt to brainwash whilst very much more important issues are at stake. Again my oppinion, to which I'm entitled.
Still, it does offer some amusement as to the state of the present Hearty mentality.
Healthy?
Grasping at straws and VERY worried, it seems.
I just hope you are well paid for such..... blogging (sic!)
We judge Joseph not by his looks as much as you did not judge Jason by his Pepsodent smile, but rather by what comes out of their mouth. In Joseph's case, we have a few years to judge him by what he does and hopefully before next election he will mature enough to be able to deliver a decent speech in Parliament.
Apologizing for the MLP's past 'honourable mistakes' simply does not cut it. There is a slight difference from words uttered by the lips as opposed to words coming from the heart. Joseph's oral skills are not yet deep enough to reach his heart.
At least he doesn't sound like he really means what he says. That is not just my opinion.
You are always mentioning the past when wrong doing is under everyone's nose .
Isn't Mittsgate and Bridgesgate another shocking issue . These are happening nowadays and you never need to mention the old mintoff days .Aren't 3 scandals in one year too much .
This is the new blood of pn
'This blogger certainly does not sounds like one who doesn’t think that Joseph Muscat’s maiden speech in parliament is good enough to provide no reason for criticism or objection. "
What?
A negative, cynical attitude towards Joseph may ignore the fact that people have the power to build something extraordinary when we come together.
Joseph is building bridges yet I already see sons of bloodhounds hanging beneath said bridges sticking sticks to their support columns.
After years of mediocrity served by a ‘Nationalist’ culture of virtual governance, Joseph has realised the importance to link to ordinary people to organise for change from the grassroots up.
Meanwhile, we see the Nats in a state of impotence as how to lift a middle class reeling from headless Nationalist policies.
While the majority ditched another Nationalist government despite entering into a record deficit, the Nationalists still won another term in office, through a relative majority, on the basis of such promises as that of reducing income tax rates.
Objectivity? Too much to ask for, perhaps.
Respect?
Elvis's song "Devil in Disguise" fully suits Dr.Gonzi and the Nationalists' party. Now that the election is over the face behind the mask has been revealed. Gonzi has shown himself as an incapable leader who can't even control his expenditures and workers. Instead of heading forward to a better situation, the government remains quiet and watches the whole show. The important thing which matters is that they own power.
Meanwhile we continue to read silly commentaries like this one by ABC...
“Both the MLP and the NP had leaders who were not so handsome, but managed to have a strong following for other attributes making up for their less than handsome looks.”
You are intelligent enough to understand that my use of “ugly and elegant” was mere metaphoric and nothing else and I detect a bit of an ulterior motive in your misinterpretation. We all know that beauty and elegance are not important, not to me anyway, Dom Mintoff must have been our ugliest and unsophisticated Prime Minister but the majority loved him and he became the greatest Statesman to date. Sur Martinelli, you love EFA and Gonzi and dislike Mintoff, Sant and Joseph Muscat not because of their looks it’s because you are a Nationalist supporter. So please don’t put words in my mouth.
Genetic studies carried out at the Scientific Origin Centre of Krackpots (SOCK), founded by avid devotees Santa Claus, found that centuries ago there lived two species in La La Land called Redbloods (AKA Elven) and Blubloods. These species were continually at war, but occasionally cross-fertilised and produced offspring known as Lil' Elves.
Unfortunately, the genes of the Redbloods caused these lil' elves to have several worrying personality traits. The most serious was political paranoia, but the most bizarre (and little known about), was their addiction to odd socks and an ability to make them invisible when mixed with washing powder and water.
These traits were thought to be so serious that the Lil' Elves were banished to the land of men, where not only did they continue their political paranoia with a fervour, but alarmingly developed a real penchant for harrassing descendent Blublood housewives.
"Oh no......the Lil' Elves have been at work again", many a housewife cries whilst pegging out odd socks to dry in the sun. But - there is a cure - only wear blue socks as the lil' elves are paranoid about the colour blue!
:)
The only difference is that the 'ugly' woman you describe is a private person while the life of a politician is a public one and subject to a hundred and one perceptions.
Both the MLP and the NP had leaders who were not so handsome, but managed to have a strong following for other attributes making up for their less than handsome looks.
The fact remains that it is Joseph himself and the MLP in general who keep reminding us of the ugly past, therefore we would be amnesiacs if we do not recall the MLP's less than honourable past.
But, talking about the present, we have noticed a slight change in the MLP's tactics. If the government issues a statement saying that, for example, things should be done this way, the very next day the MLP issues its own statement stating that the government should immediately do exactly what the government had stated a day before! The only explanation for this, is to make it appear that it was the MLP's idea to begin with.
Clever tactic especially if some time later, it claims credit when not incrementally due.
ghandek ragun meta inti qe tishaq li joseph spara fuq kollox u fuq kulhadd biex ikun laqghat is socjeta kollha , biss nemmen ukoll li l problemi li holoq da gvern tort tieghu stess irnexxielu jolqot kull faxxa tas socjeta .
nahseb li ghadu ftit kmieni biex nibdew naraw artikli u artikolisti fejn jigu orkestrati biex iddoqqu id diska li dal bniedem bhall ta qablu . dejjem zommu go mohhkom li dal bniedem qed jiggieled ma sur ghax barra li qed jibdel il partit internament qed jipprova jilqa ghall problemi tal gvern ukoll , fejn jidher bi car li l problemi nazzjonali huma enormi ukoll .
huwa hasa li min issa tibda tisma dan it tip ta diskors ghax l effet taghhom iwasslu biss ghall konkluzjonijiet ovvji fuq min jiktibhom
This blogger certainly does not sounds like one who doesn’t think that Joseph Muscat’s maiden speech in parliament is good enough to provide no reason for criticism or objection.
My father, a down to earth man, used to warn me that when one marries an intelligent and elegant woman envious people will find hundreds of flaws in her looks and character and they would also demonise her ancestry to get to her. An ugly woman has only one flaw that of being just ugly.
I married an intelligent and elegant girl and I’m living a happy life.