Tuesday, 28th October 2008
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
In a few days, the Great Unwashed over the other side of the Pond will go to the polls, at least those of them who think they should bother, to choose between McCain with Palin or Obama with … erm, I’ve no idea, and a look at the BBC’s election coverage front page doesn’t help.
The thing is, the Republicans have fielded this old bloke who gives the impression that he’s not exactly about to run a marathon without kicking the bucket, which means that as soon as McCain’s ticker stops doing what tickers are supposed to do, that Palin woman will become the most powerful person on earth, give or take.
This prospect has scared the stuffing out of very many people, including yours truly, even though I have absolutely no input to give that will make the slightest bit of difference. I don’t have a vote in the States – in fact, for all that I’m a citizen of the European Union, I still need a visa to get in there, which is mildly insulting, since we seem to welcome the Yanks over here with open arms (I know, this is scheduled to change) – and I doubt a single US voter will read this blog and change his or her mind.
Just in case someone is reading this who actually does have a vote in the US and is teetering between the McCain/Palin ticket and the Obama/Biden one (a quick Google of “Obama running mate” gave me the name) consider this.
The Vice-President of the United States is, generally speaking, a decorative rather than useful function. Imagine Prince Philip, pretty much, but not so totally irrelevant. In the first place, the Veep is an elected soul, who does represent the Presidency, so any utterance made reflects on the President. In the second place, if the President is incapacitated temporarily or permanently, the Vice takes over. Prince Philip, on the other hand, just becomes even more irrelevant if his missus isn’t Queen any longer, although his own public utterances have been the subject of some hilarity in the past.
So really, who a candidate for the most powerful office in the known universe has running with him shouldn’t really be all that important. It wouldn’t be, if it wasn’t for the fact that McCain – actuarially speaking – isn’t likely to go the length.
Which means that if his health gives out, Palin will become President.
This woman – more precisely, her handlers – thinks, for instance that posing for publicity pictures brandishing a rifle, equipped with scope-sight and looking mildly menacing, is the sort of image calculated to endear her to the voter. It probably is, given that this is a country where the right to bear arms is Constitutionally entrenched, and the notion that the right to buy an automatic weapon might be slightly restricted has the Secret Service all in a tizzy because it means that there’s a pretty good chance that one of those pre-bought weapons might be aimed at the President’s head.
But it’s illustrative of that woman’s frame of mind, for all that, and it’s not a pretty picture, for all that she looks like an adequately pleasant hockey-mom from Middle America.
It seems that she thinks that she has some sort of right to be a heart-beat (more accurately, the lack of a heart-beat) away from the Presidency because she’s “normal folks” and the world needs a dash of the wisdom of normal folks. Excuse me, I want someone excellent leading the world, not someone who apparently has the equivalent of a School Leaving Certificate in Home Economics and an A-Level in PE. We’ve had quite enough of thickos in the White House, after all, since the Democrats were inherently unable to field a candidate who could look more intelligent than the current incumbent, which is a pretty awesome feat when you think about it.
If you want any proof of Palin’s utter unsuitability to be so high up the tree, and by association McCain’s unsuitability to be the top-monkey, take into account the fact that she is a Creationist. According to Palin’s beliefs, the world was, actually, created by a bloke with a white beard sitting on a cloud playing a version of SimCity, arranging the continents and the oceans and populating them with animals for the convenience of Adam and Eve, from whose loins we all sprang.
Leaving aside the possibility that this is true, at least the fact that we’re all the result of inbreeding (how else can you explain that there are a substantial number of people who will vote for McCain/Palin?) do you really want someone whose world view is so simplistic to have even an outside chance (let alone a pretty real one) of having her finger on the trigger?
To make things worse, apparently she also believes that the Rapture is upon us, this phenomenon being what will happen when the End of the World is actually here, rather than being simply nigh. When the man in the beard calls time up, only the people who believe what Ms Palin believes will be allowed to take the lift up to Heaven, which is fine and dandy if you’re her and her co-believers but not such a great idea if you’re not.
Now, assuming that Palin has the same frame of mind as the rest of the world’s god-botherers, namely that her brand of religion, however daffy it is, is the only brand of religion that is worth saving, it’s not such a leap to think that if the unthinkable should happen and she is in a position to decide whether or not to blast the rest of us into oblivion, there’s a pretty good chance that, knowing that she will be borne into Heaven on the backs of the Angels, she’s not going to worry too much about pressing the button.
