Blue Crab Boulevard

The Difference Between Journalism And Political Activism

That seems to be something Reuters is unaware of, to say the least. Just read this and tell me if it sounds like advocacy free journalism:

Irish voters rejected a treaty on Friday to overhaul the European Union's unwieldy institutions, putting the entire bloc's reform plan in peril and humiliating Ireland's political leaders.

The pact, known as the Lisbon treaty, failed by a margin of 53.4 to 46.6 percent in the only EU country to put it to a popular vote.

"No" vote supporters cheered loudly for several minutes, interrupting an official as he read out the results.

Prime Minister Brian Cowen called the vote "a source of disappointment to my colleagues in government and to me."

"In a democracy, the will of the people as expressed at the ballot box is sovereign. The government accepts and respects the verdict of the Irish people."

The treaty was an effort to resurrect EU reforms that were torpedoed by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

This time all countries but Ireland avoided a referendum. The "No" vote means a country with fewer than 1 percent of the EU's 490 million population could doom a treaty painstakingly negotiated by all 27 member states.

Yeah, you stupid green loving, shamrock wearing, Guinness swilling losers. You and all your high falutin democracy and will of the people, why don't you just do what your betters¹ tell you to do. Oh, changing the definition of sovereignty by extra constitutional means isn't good enough for you! You want to have a referendum. Stupid wankers. How dare you not vote for something that none of the other citizens of the EU were allowed to vote for either. I know that doesn't make any sense, but I work for Reuters and am above your pay grade by far, you Jameson's guzzling, Irish speaking, boxty eating leprechauns!

1. "Betters" in this case means the politicians (and not the voters) of other nations.

Media | Rich Horton Friday, 13 June , 2008

By feeblemind, Friday, 13 June , 2008 @ 4:45 pm

God bless the Irish! Meanwhile, I am wondering why the EU hasn’t dropped the unanimity requirement for the passage of the constitution/treaty? Perhaps that will be the next tactic? Surely they will figure out a way to bend and twist the rules so as to finally get their way.
By Mwalimu Daudi, Friday, 13 June , 2008 @ 8:51 pm

I am surprised that Reuters did nor refer to the Irish as "embittered G*d-and-gun-clinging typical white people".
By kidrob, Saturday, 14 June , 2008 @ 5:38 am

nice
By martian, Saturday, 14 June , 2008 @ 12:38 pm

"boxty eating"? What the heck is boxty?
By Rich Horton, Saturday, 14 June , 2008 @ 4:38 pm

From the Wiki:
Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake. The dish is mostly associated with the north midlands, north Connacht and southern Ulster, in particular the counties of Sligo,Mayo, Leitrim and Cavan. There are many different recipes but all contain finely grated, raw potatoes and all are served fried.
You can get your daily boxty qutient at your nearest Fado’s.
By Rich Horton, Saturday, 14 June , 2008 @ 4:40 pm

From the wiki:
Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake. The dish is mostly associated with the north midlands, north Connacht and southern Ulster, in particular the counties of Sligo,Mayo, Leitrim and Cavan. There are many different recipes but all contain finely grated, raw potatoes and all are served fried.
You can get your daily boxty quotient at your nearest Fado’s.
By martian, Sunday, 15 June , 2008 @ 12:32 pm

I learn something new every day. Thanks, Rich. The boxty actually sounds good.
By martian, Sunday, 15 June , 2008 @ 12:34 pm

Those darn Irishmen! They just don’t know what’s good for them! I guess they just don’t get the nuances that the rest of the Europeans see. /sarcasm off