Who will lead the YES campaign for Lisbon II?

[baldur0300]

Of course the government wouldn't allow that. If the roles were reversed do you think it would be in any way different?

[Rocky]

That's just nonsense. If the FG campaign was so much better than the FF campaign, why were FF supporters far more likely to support the treaty than FGers? You party always claims to be the strongest pro-Europe party and yet you couldn't even convince a decent majority of your own supporters to back Lisbon.

Because a lot of FGers voted no to hurt the government. FFers obviously wouldn't have that motivation. It doesn't really relate to the quality of each parties campaign.

[baldur0300]

Because a lot of FGers voted no to hurt the government. FFers obviously wouldn't have that motivation. It doesn't really relate to the quality of each parties campaign.

So the quality of the campaign has no impact upon the likelihood of a party's supporters to vote the way they're advised? I doubt that somehow.

Look I don't know how you can say that one campaign is better than another, if the party supporters don't vote for the side the party advocates. If you can't convince your own supporters to vote yes, you have no chance with anyone else and I would deem that a failure.

[west'sawake]

Amid the worst economic downturn in living memory, Cowen is still more popular than Kenny. John Bruton managed to lose an election despite the fact that the economy was in an upturn and needed to be shafted by his colleagues because he refused to resign.

Hmmmmm ......... as someone in favour of Lisbon, I think i'd prefer Cowen to stay in charge.

John Bruton's F.G. went from 48 to 56 seats after the Rainbow Govt, that Govt lost the then election because Dick Spring's Labour went from 31 seats to 19 or 20. The FG mongrel fox eejits thanked Bruton by ditching him for the hapless Noonan who went on to lose them over 20 seats.

Lisbon II will be defeated again, its a no brainer. The unlikely alliance of forces who defeated it the last time will be so agitated by this anti democratic sham, voting for the exact same rejected treaty, that will come out in their droves. The politicians won't know what hit them, the foot soldiers will be everywhere, campaigning is already beginning.

Nor will so called civil society leaders that Minister Martin referred to be any addition, they have fed off the partnership process and also had E.U. funds financing their offices, staff and publications, they haven't a clue about the struggles of ordinary people with crazy mortgages, wages that can't pay for everything, and no job security, as more on more end up on the dole.

Watch out too for new legislation that will dictate that airtime must be given in proportion to political parties strength, which means 85% yes and 15% no. That will mobilise even more people at local level to do flyers, leaflets, hold meetings and canvass, canvass, canvass. They can't control local printers, they can't control the internet, they can't control local radio (not yet anyway), they can't control the local press. The can't control the canvassers, those who engage, who win the arguments because we have the Truth.
Every stroke the pull to smother real debate will only be used to our advantage.

Here in the West we are already getting ready. The No vote exceeded 60%. Next time we are aiming for 66%. 2 to 1. Come on Libertas, Come on COIR, Come on Sinn Fein, Come on Anti War groups, Come on Patricia McKenna, Come on Kathy Sinnott, Come on Gay Byrne, Come on the authentic left, come on the real libertarians, come on all who believe in Democracy and not rule by feather bedded oligarchs. Roll on the little people's revolution.

Fangorn forest is alive again, the Ents are on the March, and the Hobbits will have victory.

[Rocky]

So the quality of the campaign has no impact upon the likelihood of a party's supporters to vote the way they're advised? I doubt that somehow.

Look I don't know how you can say that one campaign is better than another, if the party supporters don't vote for the side the party advocates. If you can't convince your own supporters to vote yes, you have no chance with anyone else and I would deem that a failure.

There is no way to quantity this beyond asking all yes voters, who convinced them or asking all no voters, did a yes party convince them to vote no. Now as far as I know no survey did that.

Just because someone supports FG now doesn't mean they will support them tomorrow and it's the same with FF and the recent substantial changes in polls prove that. Maybe now a good majority of FG voted yes in the Lisbon Referendum, so you can’t look at it like that. Also the number of FG voters and the number of FF voters who voted yes was very close.

Now I believe FG ran a more active campaign especially in Dublin. They spent more on advertising posters etc. then FF and as has already been alluded to the YFG campaign in favour of the treaty was very strong in Dublin, while FF seem to do very little on the ground everywhere and I saw no campaign of any extent in Dublin city centre from FF.

[He3]

Fangorn forest is alive again, the Ents are on the March, and the Hobbits will have victory.

Repeat-erendums are Hobbit forming.

[Magror14]

The best person to sell Lisbon to the Irish?

A very articulate youngish woman with gravitas

[He3]

The best person to sell Lisbon to the Irish?

A very articulate youngish woman with gravitas

Who funds Gravitas. We need to know.

[spidermom]

Seriously guys, give me 60k and I'll win it for ye...

You're selling yourself short pet!!

If you can win this I'd be looking for a lot more of the politicans for this one.
Me thinks it would be a master stroke if you pull it off.

Have to agree with most of the posters however(Bobert excluded) the YES side are hardly in the "rich pickings" category!

Anyone mentioned Dustin yet?

Well after his/its last great triumph on the european stage!!
(make a change from monkeys on posters all the time)

[west'sawake]

Repeat-erendums are Hobbit forming.

God bless ya man for that site splitting response, brevity truly is the soul of wit, and you are a master of the pun. It should go down as the reply post of the year.