There’s plenty more which indicates that Palin is unfit to be elected to the office of dog-catcher, much less VP of the US of A. She thinks, for example, that she has a grasp of foreign affairs because the state of which she is currently Governor, Alaska, is close to Russia and they can actually see Russia if they squint hard enough. Need more be said?
So, the question stands: what were the grey eminences in the Republican Party thinking when they put this woman onto the ticket? Do they think that the American electorate is so totally stupid that it will fall for someone like this? Are they enmeshed in some Byzantine plot to ensure world domination, by putting a trigger-happy fundamentalist loon in line for the leadership (though that requires this pair actually being elected, which even to imagine takes quite some doing) Are they trying to lose the election, which seems to be a racing certainty, but if they are, why are they doing this?
But then, who said that certain political parties ever do things logically? You know what I mean, I’m sure.
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Comments
You have laws that protect individuals in case of financial disasters. Is that why you have so many homeless people living on the streets.
Thank God, here in Malta our streets are still safe, that you can let a 5 year old wonder out on his own.
We were paying less because Government was subsidizing the cost of producing electricity. Even though new tariffs are coming in, about 40,000 households are still going to be subsidised. The price of Oil quoted on the NYMEX went down in the last month or so. But for yur info that is a futures contract with delivery being in December. Also, there are other elements that effect the real cost of OIl. You pretend to be smart enough so I leave it to you to figure them out.
Denis, you are the type that first shot then aim. There are so many inconstitencies and assumptons in your posts that it is impossible to get a fruitful discussion with you.
It took a maltese guy living in Malta to point out to you that you do not have a "CONGRESS AND A SENATE" as you put it; But rather that you have a CONGRESS THAT IS MADE UP OF BOTH HOUSES BEING THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIvE.
Bye.
The price of petrol was lower than Enemalta was paying for was because something called SUBSIDY. Subsidies are out so the price has to increase. For your information we have no oil and no refineries so our petrol has to cost MORE than yours. So difficult to understand?
With regards to NAFTA, there were rumours that Obama wanted to mess around with it but 'had second thoughts'. Let me tell you, my friend, if Obama opens up NAFTA the Canadians will also put our energy on the table and then you will certainly see your gas and petrol prices go down! Maybe you will have to re-invent coal fired cars and trains.
The problem with Americans is that they are given no respect because they try to intimidate many nations. Has the CIA released any information lately regarding how many agents they have world-wide?
Probably not - in the name of national security!
2. Can you tell me why your utilities are going up, when the barrell of oil is going down?
@J. Martinelli: Mr Joe Vella told me they use to pay less for petrol than Enemalta was paying for it. Is this true? What business would do that. Or is Mr.Vella passing a lie the government GonziPN told him.
Yes Mr Martinelli we did have to give back SOME of the wealth we accumilated. But just SOME. This is why a president can only be in office for 8 yrs in the U.S. In case we get someone like Gonzi or Bush he won't keep getting elected by possibly fixed elections or blinded people.
2. We are in iraq, because we want to be there and can and can be there.We were asked by the people of Iraq. Unless you are American or Iragi. It's none of your business.
3. Yes we are depliting the world of oil. They can stop us, if they can afford to go without selling us.
4. In the U.S we have more coal than the Saudis have oil.
5. Enemalta profit is one thing guaging is another.
6.My utilities has went down in the last 2 months, with more cuts to follow, if oil keeps going down.
7 Everything you mentioned we get from Canada(our freinds) we have. Oil, coal and lumber. But due to NAFTA we buy from them and share with them, unlike the EU countries is doing with Malta.
8. The $700 Billion are a loan, even though it's called a bailout. Any bank who borrows from the $700 Billion, must curb spending and bonuses. Less European trips my freind. At the end we the tax payers will get it back.
In Malta you have to be big business to get protection(due to PN policies)an individual don't have such protection. Take the case of the utilities problem, the government is helping big business with their electric and water bill. But the individual citizen gets shafted. Is that fair?
Now the government is not giving a 10% cut in income tax. I wonder if this has something to do with giving the kitty away to big business.
You claim you were paying for petrol less than what it costs. Did lawrence and Austin show you the invoice or were you naive enough to beleive him. That means I can but 30 Gallons of petrol in the U.S for less than 1/2 the price the Maltese government pays for it. Do you beleive that. I don't. Joe Vella stop being naive.Open your eyes it's your money GonziPN is wasting. See Mr.Vella GonziPN is completely different from the old PN.
