I was doing the shopping when a little round man braked suddenly - it was a man in a red car. He did not need to identify his political leanings for they perfectly matched the colour of his car. He yelled: “We’ve dropped a torpedo right in their engine room, it’s in the bag.”
He drove off with a grin so big that I lost his face in the windscreen.
Yes, I would agree with him, about the first part of his sentence... not too sure about the second part though. It has been a horrible week for the PN.
And though Alfred Sant has to be credited for the element of surprise, he is also to be credited for his ability to wreak havoc by describing every little action as simple unbridled corruption. He could have called it hypocrisy, conflict of interest, lack of transparency and favouritism. But no: corruption.
There is widespread panic in the Nationalist camp that they could lose the next election, and it has much to do with the fact that they did not expect Sant’s sudden incursions. They have been unstoppable raids and much of it has to do with the fact that in 20 years you tend to make a lot of awful mistakes. And many mistakes have been committed, especially in the last years.
But as things stand, I cannot believe for a moment that Sant and his team will be so different in their policies. In the end, it is all a question of trust. Sant has made some horrible policy mistakes that need some head thumping to be forgotten. His stand on Europe and taxation were one.
But on the other hand his liberal stance is not without praise. But then he has become cautious and careful not to rock the boat too hard. Alfred’s best argument, in my view, is the democratic deficit that exists in the country. On this one he is absolutely justified and Gonzi, also in my view, failed to address this problem, which could have addressed by widening meritocracy and representation. As PM he has grown to misjudge the mood of his audience. He could have had the greens on his side; in the end he decided to attack them and that was unjust.
Proof of this was his cocky appearance on Xarabank where he was handled with kid gloves by Joe Azzopardi. A week before Peppi, alias Joe, greeted Sant, but instead of a kid gloves it turned out to be a sledge hammer.
But all this sycophancy does not mean that Alfred Sant is a better choice. He is not. His past is not a reflection of his future. If it were, he would have to change all his policies.
One can argue and criticise Gonzi for talking too much and promising too much and having a very shaky understanding of deadlines. Yet, he has steadfast views that do not change. But Sant has a bigger problem, he tends to change for political convenience, he changes so fast that I have lost track.
But if the people believe he is the best choice, they should have him and taste some of his managerial skills and political vision. Sant is by all means not a socialist, so any Nationalist who really believes they should support a conservative liberal should vote for him; and all those Labourites who want a confessional socialist Prime Minister should throw their lot in with Gonzi.
The choices are simple:
If people are interested in addressing the democratic deficit ONLY, they should vote for Sant.
If people are hardcore Labourites and have helped the party as if it were their business and want to taste some of the forbidden fruit, then they too should vote for Labour. It is the only way they can get some of the rewards back.
But if people want a continuation of centre-left politics oscillating round the persona of Lawrence Gonzi, then the PN is their choice.
If voters want to fortify the only liberal party with a green tinge then AD would not be a bad choice. Even though I shudder to think what would happen if Cacopardo takes over the Greens.
And if the electorate cannot stand the sight of black people, then Josie is their best chance.
Now, in the end, different people think in different ways. And I respect their choice. That is democracy.
And yes I am sickened by the drudgery of columnists who have taken it upon on themselves to accuse others who have indicated their electoral choice as morons.
When the dust settles, they will probably realise that they caused more harm to the party they consider to have a divine right over others.
The blue eyed boys and girls who have lived off their posts and positions cannot in any way find anything to fault in the party of their choice. Yet, they must recognise that you cannot disenfranchise half the population forever.
In addressing the electorate Gonzi has declared that he will take Malta to a new beginning. That new beginning should not only tackle democracy. Yet he would do well, if elected, to include another proposal in his vast electoral hit list and that must take into account the democratic deficit.
And that can only come about if Gonzi does what he debated and discussed when he was Chairman of the Gonzi Commission on electoral reform. It is everyone’s sovereign right to choose whichever party they wish for and if you think that I am going to suggest whom to vote for, then you must be joking. I have much sympathy for all the parties, including Josie’s. It is a pity he has tainted his politics with diatribes against coloured people, but I suppose nobody’s perfect.

It is not the discotheque at Mistra or the report on the financing health that has set the tempo for the last days before the election. But rather that the whole agenda in the last week has been set by the Labour party putting the Nationalist party on the defensive.
I think that it was fortuitous that Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando missed Sant’s press conference. It would have been an atomic explosion of unbearable proportions
Once again, I may not be very popular in saying this. But this is not a question of corruption. It is just another case where, if you are in politics, expect to be scrutinised for what you do and do not do.
Allowing someone who leased your land to run off to MEPA to have an open air discotheque in Mistra is not exactly something you expect from someone who has been trumpeting green issues.
Pullicino Orlando’s saga was craftily planned to the last detail. His profile as a green crusader was publicised and somehow the PN realised that something was about to happen.
I cannot believe that Pullicino Orlando is corrupt unless evidence is brought forward that he applied pressure on the disgraced DCC to issue a permit for the person who rented out this land.
Pullicino Orlando, in typical fighting mood, hit back last night with some stinging evidence.
Let the show begin.

Lino Farrugia has every right to hit back at me. After all, this column has not been exactly kind to him.
But he must understand that I will not sue him for libel, because libel is something that I really do not believe in and am firmly against. Instead, I will end this column with a very simple statement.
Lino Farrugia should know that the negotiations agreed with the EU by Malta were the most advantageous to any EU country. It allowed hunters the chance to hunt and trap under special conditions. No other country could hunt in spring and trap finches; and yet, Lino Farrugia and his group did nothing to change their ways and take advantage of these special concessions.
If Farrugia wishes I would willingly address his followers and explain to them what he (Farrugia) had the chance of doing and missed out on, simply because he continued to believe that Brussels would give him further concessions.
And with that small note, I wish all readers a very exciting final electoral week full of accusations, allegations, promises and exaggerations.