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| Europe |
| 54.5% of non-abstaining French vote NON to EU constitution |
| 2005-05-29 |
| but 29.5% of eligible voters abstained, so expect Chirac to try again ... |
| Posted by:rkb |
| #25 ..can somebody please save the french from themselves... again |
| Posted by: macofromoc 2005-05-29 22:37 |
| #24 Maybe Le Renard News would get a big viewership in France after all. |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-05-29 22:14 |
| #23 ARe some of those 29% in their colonies? |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2005-05-29 20:28 |
| #22 I think this pic is good, via No Pasaran: http://no-pasaran.blogspot.com/ It's entitled, "Frogs make history." |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2005-05-29 20:27 |
| #21 Surely one of the reasons the EC, EEC, EU came about was because the european countries at the time thought a large economic trading bloc was a good idea to compete against the goliath that was/is America? This was sensible thinking at the time (everyone was thinking that way), but is hopelessly outdated now - the more countries embrace free-market ideals, the richer they get (there are abberations of course). The other reason was the very understandable notion that if countries were tied together economically (and politically - eventually), then they couldn't go to war against each other. Don't forget, this was all initiated just after WWII. That idea has become vilely corrupted, and chickens are coming home to roost. Growth in the Eurozone is about 1-2%, with the US about 3-4% and China/India 7-9%. The old model is no longer sustainable and needs to be changed. Too many people in Europe think the world owes them a living, and it's not the case. It'll only get worse before it gets better... |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2005-05-29 19:58 |
| #20 Great day for New Europe....move forward as a cohesive block leaving the trouble on the outside looking in....this is good....the prench were only supporting this as a way to seek compensation for their own idelness from the taxes of other states....now they've blown up their own strategic plan.......Beg that the other states move on without them, giving them NO quarter to interject additional largess into a renegotiated deal. Get this and you got it. |
| Posted by: Ebbeath Gleart2775 2005-05-29 19:36 |
| #19 They violated the basic lawyer rule at court: "Never ask a question you don't know what the answer will be." Hubris, nothing more. A major problem with Europe is that it's purpose in the 21st century hasn't been clearly defined yet. It gets enlarged and enlarged, just because... But WHY Europe should be more than a free trade zone is not clear at all. The French tried to build up the US as an opponent. But being against something is never good enough. That's why the Democrats failed. Their only common ground was to be against Bush. Not enough. If Europe wants to be a global player, it needs to get ready for it. In its current shape, that's impossible. Let's see whether Germany will focus more on Eastern Europe and it's transatlantic connections. If so, France faces a real problem. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-05-29 19:34 |
| #18 Giscard d'Estaing, age 79, may now retire and sip Absinthe with The King of the Belgians. |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-05-29 19:33 |
| #17 Big mistake putting this to the voters. Should have had it ratified by the legislature or by the cabinet or something. "Referenda are pure gambling. There is no guarantee of a positive outcome, unfortunately." -- Danish EU advocate Charlotte Antonsen |
| Posted by: gromky 2005-05-29 19:25 |
| #16 The EU is vastly popular with the general populace across the continent, ... Oh, really? That's why of the first three public referenda to be held on the proposed constitution, two will result in public rejection of further political integration (I'm assuming the Dutch will also vote No, which is reasonable)? ... even in Britain there isn't a single mainstream party that wants to leave the EU (UKIP is not mainstream, i think you need atleast one MP before you could even think of calling yourself that). UKIP actually won 12 seats in the UK's last European elections - and came third, beating the Lib Dems into fourth place. And the Tories beat Labour to first place. That makes two of the top three eurosceptic-to-eurorejectionist. This is a good vote, ... Agreed. ... it will pave the way for more accountability in Brussels ... Your logic being...? I'd have thought the lesson to be learned by Brussels is that letting the ignorant plebs have a say in their own destiny is dangerous folly. I find your faith touching. ... and lead to a much more popular revamped constitution in a few years time. The fact that the French have mainly opposed this constitution because they saw it as too anglo-saxon, and the British reject it as they feel it's too French/Franco-German/Continental... doesn't dampen your optimism? Let's face it: the EU as a political union and superstate entity is doomed because the people of Europe share one thing in common: they know a crock of shite when they see one. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2005-05-29 19:24 |
| #15 The vote may appear as a positive step for a Europe with a more individualist mindset, however, it was voted down primarily due to the proposed constitution did not go FAR ENOUGH in promoting social programs. The French are a strange breed and this vote has not redeemed any of the pre-conceived opinions we Americans hold regarding this country. |
| Posted by: Constitutional Individualist 2005-05-29 18:57 |
| #14 It's a vote against the constitution, not against the EU. The EU is vastly popular with the general populace across the continent; even in Britain there isn't a single mainstream party that wants to leave the EU (UKIP is not mainstream, i think you need atleast one MP before you could even think of calling yourself that). This is a good vote, it will pave the way for more accountability in Brussels and lead to a much more popular revamped constitution in a few years time. Well done to the French for voting for a stronger Europe. |
| Posted by: Codec 2005-05-29 18:43 |
| #13 OK, let's recap the score so far: Aznar: Oops Howrd: Check Blair: Check Bush: Check Schroeder: Check Chiraq/Raffarin: Check 5-1. Odds are pretty go if you side with the War. Worried about the next election, Pooty? If there is one. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-05-29 18:18 |
| #12 A victory for democracy against an undemocratic European superstate. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-05-29 18:00 |
| #11 "...With 92 percent of votes counted, the treaty was rejected by 56.14 percent of voters, the Interior Ministry said. It was supported by 43.86 percent..." |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-05-29 17:56 |
| #10 Thanks be to God! The French finally did something good for a change, even if it was for a lot of the wrong reasons. Let Freedom ring in France and throughout "Old Europe!" |
| Posted by: Jennie Taliaferro 2005-05-29 17:41 |
| #9 Nice to see the Phrench haven't completely gone spineless. Hopefully things get better in Europe after the EU dies its justly deserved death. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-05-29 17:33 |
| #8 Sacre bleu! I voted against it because it did not give enough creedence to Sharia Law. |
| Posted by: Mahmoud, the Weasel 2005-05-29 17:31 |
| #7 Dave, Iraq is a state. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-05-29 17:30 |
| #6 This is a big FU to the EU. But in truth, the euro-peons have NEVER been for unity. Except via hitler's attempt at a unified europe. And that didn't work out so well either. More truth: IRAQ will have a constitution, the EU will not. |
| Posted by: Dave 2005-05-29 17:29 |
| #5 Dominique de Villepin (the man ya know) just announced 56% NON |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-05-29 17:28 |
| #4 I'm voting it for today's headline. According to the Washington Post, the constitution is being slaughtered at 57.26% "Non"! Chirac should go into the garden and eat worms. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-05-29 17:27 |
| #3 Page 3 |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-05-29 17:22 |
| #2 Best comment I've heard today: "The Rebel Alliance has blown up Darth Frog's Death Star." |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-05-29 17:02 |
| #1 Continue voting until you get it right. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2005-05-29 16:48 |