Part 1
Dennis Catania, Joe Vella may not bother to answer your incredulous questions, but I will hoping that you can understand the answers not as an American but as an unbiased individual if at all possible:
1. You said: "Here in the U.S.A we have all the resources we need" - baloney! Then why bother invading Iraq? Don't tell me because of WMDs I am not Bush-dumb.
2. You said: "Why is your utilities prices going up when it should be going down?" - How much have yours gone down lately? Down from what, from a subsidized amount or from the real cost?
3. You said: "Alaska and Texas when we decide to start drilling to our maximum capacity" - Very nice of you. First you deplete everyone else's and bring others to your knees, then feast on your abundance of oil? Very unselfish of you Americans!
4 You said: " Again for the 4th time. how much does Lawrence and Austin charge you for your petrol?" - Austin Gatt and Lawrence Gonzi do not fix the price of petrol - Enemalta does.
Continued...
Enemalta operates as a business and as such it tries to sell at a break-even point (at worst) or make some small profit. I hope you understand that much.
5. You said: “...Lehman Brothers. Who we already forgot about here in the U.S.A.” So much so that part of the $700 billion bale-out includes the Lehman Brothers fiasco. Money which would have been better spent elsewhere. Tough to forget what Bush is leaving on your lap before leaving the White painted House.
6 You said: “In Malta you elect a dictator, who dictates all the policies, without any checks and balances” - What exactly are you talking about? Our President has no executive powers and our Prime Minister requires the simple majority of Parliament before any laws can be enacted.
Going back to your plenty resources, remember, you still are NOT self sufficient. That is why you lean heavily on Canada's wealth in coal, oil, gas etc. because without them you WILL freeze in the dark.
The simple fact is that you Americans are greedy and will do anything to satisfy their craving for more. They raped the Canadian soft lumber industry, and water is next!
In the U.S.A you can go to college for free too. Except we have every kind of degree and classes. in Malta only the elite have that, and they have to travel to get that. SHAME ON YOUR GOVERNMENT. MY PN.
By the way, I am still waiting to hear from you on how many individuals in the USA declare personal bankrutcy each year because of. health care cost.
In Malta the answer in Malta is O, Zero, Zilg, Nada.
Exactly, in Malta we have it both ways. We have public and private health system. So it is a question what suits one needs at the particular time.
$100,000 a year for a college education in the USA! OUCH, how many litres of gas will one put in a gas tank.
The answear to your question is very simple, I thought yu would catch up to the answear. But the stupid I am gave you to much credit. The answear is that for long time here in Malta we have been paying less for gas than it cost.
My answers to your last.
1. I don’t know why but as always your observation is correct.
2. Agree.
3. Yes I know.
4. No I will not do that, promise.
Happy now?
Why is it that instead of answering a question, you invariably introduce a different subject ?
The habit of answering a question with another unrelated question is further demonstration of your inability to answer the first.
You are the one playing games but you are so predictable that any feeble attempt to throw at the NP what really belongs to you has become transparent and ineffective.
Incidentally, I notice that Dr. Saliba adequately answered your question which I had decided not to bother answering. I suppose you will be furiously going through your1987 -2008 logs to try and rebut his excellent response.
Can you tell me how much you pay for your medical Insurance. There were times that US citizens use to go to Canada for free Health until the Canadian Government introduced the smart card. Also, while you are at it, to save from doing "the Google Search' can you tell how many of you declare personal bankruptcy because of your medical cost accrued.
How much does it cost an American student in tuition fees? Here in Malta not only it cost him nothing the Government pays him a stipend.
So you go on and brag how much you pay for your gallon of gas in the USA, here in Malta the two basic and fundamental things in Life, HEALTH AND EDUCATION, are provided for free.
The violence you describe on election night in 1987 was the inexcusable but understandable explosive and short-lived pent up reaction of NP supporters who had been desperately suffering daily violence at the hands of MLP mobsters with the connivance of the police for the previous thirty years.
This excessive reaction was immediately suppressed by the NP leadership itself because the police force with their guilty conscience were nowhere to be seen. Everyone at the NP Stamperija was ordered out all over the island to subdue the excessive celebrations and advising everyone to go home. I myself was outside the office of Xandir Malta in Gwardamangia motioning on the demonstrators and preventing any incidents.
