Ireland 2009

[Tetro Kornbluth]

That first "sandcastle" poster is one of the best things ever. I'm putting it in my sig.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

For the Record I agree that the campaigns of both sides have been embarrasing. Just the "No" side and particularly Coir have been beyond the pale, so to speak. Generally speaking, it is probably good idea to vote against any proposition which is supported by Sinn Fein, Coir and the various factions of the anti-everything brigade, meaningless political parties usually with the words "workers" or "people" in their official name - which is funny given that they lack both workers and for that matter, people, as members.

[Хahar 🤔]

That first "sandcastle" poster is one of the best things ever. I'm putting it in my sig.

I like determined toddler.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

That first "sandcastle" poster is one of the best things ever. I'm putting it in my sig.

I like determined toddler.

I know: he looks like a cross between a crybaby bully and a would-be fascist leader.

[Јas]

Further to the TNSmrbi Lisbon poll the other day, tomorrow's Sunday Business Post/RedC poll gives the Yes side a more substantial lead: 55-27-18 (+1; +2; -3 respectively).

[Tetro Kornbluth]

I'm predicting a narrow YES win; probably around the same margin as the NO win last time - maybe a bit more.

[Хahar 🤔]

That first "sandcastle" poster is one of the best things ever. I'm putting it in my sig.

I like determined toddler.

I know: he looks like a cross between a crybaby bully and a would-be fascist leader.

What's the kid in the back doing?

[Tetro Kornbluth]

That first "sandcastle" poster is one of the best things ever. I'm putting it in my sig.

I like determined toddler.

I know: he looks like a cross between a crybaby bully and a would-be fascist leader.

What's the kid in the back doing?

Crying over his destroyed sandcastle or prostrating himself in front of the leader, what else?

[Јas]

That first "sandcastle" poster is one of the best things ever. I'm putting it in my sig.

I like determined toddler.

I know: he looks like a cross between a crybaby bully and a would-be fascist leader.

What's the kid in the back doing?

Crying over his destroyed sandcastle or prostrating himself in front of the leader, what else?

TBH, my impression was that the poster was satirising the racist overtones of elements of the No campaign. I figured it implied that the black kid had destroyed the white kid's sandcastle and the white kid was contemplating revenge! But maybe I'm over-reading it...

[Tetro Kornbluth]

That first "sandcastle" poster is one of the best things ever. I'm putting it in my sig.

I like determined toddler.

I know: he looks like a cross between a crybaby bully and a would-be fascist leader.

What's the kid in the back doing?

Crying over his destroyed sandcastle or prostrating himself in front of the leader, what else?

TBH, my impression was that the poster was satirising the racist overtones of elements of the No campaign. I figured it implied that the black kid had destroyed the white kid's sandcastle and the white kid was contemplating revenge! But maybe I'm over-reading it...

Wait a minute... I didn't even notice the kid in the background might be black! CONSPIRACY!!111

[Хahar 🤔]

That first "sandcastle" poster is one of the best things ever. I'm putting it in my sig.

I like determined toddler.

I know: he looks like a cross between a crybaby bully and a would-be fascist leader.

What's the kid in the back doing?

Crying over his destroyed sandcastle or prostrating himself in front of the leader, what else?

TBH, my impression was that the poster was satirising the racist overtones of elements of the No campaign. I figured it implied that the black kid had destroyed the white kid's sandcastle and the white kid was contemplating revenge! But maybe I'm over-reading it...

Wait a minute... I didn't even notice the kid in the background might be black! CONSPIRACY!!111

Kid in the back=scary foreigner?

[Tetro Kornbluth]

That first "sandcastle" poster is one of the best things ever. I'm putting it in my sig.

I like determined toddler.

I know: he looks like a cross between a crybaby bully and a would-be fascist leader.

What's the kid in the back doing?

Crying over his destroyed sandcastle or prostrating himself in front of the leader, what else?

TBH, my impression was that the poster was satirising the racist overtones of elements of the No campaign. I figured it implied that the black kid had destroyed the white kid's sandcastle and the white kid was contemplating revenge! But maybe I'm over-reading it...

Wait a minute... I didn't even notice the kid in the background might be black! CONSPIRACY!!111

Kid in the back=scary foreigner?

