You have to hand it to our Joey (Saliba that is)...he intends to go out with a bang.

In one of his last interviews, he just happened to let slip that (kumbinazzjoni) it was Joe Muscat who inadvertently hinted that the MLP had sensitive information about a “corruption scandal”, which later turned out to be the now notorious JPO case.

Isn’t it funny that this bombshell was dropped now, now that Muscat is the new MLP leader? Funny strange, not funny ha, ha.

In politics, there is no such thing as a coincidence: Saliba didn’t just happen to plop this convenient juicy morsel out there before he made his exit, stage left. The obvious question is why this significant information wasn’t revealed before, but almost immediately you know the answer to that one. You can always trust Joey to have a card up his sleeve to be used at the opportune time. Yes, a strategist to the last.

On a completely different subject (Simon Busuttil blabbing about being approached personally to run for secretary-general by Lawrence and Kate), “Everyone makes mistakes”, said our Joey on Dissett.... ah, good to know.

Wasn’t me

Meanwhile, to date Joseph Muscat has neither confirmed nor denied that he was the “leak”, so maybe he’s simply decided that he will choose his battles.

Irrespective of who blabbed, what I want to know is how did the PN make the quantum leap from a mere hint to actually zeroing in on exactly the right person?

On the same Saturday that Alfred Sant gave his infamous press conference at Mistra Bay, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando wrote an article in The Times “disclosing” his connections with Mistra,

Now, once upon a time children, someone, somewhere said that the best thing to do when there is potentially damaging information that can be used against you, is to come out with it yourself. Well, Jeffrey is a good, obedient little lad because he took this advice and, voilà, there he was, pouring his heart out to us. Seems to me that there were instructions for those contesting the election who had anything to hide that might be a political time bomb, to just spit it out.

Despite the attempt at damage limitation and control, however, the JPO story was destined to be played out in those last few unforgettable days of the election campaign.

And so, here we are, three months later.

Just when you thought it was safe to come out of the Mistra water, who do we see all over our television screens, but the man himself.

Jeffrey has been cleared of all criminal charges, and he is determined to remind us of this at every opportunity. But, but, but... The dubious ethical question marks of what he did or didn’t do are still flashing like a bright neon sign over his head.

First of all, whoever gave JPO the advice to go on Bondiplus and be brazen about the whole episode needs their head examined. Either that or someone assumed that Lou was going to take the “softly, softly” approach – and got it completely wrong.

Let’s just say I doubt whether Lou and Jeff went out for a drink afterwards.

After JPO’s performance on Monday, I had a look at what people were saying on various websites, and it was not pretty.

I’m going to be gracious and say that the general feeling was that JPO did not convince them. In fact, if they had their misgivings about him before, then after that programme their belief in his credibility plummeted to below zero.

Then, of course, we had our pal Joey again, who didn’t help JPO’s case much by saying: “If it were me, I would have resigned.” How interesting.

Can it be? Is the Nationalist Party screeching its tyres and making a massive U-turn to get off the JPO highway?

That’s what it looks like from here. (Because, you know, the PN and only the PN is allowed to make U-turns. It’s special that way.)

The signs are all there. First the Bondi massacre then the Saliba “washing of hands” and then came the final blow. Gonzi has reiterated that nothing has changed – he has flatly ruled JPO out for any future post in his cabinet, and has removed him from the Council of Europe delegation.

Listen very carefully... I will say this only once. The sound you are hearing is the sound of Jeffrey being unceremoniously dropped.

Smile, you’re on One TV

The delicious irony was not lost on anyone that JPO next had to resort to Charlon Gouder’s show – yes, Charlon, the pesky Labour journalist all Nationalists love to hate. (I sometimes wonder if Ninu Zammit still has nightmares of Charlon chasing after him brandishing a mike.)

There, on Vice-Versa, we had the bizarre situation of three journalists sitting in a separate room, at a safe distance from Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando in the studio. Apparently this absurd set-up was at the dentist’s request because he didn’t want any interruptions (even though he never stopped interrupting himself). An odd arrangement indeed and, as Saviour Balzan so explicitly pointed out, a bit rich coming from someone who accused Sant of being a coward. In fact, I’m amazed that the fiery Saviour even put up with it.

But the separate rooms and his attempt to control the broadcast only demolished Jeffrey’s reputation further and we were all cheering as Saviour put into words what we have all been saying.

As for Charlon, compared to Lou on Monday he was like a meek little lamb – there were times I had to check to make sure I was on the right channel.

Interestingly, Jeffrey took a decidedly different tone on this programme, speaking almost regretfully about how Alfred Sant was probably misled – rather than frothing at the mouth and calling Sant a liar. What could have possibly happened between Monday and Wednesday for this sudden shift?

In the end, this week’s attempt at mopping up the mess has only made things worse and JPO’s political career virtually lies in tatters. If Jeffrey has been paying for PR advice, he should demand his money back.

Take it easy, boys

There is a general consensus that the loud and (and, how shall I put it?) colourful Toni Abela and Anglu Farrugia strike a jarring note when compared to the low-key, moderate approach favoured by Muscat. The dismay that many people felt when the more moderate contenders didn’t clinch the deputy leaders’ posts was palpable. Predictably, on the other side of the political divide, the reaction was pure glee.

Will Abela’s and Farrugia’s abrasive styles harm the more acceptable image that Muscat has been carefully cultivating? I guess it all depends on how much he is going to allow them to steal his thunder – this is where Muscat’s presence as leader has to be felt.

I get the impression that Muscat has already put his foot down. I saw a relatively subdued Anglu being interviewed twice – he had either been given a very good talking to or else he had taken some nice soothing camomile tea before the cameras started rolling. Or maybe a dose of Valium.

What’s going on here? Anglu Farrugia speaking calmly, Charlon being polite to JPO – wow, if Joseph Muscat can change people’s behaviour overnight like that, maybe he is the Messiah. Halleluiah.

The problem, of course, will arise when and if Anglu and Toni are speaking to the “masses” during those rabble-rousing events at election time, when the tendency to get carried away is very tempting (DNA, iljuni tal-bidla... you get my drift)

So if Muscat can just figure out a way to keep them away from those podiums...

You so funny

Ridiculing the Labour leader is now an old trick – if you pour enough scorn on the guy’s head, he will become a subject of mockery so that voters will be made to feel foolish for associating themselves with him. (This doesn’t quite explain how Alfred Sant still got more votes than Gonzi).

This time around, however, the scramble to discredit Joe Muscat is not finding enough fertile ground, precisely because we’ve all been on this particular merry-go-round before.

Actually, I would think that the people who should feel the most foolish are the ones who gave their number one to Jeffrey.

It would be hilarious, if it weren’t so sad.

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