What a difference from the sustained institutionalised MLP mob violence that was a pervasive everyday day occurrence throughout the previous MLP adminstration and not just on election night!
“I suspect however that the NP is not a vindictive party demonstrated by the fact that they did not retaliate when they had an opportunity for the Labour government jailing Ministers Cachia Zammit and Caruana in 1971 holding them for some time without charges and eventually released completely vindicated?”
In 1987 on the night when the PN were declared victorious their supporters burned down nothing less than 27 Labour Party clubs besides other violent acts which terrorised Malta. EFA described those acts as the results of euphoria and nobody was taken to court.
Can someone answer my questions please Joe vella is having trouble with these questions.
(If it wasn't for Canadian oil you will be living in the dark.) I'm sorry Joe Vella I can't take you seriously anymore.Whats the matter your GOOGLE search stopped working? Now I know why you can't answer my two simple questions. In the last month alone we spent billions of dollars on AMERICAN made candy for our kids, just because we are Americans.Thats how bad we are doing here. Hope you had a wonderfull Halloween.
Since when abiding by ethics, laws and being smarter, dangerous?
I asked CJ B because he quoted specific names and his own family. That being the case he should know the details of any transactions which hurt his family members. Why is he so secretive.
I can also claim all sorts of things done to me even before Independence and who is to prove to the contrary especially if I do not divulge the details?
I do not know why the NP did not act on these recorded instances of requisitioned properties. You have to ask them but I suspect that just fresh from 16 years of violent socialist rule, it was a case of better let sleeping dogs lie. A mistake, if you ask me, but I will stop there because I honestly do not know the reason. I suspect however that the NP is not a vindictive party demonstrated by the fact that they did not retaliate when they had an opportunity for the Labour government jailing Ministers Cachia Zammit and Caruana in 1971 holding them for some time without charges and eventually released completely vindicated?
Now I ask you why these terrorist-like tactics?
If it wasn't for Canadian oil you will be living in the dark. The USA to buy oil from other sources have to go and borrow from China these days to pay for it.
For someone living in the USA to talk about mortgages and lost of jobs these days in regards to another country must really have lost his marbles.
Here in Malta we do not have land Taxes either and another bunch of Tax regimes that you have in the USA either. I pointed out to you already, that you only look at one side of the scale.
You have just proved my point.
Thanks
It is so difficult to understand what you are driving at. It seems that you are pro-property owners and against everybody else. It seems also that you do not distinguish between requisitioning private property needed for the general public good against just compensation and the abuse of a wartime measure intended to protect against profiteering anticipated by a housing shortage due to war damage but diverted to provide unjustly cheap accommodation for political party clubs and the undeserving party faithful.
Do I understand you correctly?
If the Chinese dump the their US$ held in Foreign reserves which are in the excess of 2 Trillion US$, the US$ will go South so fast that the EURO will become the currency of choice by default. You tell me what you are going to buy with a worthless Dollar my Friend.
Just keep in mind that the economic power is shifting, and soon after that the military power will to. Maybe not in our life time, but it is not that far away if things continue the way that they are going.
You're welcome.
Yes.
Happy now?
1. When Labour got elected in 1971 they could do nothing about the requisition orders of the previous PN Administrations because they were legal, immoral but nonetheless legal. Perhaps now you can tell us why, in 20 years the PN Goverment didn't address the injustices that were made by the Labour Administrations when they requisitioned empty property to be used as Labour clubs? Where those illegal?
2. Why did you restrict your request for details only to one person, hundreds of other people can prove that the PN requisitioned people's property before they changed the law ? You may ask the Montanaro - Gaucis of you don't believe me .
I do not know whether or not the PN Goverment turned requisitioned property to Political clubs, they probably didn't , not because they are holier than the MLP just smarter which make them more dangerous .
The likes of you , Francis Saliba , Charles Buttigieg and other biased contributors can't enjoy much credibility by apolitical people because you are just defending the respective political party that you support
Thanks for the compliment.
Is that the reason why you will not provide an answer to my questions?
Is-skiet risposta ghal min ma jafx jatigha.
I do not need any lessons from you on the American Electoral System. I spend 30 years experiencing it. Regardless what you call your Members in the House of Representatives, the fact remains that The American Congress is made up of both Houses. You do not have a Congress and a Senate, or a Congress and a House of Representative. Congress = Both houses.