No. SCARY SCARY FOREIGNER SCARY is more like it. Coir and libertas are basically trying to act like the right-wing parties we don't actually have. While their campaign may be effective (and some of Libertas' posters happen to even more ridiculous then the ones Jas posted) but they would fail hardcore and have failed hardcore if they ran in elections.

[Hash]

Libertas is back? How many seats did you win in June again, guys?

[Јas]

Last full day of campaigning scaremongering today. (Silly broadcast restrictions prevent TV and radio broadcasting political campaign related stuff the day before polling.)

Also, the first polling has opened. Voting on the islands of Arranmore, Gola, Inishboffin, Inishfree and Tory (all in the Donegal SW constituency) occurs today - potentially around 800 votes. Voting on the islands often happens a day or two before elections in case the isalnds are effectively cut off by bad weather.

Clare Island, Inishbiggle and Inishturk (Mayo) vote tomorrow, along with the three Aran Islands and Inishbofin (Galway W). The various Cork islands will vote on Friday with everyone else.

[Gustaf]

It will be a sad day for European democracy when Ireland votes yes this week. I never get why the Irish allow their democracy to be treated like this - if you vote something down the verdict should be respected. The practice of running referenda again till the people vote the way they're told shouldn't be rewarded.

[Silent Hunter]

It will be a sad day for European democracy when Ireland votes yes this week. I never get why the Irish allow their democracy to be treated like this - if you vote something down the verdict should be respected. The practice of running referenda again till the people vote the way they're told shouldn't be rewarded.

Ireland did get concessions beforehand, so it's a slightly different treaty.

[Silent Hunter]

Could this backfire on the Irish PM? During the address to the UN of the President of Iran, the cameras panned across the people watching and showed a person in the Irish delegation's area and no one in the UK's area. Could the opposition say this shows that Ireland supports Iran?

People don't vote on those issues.

Irish neutrality, basically. They even allowed Soviet planes bound for Cuba to refuel at Shannon in 1962.

[Јas]

It will be a sad day for European democracy when Ireland votes yes this week. I never get why the Irish allow their democracy to be treated like this - if you vote something down the verdict should be respected. The practice of running referenda again till the people vote the way they're told shouldn't be rewarded.

Ireland did get concessions beforehand, so it's a slightly different treaty.

Technically we got clarifications (which are to be adopted as part of the next Accession Treaty) and a committment to essentially maintaining one Commissioner per Member State rather than the proposed redcution to a Commission of around 18 members rotating between Member States. The Treaty itself is unchanged, which was a red line issue for the British as the prospect of having to re-ratify the thing was not something the British Government was willing to countenance.

[Harry Hayfield]

May I be permitted to create an Ireland Referendum Results thread and start it off with a map showing the results from 2007 (via Google Earth) and a summary of the overall result in 2007?

[Јas]

May I be permitted to create an Ireland Referendum Results thread and start it off with a map showing the results from 2007 (via Google Earth) and a summary of the overall result in 2007?

I was going to work away in this thread, but I've no objection to your suggestion.

For info, our thread on the first referendum has all the results from last time as well as some nice maps by Gully and Hashemite.

The RTÉ website for the 2008 referendum results is still there and gives quick numbers for each constituency on the last 3 Euro-referenda.

And this document details the results of all Irish referenda since 1937.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

I've yet to ask (because of your damn neutralism)... but what way shall ye be voting tomorrow? Hide behind secret ballot if you wishes.

[Јas]

I've yet to ask (because of your damn neutralism)... but what way shall ye be voting tomorrow? Hide behind secret ballot if you wishes.

Reserving the right to change my mind, it's a tentative no from me atm.
Anyone out there interested in submitting arguments for or against and quite welcome btw!

[Tetro Kornbluth]

I've yet to ask (because of your damn neutralism)... but what way shall ye be voting tomorrow? Hide behind secret ballot if you wishes.

Reserving the right to change my mind, it's a tentative no from me atm.
Anyone out there interested in submitting arguments for or against and quite welcome btw!

Pretty much myself actually despite my rant. The problem is arrogance vs retardation, which do I want to lose more? It's a difficult dilemma. (Whatever the result, I look forward to circa five years time when Iceland and Croatia join and the rules have to be re-configurated again and have another referendum - no doubt ABORTION OMG EUthANSIA OMG INFLUENCE MINIMUM WAGE OMG OMG!!11Oneelvenoneeleven!!11 will also be heard there then too.)