Thank you for posting this. I had been following this for the las couple of days and planned to post an entry today, but now I have an extra blog entry for something else!

As far as the Irish saying no to Lisbon all I have to say is:

YEAHHHHHHH!!!!!

Good job Irish!

People are not willing to give up their country's sovereignty in favor of a European Superstate that dictates everything right down to condom sizes. .

I am getting a feeling for what it must have been like for the colonists in America to be confronted with the prospect of a Constitution and Federal government. A Bill of Rights had to be added to get them to ratify, but their fears were not completely unfounded. The Federal Government has taken power from the States, especially thanks in part to the 'reforms" of the early 1900s, in other words, State Legislature being stripped of their authority to electe Senators and the Federal Government directly taxing people.

The kind of system we have today is totally different than the one the founders conceived of and the Europeans should learn from our history and be confortable in the knowledge that their fears of losing sovereignty are completely warranted.

Except that our proposed federalism (at the time of the constitutional caonventions) HAD clearly defined limits and checks & balances to keep the imperials from taking them away slowly. Notice I said 'had'.

Now our own ignorance and indifference has finally given the imperialists the power they need to usurp our soveignty. Read Cheney and Bush & co.

Don't the Irish know what's good for them?

Considering the prosperity Ireland has recently begun to enjoy because of their EU partners investement I wonder if the Irish were smart or just afraid of the unknown.

They should have offered Free Beer.

Do I have to think of everything?

"The other 26 countries will ratify and we will be told Join us when you like lads'," he said.

* * * *

Sometimes, the use of a comma is very, very important.

The Irish were properly given the chance to vote on this, whereas other EC countries, fearful of it being rejected, were not (UK for example, notably).
Democracy is important. The EC is not "plunged into chaos" - these things are always chaos and will continue to be so. The treaty clearly needs revision and that is what will eventually happen, when some of the less pompous countries allow some of the others to work out what needs to be done.
The Lisbon Treaty was probably not necessary for "progress" to continue.

It won't be a "United States of Europe", now or possibly ever, but it can be a tremendous force for democracy and freedom and liberty.

'"Call it hubris," said one senior figure, "people seem to have forgotten what Ireland was like before we received European funding. They seem to think that we created our success all by ourselves. They are wrong." . . . '

So you gave them some money and now they owe you their sovereignty? Talk about hubris.....

Ireland to pissed-off EU powerbrokers: "Sorry, Suckers!"

Nice to see the IRA terrorists weighing in on this.

btw, are the Irish going to give back all that euro-weenie investment money?

"btw, are the Irish going to give back all that euro-weenie investment money?"

Did they take the money under the condition that they would ratify this treaty?

Of course not. I loved how the people who think you can buy a people's sovereignty feel they are on the ones with the moral claim here.... LOL

Sometimes, the use of a comma is very, very important.

Posted by rightisright

LOL!

FF

btw, are the Irish going to give back all that euro-weenie investment money?
Posted by northguy3

Did they take the money under the condition that they would ratify this treaty?
Posted by Sully

Both of these points aside, a fragmented EU is better for the U.S., right?

Maybe then they'll stop buying up all our real estate in NYC and a person like me will have at least an iceberg's chance in hell of ever being able to own a home.

I've never been so proud to be Irish.

"Both of these points aside, a fragmented EU is better for the U.S., right?"

Depends on what you think is good for the US... A big EU superstate doesn't scare me. I personally think Europeans would come to regret it but let themdo what they want.

I just find it hillarious that people seem to think Ireland must toe the line because of past EU investments. They have the mentality of date rapists (I paid for dinner, you owe me some) yet think they are taking the moral high ground.

And by the way - Doesn't the word "investment" indicate that the people who spent this money in Ireland shared in the financial benefits when the Irish economy started to take off? "Donation" and "Investment" are too very different words and I don't see anyone talking about money be donated to Ireland.

A big EU superstate doesn't scare me.
Posted by Sully

1.00 EUR = 1.53737 USD... and likely to get worse.

That doesn't give you cause for concern?

"1.00 EUR = 1.53737 USD... and likely to get worse.

That doesn't give you cause for concern?"

The dollar is down against most currencies. Of course its a problem. I just think the causes are a little closer to home....

They'll have to fight 'em for it!

I wonder if the US will be given the opportunity of voting on the North American Union?

YEAH!

Personally I could care less!

But I do find it interesting how the Wingdings, after a 12 year long Clinic in how to Govern Corruptly and Ineptly --- still trot about like they have the answers!

But I guess since they have been made the Fool here in the states they have to go somewhere ----- and Ireland is as good a place as any!

Now our own ignorance and indifference has finally given the imperialists the power they need to usurp our soveignty. Read Cheney and Bush & co.

Posted by Lipzoidial

Ya, them 2 realy grew the federal government. Our only saving grace is when the ears becomes president. That is when we are going to see the size and power of government decrease. SHIT...

"Ya, them 2 realy grew the federal government."

They did, Snippy. More than Clinton.

This Irish fighting song below -- "A Nation Once Again" -- is over 150 years old but it is just as relevant on this day as it was back then.

Unlike many other European countries who meekly let their political leaders do the choosing for them, the gutsy Irish people demanded a referendum on whether or not to join the EU. When given the option of joining the EU and being ruled by globalist bureaucrats in Brussels who would take away Ireland's sovereignty, rules of law, heritage, and independence the Irish people voted "HELL, NO!"

All Europeans and everyone in the U.S. with a drop of Irish blood in their veins should hoist a beer tonight and thank Ireland. (I've sung these lyrics quite a few times myself in an Irish pub in Kearny, NJ. **really tipsy**)

"A Nation Once Again"

When boyhood's fire was in my blood
I read of ancient freemen,
For Greece and Rome who bravely stood,
Three hundred men and three men;
And then I prayed I yet might see
Our fetters rent in twain,
And Ireland, long a province, be.
A Nation once again!

A Nation once again,
A Nation once again,
And lreland, long a province, be
A Nation once again!

And from that time, through wildest woe,
That hope has shone a far light,
Nor could love's brightest summer glow
Outshine that solemn starlight;
It seemed to watch above my head
In forum, field and fane,
Its angel voice sang round my bed,
A Nation once again!

It whisper'd too, that freedom's ark
And service high and holy,
Would be profaned by feelings dark
And passions vain or lowly;
For, Freedom comes from God's right hand,
And needs a Godly train;
And righteous men must make our land
A Nation once again!

So, as I grew from boy to man,
I bent me to that bidding
My spirit of each selfish plan
And cruel passion ridding;
For, thus I hoped some day to aid,
Oh, can such hope be vain ?
When my dear country shall be made

-- Lyrics by Thomas Osborne (in the 1840's)

"For all its benefits, many people feel, the Union is remote, undemocratic and ever more inclined to strip its smaller members of the right to make their own laws and decide their own futures."

Americans could take a lesson from the Irish and vote to reject Washington from the union.

There WILL be a European union and there will be a north american union. The powers that be have already decided it.

resistance is futile and symbolic at best.

and just in case you are inclined to think that our president could change or affect it if he wanted to, you're wrong.

i'm not talking about any of that paranoid conspiracy crap either, i'm talk about economic unions, which are more imposing than nationalistic unions.