The following is your statement; "Please understand the the President of the U.S.A does not make any decisions."
Presidents from time to time do propose legislation which Congress (Both Houses) have to pass. The recent FinancialRescue package that Congress approved is a good example of that. Once Congress passes the legislation the President have either to sign it into law or Veto it. Now coming back to yur statement , what is that?
What do you care how we are Governed since you show so much distain to our Political system. Please save me from the patronising stuff.
Just pray to God that the Chinese do not start selling the US$ that they are holding in reserves, cause if they do, The USA want be catching a bronchitis, but a fatal hearth attack.
Credibility? You have tons of credibility God bless you.
In today's atmosphere of exposure in the law courts of the the horrendous and infamous police interrogation methods of the Mintoff-KMB eras the only persons who should have an interest in "burying the hatchet" would be those with an interest that more horrid details would not be exposed to public scrutiny. I am not one of those.
Why must you give a face to a comment, does it matter whether you know me or not? Although I rarely submit comments I surf the blogs as much as the next person . Your name is too conspicuous in this blog to be missed. Hence my advice to redirect your vivid anger elsewhere.
Finally , I only run for cover when I see a peril and you pose no danger to me because I'm immune to those who find it difficult to bury the hatchet .
I never asked you to play games with me. Believe me you would be the last person I would want to play any game with.
Sorry if I didn't respond immediately. I am doing so now after I watched a television show which I hope that you too enjoyed viewing.
I did not name the programme so as not to give the moderator any reason to censor my comments to you.
You would enhance your credibility if indeed you answered my questions.
@ Joe Martinelli.
Re the Montanaro-Gauci court case see report in The Times of 18 September 2008,practically yesterday. .
Re Your other questions I have no time to play games with you. Just give the readers your conclusions and they will make their judgement as they do not need any spoon feeding from me on such an obvious situation.
So, in the name of all that's Homer Simpson, what do requisition orders, MLPN, Mintoff and the minutiae of local politics past and present have to do with this. It seems some people have a one track mind.
After all Homer Simpson would have been ideal and even better as the Republican President or Vice-President candidate!!!
Following your explanation regarding the 'Requisition of Property' issue, may I ask you a couple of questions?
1. You stated that in 1970 the then NP government requisitioned some properties. Maybe so, but we know that from 1971 to 1987 there was a Labour government which tolerated no injustices. Why, then did Mintoff not seek redress? Could it be that what you are referring to was quite legitimate?
2. Regarding the Montanaro and your own family's experience, I can assure you that many are not acquainted with, so why not give us the details and the resolutions if any?
Since the NP stated its position regarding the properties requisitioned by Mintoff for use as party clubs, why does the MLP remain silent on the NP's equally repugnant practices of the past?
The NP's Secretary General had no qualms discussing these matters and stating his views. When will Jason provide us with details of the NP's misdeeds? Maybe he is not aware of any like Joseph did not when asked by the Prime Minister in the Joseph-Dr. Gonzi debate?
Since you're obviously speaking from your party's standpoint you should ask yourself you are going to win any sympathy from floating voters (yes, they exist) by insulting your opponents. ABC evidently enjoys it too much to care, but you don't all have to follow your mentor over the cliff-edge.
I cannot fit you into the picture - I do not know you at all, I have never quoted Mintoff at you and I do not intend to start doing so now. I have noted your opinion about the status of the USA on world economic affairs and about your reverting to a past astronomical rise in the price of fuel engineered by OPEC which affected us most severely in spite of Libya's preferential treatment for Malta.
I am not angered at all, just amused. There is no need to run for cover.
Late reply, I had other things to do, but I have to. Firstly: How is it racist to insult Americans? Are they a race?
Secondly: To suggest Mugabe is democratically elected is an insult to Zimbabweans.
Thirdly: Don't you recognise a light-hearted comment when you see one? Lighten up!
...who have conveniently forgotten that Sarah Palin was chosen as running mate in the first-second week of September. Yeah, we have all been following the US election, even more so, I did not need to search google to know that Joe Biden was Obama's running mate!
Right now in Malta we have bigger worries than who's gonna be US president, cause at the end of the day, discuss all we want, we can't do anything about it. We CAN however do something about the number of factories turning to a 4day week, and the ailing tourism industry, and of course their relation to the sudden abrupt increase in utility bills. So forgive me, if I find ABC's blog totally old and out of context right now.
