Sometimes it’s good to say no

When the Irish people voted no to the Lisbon treaty earlier this year, we were given a good ticking off by all the yes advocates both at home and abroad. We were looked upon as fools and paranoid freaks. People were tearing their hair out and looking to heaven as if the sky was about to fall on Ireland. We were told ‘this is it, there is no better deal’. We were told that we would be left behind. Nothing could be done.

Less than a year later there is, it seems, a better deal on the table, I’m delighted I said no. There is always a better deal. 

And what today’s result shows more than anything is that those people, in Ireland particularly (and particularly certain parts of Dublin where the most ‘educated’ people alledgedly come from), who feel that we shouldn’t be bothered to question, debate and vote on our future in Europe because we can’t influence anything are and were wrong. The rejection of this treaty will now result in all E.U. countries keeping a commissioner. And even if this is the only ‘concession’ granted, at least the Irish have made the E.U. think again. The rest of Europe’s citizens, if not the politicians, will wonder why they weren’t given the same opportunity.

Palin links Obama to Terrorist – while Merkel pulls James Bond style U-Turn

"Go raibh mile maith agaibh"

Interesting to see Sarah Palin linking Barack Obama with terrorists and using a paper she hadn’t heard of, or at least couldn’t name last week(The New York Times), as back up.

Also thank you to Angela Merkel for thanking the Irish for the idea of guaranteeing deposits when just twenty-four hours earlier it was widely believed she had been heavily critical of the idea.

Earlier EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said that Ireland’s move to guarantee deposits contravened EU Law. Presumably, the German move is in Das same boat.

One wonders. Do these people actually speak to each other?

Smaller countries left out of E.U. talks – Comforting for Ireland – As French President Kozys up to the other big three, we see the birth of a new Triumvirate

"I just felt that around here was beginning to sag a little, so I had some fat removed and now I feel SO much younger!!"

How comforting it was to see the big boys in the yard take it upon themselves to discuss ourEuropean Union’s problems without disturbing us minions. The fact that Mr. Sarkozy invited the heavy hitters to talks is very reassuring to me as an Irishman. I feel much safer now because I know that I am back safe and warm in the cave while by big butch boyfriends go out and make sure that I’ll have enough to eat.

Gordo was loving it-huffing and puffing his way through what he thought the Union needed to do with a look of disbelief on his face that he had been invited ’round the table to wave his club in the air with the other equally egoistical leaders; one has had a hair transplant and is getting younger by the day, the other is married to a former super model and loves to see himself on TV. Merkel must go home and laugh at all these eejits.

Amazingly, only the ballsey Finns made any sort of objection to the exclusivity of the meeting and they were correct to do so. If these leaders want Ireland to eventually say yes to Lisbon, little meetings like this should be avoided or at least kept away from the cameras. One can just imagine Declan Ganley, chuffing away on a cigar last night while stroking his white cat, looking at this gathering and taking note of the proceedings with glee. There they were sat at a press conference with E.U. flags behind them, proudly solving all our problems without the rest of us in attendance. 

Kept away from the cameras!!!??? I hear you scream with laughter. Good point, we are talking Sarkozy, Berlusconi and Brown. All hail the new  ’Triumvirate of Vanity’.