Wednesday, 7th May 2008
BECK AGAIN
This longer than usual span between one blog and the other was caused by a short break a bit further West by North, that is to say in Tunisia, where Internet access, especially since they use AZERTY keyboards is not exactly snappy. Those flipping keyboards are a real bind to use, and it took me a couple of minutes on one to decide that the game wasn't worth the candle. Sometimes I wonder if the darn thing is a Francophone plot to rule the world, though if it is, it's a pretty stupid one, given that you have to be able to communicate to be able to do that.
Rule the world, I mean.
While I was away, my colleague in blogging and column writing has had a bit of a dig at the Chamber of Advocates, of which I am currently President in my real life. A quick straw poll of the Committee concluded that there shouldn't be any response, which is a manifestation of the truth of the adage about what is the greater part of valour. It's not exactly a brilliant idea to engage in debate with columnists/bloggers, who have virtually unlimited amounts of space (and time) within which to concoct ripostes and put-downs. And anyway, that which irked DCG was merely a technical point being made to the Executive in a particular context, so it wasn't a subject to merit cross-fire with a lay person.
Which is not to say that in my personal capacity, I'm not moved to make a point of my own in response to DCG's characterisation of the Chamber as the perennial exponent of the "let's not rock the boat" school of thought. The thing is, we expressed a sentiment that was - to a degree - critical of the Government. It was not a great criticism, it is true, but it was a criticism and if that is not rocking the boat" (albeit very gently) what is it?
Damned if we do and damned if we don't, it seems, because in the very same breath with which DCG tut-tutted at us for appearing to object (which we weren't - we just wanted clarification) she also tut-tutted us for not wanting to rock the boat.
It's all beginning to sound a bit Don Camilloish, with Peppone screaming at the Mayor from the village square before remembering that he's the Mayor and rushing off to accept the plaudits of the throng.
I'm all for the cops (and everyone else in authority, for that matter) being kept locked in the beady stare of inquisitive folk, officially appointed or otherwise, as DCG also wants but, and I'll shut up at this point about this, where do we stop?
Should we have a third Board of Inquiry appointed to oversee Judge Manche's inquiry and then should someone else check out what the third BoI is doing?
But I suspect you get my point.
SHORT HOP
On the short hop from Tunes to Luqa, you don't get the chance to do much more than scan the papers. I got a couple of headlines which gave me some ammo for this blog.
For instance, reading that the US State Department sees Malta as a potential terrorism staging post, I was moved to compose a few lines in my head, for jotting down here. Instead of mouthing platitudes, wouldn't it be more useful for the US State Department to direct its not insubstantial resources to analysing precisely why anywhere where refugees are gathered is a potential flashpoint? Perhaps dedicating some funding towards humanitarian aid, instead of giving everyone the impression that blowing Muslims to hell and back is the be-all and end-all of American foreign policy might get us somewhere.
On to more important things: Malta's Eurovision entry is destined, according to the bookies, to bomb. I don't know about you, but the prospect fills me with dread.
Not the dread associated with seeing my country humiliated and the flag spat upon but the awful ennui that creeps up on me when an utterly pointless and irrelevant horse is flogged to death and back. We're now going to have calls for Chairs of the Malta Song Board (or whatever it's called) to resign, for Norman Hamilton (to whose expertise in matters populist I bow) to be given the reins and for Grace Borg to be crowned Queen for Life of the music industry.
Forgive me while I shudder.
IS IT ONLY ME?
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Labour's Little Elves (the Laivieras and the Buttigiegs of this world, just to take some random examples) are living in a different universe? Reading their contributions in the comments sections of this site and on the various blogs, to say nothing of their Letters to the Editor, you'd think that Labour had thrashed PN and was only being denied the right to impose its will on us plebs by a fascist conspiracy of column writers and property developers.
This peculiar frame of mind is, quite understandably, fuelled by the MLP itself.
Thus we get strident demands for Pullicino Orlando to shut up and suffer the slings and arrows of his outrageous fortune (at least, from his point of view its outrageous, anyway) without daring to react, for the Government to ask the Opposition's permission before doing anything and for the populace at large to rise up and salute the MLP as the one and only true saviour of the people.
Come on, guys, get real, why don't you? You lost the election and, if you're honest with yourselves, you know why. Now just concentrate on getting ready for the next one, in five years' time, and stop shooting yourselves in the foot with every pronouncement.
The really rich one, a position that is breathtaking in its simulated naivety, is the spluttering that greeted Gordon Pisani's appointment as the Government's communications guru. Shock, horror, the Government appointed someone it trusts to communicate its policies to the world at large.
What amazing effrontery - Tony Blair, a great hero of the (so-called) Left in Malta would never have committed such a heinous crime. Wait, but he did - Peter Mandelson and Alistair Campbell, to name but two appointees of his Blairship.
What do the MLP spinners, an amateurish bunch if ever there was one (given the result of their spins, you can hardly call them pros) expect: that Manwel Cuschieri is made the PM's spokesman or something?
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Comments
The group is run by Carmen in Toronto.
I reside in malta. No need to apologise.
Apologies I think, judging by your posts time I do not think you live in California or could you? I'm not very good with math.
maltaforums is a yahoo group in which mostly Maltese expats and those missing malta in general get together.