@ US Citizens
Share some humour with me, naturally I did not compose this, I’m not so smart.
In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves as well as the current economic crises; which has been a contributing factor to world economic downturns, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states.
Your new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.
To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
1. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.
2. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns.
3. You will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler.
4. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.
God Save the Queen!
"The truism that when the USA sneezes the whole world catches cold is still as valid today as always."
With a bit of luck if the USA sneezes it would cover its nose and nobody gets contaminated. Sad fact is that our new utilities tariffs are going to leave our homes so cold this winter that we will catch a cold anyway irrispective who wins the US Presidential elections.
In 1973 the cost for a gallon of petrol trebled overnight and if it weren't for Gaddafi's financial aid the Maltese economy would have gone to the dogs. Had we maintained those good relations with Libya a lot of people would be keeping themselves worm this winter and won't catch a cold even if the USA sneezes.
I am not a young man anymore and in the past I had voted Labour as well PN , essentially I'm apolitical therefore if you intend to revert with reminders and stories from Mintoff's era I ask you to direct your personal anger on somebody else or please yourself for that matter , I do not care .
It seems for everyone that joins the MLP, more leave the MLP.
Within the MLP there is no room for dissent or open discussion for that matter. Someone who speaks the obvious get kicked out, an MEP if he speaks out there is a fine over his/her head and the same goes for local councilors.
Talk is cheap, deeds are harder to come by.
The confiscation of people’s property aka ‘Requisition Order’ was an Ordinance enacted by the Colonial Government prior to WW 2. Different administrations found it convenient to use it and PN administrations had no scruples to use it.
Before you amplify your Master’s voice I suggest you acquaint yourself with the case of six members of the Montanaro Family whose property was requisitioned or confiscated, as you’ll put it, in 1988 and on 18 September 2008 filed a court case against the Government.
The Montanaro’s case was by no means an isolated case and also my extended family were victims of that ordinance when a number of houses were requisitioned in 1970 to be regaled on a silver platter to very well known PN activists.
If you are going to give us information about the American Political System, the least you can do is give the correct information. Also, one cannot compare the Division of Power between two States where the Political System is totally different.
My American friend, In the USA you don't have a Congress and a Senate, What you have is a House of Representative and a Senate, which together they are refered to as The Congress.
The Senate was founded on the basis of all States being equal regardless of size and population. Thus each State elect 2 Senators.
The House of Representative was founded on the basis of equal representative. Thus each member of the House of Representatives represent approximately the same number of constituents.
In case where no Presidential Canditate recieve the necessary 270 Electoral CollegeVotes required, The House of Representatives elect the President, with the Senate Electing the Vice President .
The total number of electoral college votes assigned per State is made up of the 2 Senators plus the number of the Members ofHouse of Representative each individual State elect. In total you have 538 Electoral College votes.
It's about time that GonziPN realised that it can fool all the people some of the time, it can fool some people all the time, but it cannot fool all the people all the time!
' PS. the elves are becoming ever more fanciful in their choice of pseudonyms " Make your point and be clear with your insinuations . If you have genuine doubts about my identity ask any of your beloved bretherns at Pieta that had already put me on their tall list of turncoats .
Dr. Saliba wrote,"The truism that when the USA sneezes the whole world catches a cold" can be validated by someone like me who lives next door to the United States in a country which is the bigget trading partner of the US.
The auto industry alone employs thousands of workers in South Western Ontario and whose jobs are now in extreme jeopardy not counting the thousands who have already lost their jobs or slated to lose their jobs in 2009 through announced plant closings.
The criticism of the Canadian government by Opposition parties is startlingly similar to the criticism of the Opposition party and the AD in Malta, with one difference. At least here in Canada the Opposition, be it Liberal, NDP or Bloc Quebecois all explain how they would handle the situation. The Federal election was held earlier this month and once again a Conservative government was elected on a platform of restraint and devoid of throwing money in an effort to delay the inevitable. It held on to its beliefs and it obtained the highest number of seats although not enough to form a majority.
Continued..
In contrast, in Malta the Opposition criticizes but offers no alternative solutions. It expects the government to continue to subsidize thus delaying the day when the public gets to pay for its consumption, like every place else in the world.
The effects of the American election is of importance to the whole world since the US economy is so large that if it stalls, the consequence is felt throughout the world. This is something quite evident in the 1929 depression and several recessions since.
