Meaning therefore that devinehover's statement was a paradox in that it is not possible for a MEL to sanction the dispatch of an aircraft with multiple (or combination) items inoperative as MEL's only address the omission of a single item?
Earl of Rochester, not quite sure what you mean here (I thought divinehover's post was a question rather than a statement).
Subject to the precise defects and the provisions of the MEL then yes it is possible to depart with multiple items inoperative. (But for clarification a specific MEL item might say you may dispatch with this item u/s BUT if so, something else MUST be serviceable, for example).
However, in law the Commander has the absolute right in not accepting an a/c with multiple (or even single) defects which the MEL allows! For example, would you despatch with the APU u/s if you know the destination has no ground power and/or air start facility?
As I have stated before, the operator may not like that but that is the authority which is legally vested in the Commander. In this incident, it is interesting that another crew was of the same opinion also.
In a way, the same applies to use of discretion wrt Flight Time Limitations. Only the Commander may exercise discretion to extend the duty day or reduce minimum rest - you might be having tea and no biccies with the CP to explain why but, legally, the operator cannot force you to go just because it's in the MEL.