No Hint Of Irony

Hypocrisy and outright lies from our politicians are no longer shocking - indeed they are parr for the course these days. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't mock it when we see it.

The pro-Lisbon Irish Times has provided an excellent example of the state of the debate in Ireland. Firstly Brian Cowen says this:

Meanwhile, Mr Cowen yesterday argued that the No side’s efforts to create fear in the public mind had to be stopped.

He said the Yes campaign had to send out a positive message

And then swiftly follows it with this:

“If we stand against the consensus that has emerged in the European Union about the Lisbon Treaty going ahead, that is not going to be good for the country,” he told TV3.

“Two out of three jobs in Ireland are with companies with orders in European markets. People see there are consequences if we vote No. What signals do we send, and why do we put ourselves at risk?”

And this:

“It’s not that we will leave the union immediately. It’s not that there will be an overnight Armageddon.

So the positive, anti-fear campaign from the YES camp is that it is going to be bad for the country, 2/3 of Irish jobs will be at risk and Armageddon will strike, albeit not in the first 24 hours.