In my comments below, I stated that the US citizens have to chose from two Presidential tickets which to many represents a dilemma. It is a case which it is almost impossible to distinguish between the lesser of the evils.
America has been thrust into a cul-de-sac which seems to be impossible to extract itself from – Iraq and Afghanistan. In my opinion these were two miscalculated risks. It is a known fact that the Iraq invasion was more connected to oil supplies than to Saddam Hussein.
One has to hope that whoever is elected to the Presidency will not try to mess around with Iran and cause another hopeless situation in the Middle East.
Do you sincerely think that we care who wins the US Presidential elections?
If you don't, you should. Whatever happens in the US affects all the world - as in the current economic crisis. It's sad that many here are still so very provincial and isolationist in their thinking.
The thought that Sarah Palin could become the most powerful person in the world scares the hell out of me. For goodness sake, compared to her George W. Bush (almost) appears statesmanlike!
"How right you are . Bocca is smart but he would be a lot smarter had he credited some intelligence to other people . "
It would help if you and the other 'lil'elves' displayed some of the intelligence you claim to possess. You don't care who is President of the US and you don't care about the recent history of your country (I suppose you don't care about those who had their houses confiscated to be turned into MLP clubs either). . . yes, you do represent intelligent life but surely not as we know it.
We should worry a great deal about our recent history because any repetition would have a disastrous effect on "the bread and butter issues" of tomorrow. There has been no categorical condemnation of that violence by any MLP leader since that era - there have only been unconvincing attempts by its unimportant apologists to make excuses for it.
Those who forget the lessons of history are apt to repeat the same mistakes. Those who advocate that everyone should try to forget it, or worse still, that they should ignore it, raise doubts about their own aspirations for our future!
The truism that when the USA sneezes the whole world catches cold is still as valid today as always. This is proved beyond any shadow of doubt by the quasi-recession that is rapidly spreading like wild fire throughout the whole world. Neither the present prime minister nor any other hopeful for that job could possibly isolate tiny Malta from that evident fact. Let us be thankful that so far we have not been worse affected!
It's called alienation. Just like the theme of last Friday's Xarabank. All ABC can do is bash Labour and try to alienate us when PN is doing a mess.
How right you are . Bocca is smart but he would be a lot smarter had he credited some intelligence to other people .
Aren't we getting enough insults from Gonzi , Gatt and the rest of the 'firm' ? Strategically although transparent , on a different blog Fr Joe Borg opened up a can of worms and in a desperate effort tried to take us back in history to remind us of the bad old Mintoff's life and times . As if we care more about history than the bread and butter issues of today .
Even if the PN strategists wouldn't like us to air our views on MALTA'S current issues or blame our problems on the world recession we will still press on regardless .
'To err is human ; yo blame someone else for your problems is startegic '
There's no winning with y'all.
Just a couple of direct comments: Helena Vella Bisset, do you think that the US President is irrelevant to our utility costs? You must have the same mentality as many who think that Malta is the centre of the known universe, unaffected by what happens around it. V. Micallef, Joe Muscat? Clout? Great Labour Movement? Are you sure you're not that Jo(e) Said person, you seem to be about as delusional.
"Do you sincerely think that we care who wins the US Presidential elections ?"
Spoken like a true Labourite. Indeed, whoever sits in the White House is of no concern to the flock.
PS. The elves are becoming ever more fanciful in their choice of pseudonyms
Bush senior, preceded by Ronald Reagan never supported Al Qaeda. This is just anti-US spin. In fact they could not support this organisation since it did not exist yet. What they supported was the Afghan fighters who were trying to liberate their country from the Soviet hegemonists. After the fall of the USSR, the Russian troops just abondoned Afghanistan and left it in a political and military vacuum. In the absence of a strong afghan leader, the country just disintegrated into tribes while the islamists took over Kabul and other areas and made a pig's breakfast of human rights. Al Qaeda and the Taliban movement was born then and nourished by Bin Ladens billions and the opium trade. Then came the failed blast under the twin towers, the bombing of US embassies and other terroristic atrocoties during Bill Clinton's presidency. When Bush Jr took over Al Qaeda was a very strong and highly organised terrorist organisation. Then came the Twin Towers/Pentagon/White House suicide-by-passenger-plane attacks. The rest is history that you should know.
Do you sincerely think that we care who wins the US Presidential elections ? Mc Cain or Obama will not pay our water , electricity or gas bills . Do you really think that people are so naive not to realise that the purpose of your exercise is clearly to avoid the debate on the current hot and distressful issue of the back breaking increases ?