What Malta forum? If you give me details I will gladly join, will promise to keep you company.
Tell our friend from Mosta I said hello ;)
I belong to no forum of any kind.
Since I am not Maltese it is hardly my place to comment upon individual
politicians or even express a preference for one or other of the Maltese parties.
Nevertheless I remain very interested and I can assure you that I follow events and
pronouncements.
"Rag bag" was a bad choice of words for which I apologise as I did not wish to be insulting.
Obviously a strong opposition is a healthy matter for a country.
Carlyle wrote that history is but the biographies of famous men but a person cannot become famous by being elected. He or she must have those charismatic properties.
My regret is that with advanced age my short-term memory is poor
:)
Gosh ... you miss malta so much eh? I was looking to see some new perspectives but I guess even a net this big is not big enough
Regards
The ex-Torontonian
It seems, for a very small minority, that everything that moves in Malta must be corrupt. Pity!
Constructive crititism in this case would have been accepptable along the lines if Mr. Pisani qualifications were not up to carry his duties.
I would gladly discuss with you each and every candidate's policies and visions but that would require a whole lot of typing. I suggest that before you come to the conclusion that the contestants are a rag-bag of individuals that you (if time is on your side) check out their respective websites and newspaper articles where you may find much more information than one can possibly list here. If everyone, Labour-supporters included, come to the rash conclusion that the Labour Party is doomed to opposition for eternity than there is a good chance that this will be the case. So much for dreaming of a strong opposition in the interest of democracy.
I am obliged for your pithy summary of the MLP hopefuls.
The function of the Opposition is of course to turn the government out.
Unless MLP can get its act together it ain't going to manage that
in a month of Sundays.
You present to me a rag bag of individuals.
I am old enough to remember dear Dr Boffa
who ruled until along came a Young Turk
whose name escapes me for the present
but then I am old and confused and worried about our government here
in the UK.
I fear that PN will rule for a long time yet
In Malta
by default.
Re: your suggestion (policy+personality): :
George Abela: Modernist leaning on Old School, Moderate to Conservative, Neo-Liberal
Michael Falzon: Moderate to Conservative, Old School
Joseph Muscat: New School, Progressive, Social Democrat, Fresh
Marie Louise Coleiro Preca: Moderate to Progressive, Grass Roots Policy, Social Justice
Evarist Bartolo: New School, Progressive, Social Democrat, has some baggage
I just don't want to choose to fall the in headless mass that is never critical because the other side will enjoy it. I don't believe that party loyalty means never criticize who you vote for. I don't really believe much in party loyalty, as much as I care for ideological loyalty. Political Parties are made of people and people make mistakes. Grow up, accept that, and criticize what you're told. Almost 2 months have gone by since the election, by now we should be thinking clearly again, and realize that the ongoing process in the MLP is the healthiest discussion going on since 1992. Time to make changes and reorganize. The sooner, the better. As I said, it's already 5 years too late.
I don't think that Labour's objective will be to convince ABC to vote Labour. I'm realistic. That will never happen. His vote is not in the 4% of the population that chose not to vote at all rather than complete the cross over from PN to MLP. I don't think that any further analysis needs to be done beyond that. 97% voting .. down to 93%. 4% more not voting. That's Labour playing field. Why those semi-floating voters did not vote!? MLP is not changing its leader because the PN has won, and ABC is now happy, but because 3 times in a row the maltese chose not to trust that leader. I firmly believe the last one has been MLP's loss, rather than PN's win. One big MLP floppy mess.
@Michael Attard - obviously. ( Blue)
@Lawrence Schembri - don't be infantile (Red)
@Elton Micallef - ditto (Red)
@C J Buttigieg - ditto, ditto (Red)
Elves, infantile...........is this all a gawk can muster to rebut .Glad my parents didn't send me to ballet lessons.
Dr. Sant never promised a new way of doing politics. I agree and I am not the least surprised since in his mind, doing politics like those of thirty years ago was just fine.
In 1996 he was elected on the promise that he would take Malta out of PfP, freeze Malta's application to join the E.U., remove VAT and replace it with a higher tax called CET, raise water and electricity rates sky high when the price of oil was $12.00 a barrel, a poll tax and, the cherry on the cake, to cut loose at the first obstacle that came his way.
Or, was NOT telling his plans his new way of doing politics?
@Lawrence Schembri - don't be infantile
@Elton Micallef - ditto
@C J Buttigieg - ditto, ditto
I hope you agree with me on this point at least ABC, that a strong and electable MLP/opposition party is an essential NEED for the maltese democratic system?
Had Alfred Sant won and became Prime Minister, who would he have appointed as Head of Communications at the OPM? At whose expense?
Joseph Muscat would have been a possibility although by his own admission, getting involved in local politics was sheer madness! 'Pepsodent smile' would have been a shoe-in.
I don't think that anyone like Joe Saliba would have made it on a list of 'possibles'!
It's not the parties' fault that some blues' supporters keep on spinning the right only and some reds' supporters keep on spinning to the left only. But those are the exceptions. The majority spin in both directions and, hence, remain balanced when they open their eyes..