Those of us who were part of the left wing NO to Lisbon campaign are following carefully the debate about the defeat of the Irish political elite on the June 12 th referendum. We are taking note of the desperate efforts coming from both European right and centre, and the local YES cabal, to push the Irish people to accept in a second referendum the original, or a slightly revamped, version of Lisbon (in itself incorporating 95% of the European Constitution).We have been restrained in our commentary so far and careful to study and understand in detail how the political elite may manage to overcome its deep crisis. The same way we studied and analysed Lisbon as early as last November, we will enter the fray when, as James Connolly said, the time is ripe. Capitalism has far too many serious problems right now and as hard as he may try Cowen won't convince anybody that the unprecedented disaster of the banks and the financial institutions is due to Lisbon being defeated!

The debate in this thread, however, both amusing and tragic that it is, requires a short response:
(1) Ganley and Libertas were not and will not be "the leaders" of the NO campaign. Despite the huge amounts spent, and the space provided to them by both electronic and print media, their two main platform planks of tax and the Commissioner issues were, at best, marginal in the people making up their mind on Lisbon.
(2) Every poll and our very extensive door-to-door experience right across the 32 Counties showed that European militarisation, the further erosion of Irish neutrality already in its death knell given the 1.5 million US soldiers who have passed through Shannon on the way and back from the killing fields, the threat on Trade Union rights following the three European Court of Justice decisions, the further erosion of EU democracy and, above all, the total distrust of politicians by our young, women and working class people were the main factors of the NO vote. Coupled with the horrific arrogance shown by the FF/FG/Labour/Green cabal, the Bishops, IBEC and their friends.
(3) Ganley/Libertas and COIR played a role no doubt. But it was the coalescence of a whole array of political forces, across classes but with a significant focus in working class, farmer and fishing communities, that won the day. And it is that array that now says NO MEANS NO!! LISBON IS DEAD!!
Finally, the points made above in the debate that Ganley is being pushed around as a bullyboy are correct. The man has just asked for Georgia to join NATO and has not had a word to say about European militarisation or the help provided by the EU to Israel. The media have pumped him up because he is part of the elite - CIA or no CIA!! But to listen to a variety of MEPS attack Ganley when they themselves have consistently refused to account for their income and expenditure takes the biscuit.

We, from our part, have to continue our struggle for a democatic, demilitarised and social Europe. It's half time in the match and we are 1-0 ahead. Both teams are now in their dressing rooms and you can hear the fans and the trainers shouting their heart out. We are ahead and we intend to stay there. Let them come. And we know that our best defence is our offensive capacity. Ganley or no Ganley!

De Standaard reports that yesterday, at a
conference of the European Policy Center,
Jean-Luc Dehaene, former Belgian Prime Minister,
declared that the Irish government should simply
ratify the Lisbon Treaty without a referendum
before the EU elections, as the legal ground on
which Ireland has to hold a referendum is
disputable. Dehaene is quoted as saying: "whoever
thinks that a vote in parliament is less
democratic then a referendum has a lifelong
problem with democracy". By proposing this,
Dehaene aims to prevent the EU elections turning
into a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty which
could lead to shifting party loyalties.

Zie http://standaard.typepad.com/rondom_schuman/2008/10/financile-crisi.html

Dehaene heeft een jaarlijkse zitpenning bij Inbev van 3 miljoen?