There was time , not long ago , that the l'elves used to disgust me with their nauseating criticism about the government and used to admire you for the way you assess them , I don't know about you but I think they were smarter than i when they voted Labour
In all fairness to the majority of Americans; in 2000 George W. Bush didn't win the popular vote.
You certainly have a selective memory to suit you. My point is that the Taliban and Al Qaeda, in part, are the creation of the USA. It was George Bush that supported them and armed them in fighting the Russians in Afganistan. It was George Bush that cultivated and encouraged the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
In regards to Iraq, it only demonstrate how wrong George W. Bush was in going after Saddam Hussien instead of going after the Taliban and Al Qaeda and eredicate them.
Both candidates focused their election campaign on foreign policy on which they differ and disagree about. Pakistan is becoming the dilemma of many. Let us remind all that Pakistan is a nuclear power thanks to the USA. Most of these disagreements are purposely restrained for obvious reasons.
While consultations rather then imposition is Obama’s way of doing politics, McCain considers consultation as rewarding tool. ( How similar to Gonzi’s views on consultations!) The struggling economy is another primary task to handle on 'day one' for both candidates.
During election campaigns, one has to concentrate on what is ‘not being said’ rather on what is being promised. GonziPN is a prime example of such electoral deceit.
"Dear ABC
They elected George W. Bush - TWICE ! So, you never know. "
The claim that Americans are stupid and we (i.e. the rest of the world) are intelligent is a racist one. You will probably deny it but it is. Try substituting the words "American" and "Bush" for "Zimbabwean" and "Mugabe" respectively. How does the statement sound now?
Hans Christian Andersen would never have approved your prejudice (but then, he believed in fairies so was probably a little more innocent than his countrymen). At any rate we should always abhor racism whether it is directed towards Africans, Asians, Americans, etc.
Dear ABC
They elected George W. Bush - TWICE ! So, you never know.
You couldn't not be more wrong when you say that Ground Zero is the result of President Clintion. What is factual is that the Taliban and Al Qaeda were supported and heavily armed the Americans under President George Bush.
Time has proven that George W. Bush and John McCain were both wrong on the Iraq War and that Obama was right on not supporitng it in the first place. What George W. Bush should have done is finish the job in Afghanistan and redicate the Taliban and Al Qaeda and then turn thier attention to Iraq if so desired. But I shall remind you also that times also proved that the Iraq war was based on ONE BIG FAT LIE.
The more charismatic candidate always wins . I’m putting my money on a sure winner,the half-black charisma. Keep smiling Democrats Barack has it big time.
Now we will have a change in US policies, whoever gets the job, which I hope will not put Clintonian antics and nice and useless parlavers back into US politics. I just hope that whoever gets into that darn seat in that darn white building will do better than Dubbya B, but more importantly better than Ms. Clinton's husband.
"This woman – more precisely, her handlers – thinks, for instance that posing for publicity pictures brandishing a rifle, equipped with scope-sight and looking mildly menacing, is the sort of image calculated to endear her to the voter."
You should visit other websites besides that of the BBC. :) You'd have learnt that that particular photo, as were others, was a fake. Is this how you have formed your opinion of Palin? Based on photoshopped pics? I do not think she would make a good President but I can say it because I have actually read articles about her, from different sources. And I can see through photo-hoaxes.
Creationism is a stupid theory but, as an idea, it is not more bizarre than, say, reincarnation. Would you have been more well-disposed towards Palin had she been Buddhist?
Note: Unfortunately, both Presidential candidates might kick the bucket while in office, one through natural and the other through violent causes.
Real ground-zero facts no one can run away from for ever.
Emotions do play a significant part, and Obama's popularity is certainly not about his experience in running the country but rather his charisma which has bonded the black vote like never before. Then we have McCain and bimbo Palin. Now this is a very interesting combination. McCain gets his fame from experience and robotic movements as a result of injury received while serving the country. But his experience meant nothing when he chose Palin whose chances of ending up being President of the USA should turn diehard Republicans to vote Democrats this time around.
The economic and financial situation of the United States comes at a particularly bad time for them and the rest of the world. We have on one side someone who will do his utmost to spend the problems away as opposed by the other extreme of adopting protectionism and tax increases in order to try and fix what the man called Bush so grandly screwed up.
Some choice they have!