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"They didn't vote for us, Get them back."
Ireland: Dustin says 'No' to EU treaty
Dustin the Turkey who represented Ireland at the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade, crashed out of this year's Eurovision Song Contest at the semi-final stage. Now he appears on posters with the slogan: "They didn't vote for us. Get them back. Vote 'No' to Lisbon."
The glove puppet's song Irelande Douze Pointe received too few points from Europeans in the Belgrade contest. 'No' campaigners say that result last month should be avenged by rejection of the EU's Lisbon Treaty.
Ireland is the only member state to hold a referendum on the treaty and the country has seen a frenzied poster campaign from both sides.
The turkey joins the already widespread 'No' posters that feature three monkeys with the slogan: "The new EU won't see you, won't hear you, won't speak for you."
Dustin's name has surfaced a number of times in the campaign, with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, who is also advocating a 'No' vote, suggesting that the turkey could have done a better job representing Ireland's national interests in negotiations over the treaty.
Ireland's Prime Minister Brian Cowen has accused groups opposed to the treaty of spreading misinformation. The two sides are locked in a tight contest, with many voters still undecided on the crucial vote.
- Watch Ireland's Eurovision 2008 performance here from an Irish television perspective:
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oh - and yes - WELL DONE IRELAND!!
Good on you for voting down this outrageous Treaty. The EU stinks - it is the least democratic thing I've ever known.
The French and Dutch say no - so what? We just change the name, change a few words (but not many) and rail road it through!
Oh - the Irish said no now? Hmmmm.... well, despite the treaty stating that ALL member countries MUST ratify the treaty for it to proceed - well, we'll just ignore that and press on anyway!!
Disgusting.
The EU are annoying the public more and more. It's a very dangerous game - history, even recent history, has shown what happens over time when people are forced into alliances/countries that they don't want.
Brown will lose the next UK election if he doesn't change stop this treaty. I'm a Labour member and will vote Tory!!
@ Michael Gregory
I agree you vote in a government to run the country and "pass laws"....
But - the problem I have with this is that in the last election we (UK) voted for the Government based on their MANIFESTO. That is how we choose for which party to vote. In their last Manifesto, the UK government PROMISED a referendum on the EU constitution. Promised. After the French & Dutch votes, the EU simply renamed the constitution as the Lisbon Treaty. It is in fact 95% the same document with the same wording!!!
The EU and other Governments (e.g. France, Germany etc..) have even said so themselves - the UK government are trying to pull a fast one. As the Treaty is 95% the same as the Constitution with only minor cosmetic changes, the UK Government should stick to their promise of a referendum - as per the manifesto on which they were elected.
yeah i agree Tim,
but it just seems ungrateful to me. Everything is wonderful when theyre pulling in the money and as soon as its their turn to help the poorer member states they turn away and start mumbling big words like 'protecting our sovereignty' and all that - when it obviously is about money, because the Lisbon Treaty actually protects that sovereignty better than the current legislation!
Sorry - I have just always been very pro-European so it pains me to see my other home country (I'm half irish) also vote against... ah well, cant change it now..
Finn,
I think the Irish have been smarter than you realise. Yes they have done very well from the EU, but now that they are not financially gaining, they do not want anything to do with it. I have heard that train of thought in Spain as well ie as soon as they became a net contributor, there were some people saying that there was no longer any point in staying a member any more.
Why, oh why didnt they understand the Lisbon Treaty actually makes the EU LESS bureaucratic and improved the democracy??
Honestly, no country profited as much as Ireland did from the EU. I have literally seen the country transform from second/third world to one of the richest in Europe. I thought the no-vote was a bit sad and misplaced. I could understand the reasons behind the Dutch no, even though I didnt agree with them, but from Ireland I would have expected better.
How sereusly they (Irland TV) made their ESC entry this year, as much sereusly they got the results... Bad bad "song", my Good who is actualy a performer (does IT presents a ordinary Irish person - turkey the most stupid bird on earth, I am a vereinarian and I could bet on it), stage performance a mix of Brasil carneval and a circus act... Come on... Yes wote No and listen to A bird/doll TURKY... thet will show how inteligent "you" are...
'now... sone 30 years ago in exYU there vas a bear doll called Medo with a little girl Slavica who were childrens TV friends, but they were nice, friendship, ... and it was for the children and 30 (or more) years ago... it shows who were the first EU, or as should 75 cent says ... I was the first internet in the world...
I regard Irish "NO" as rather selfish! Isn't Ireland probably one of the countries that have profited most from their membership in EU?
i LOVE justin.. hes cool.
Eurovision was the only way that this ridiculous show could get some attention, they came up with crazy idea named as 12 points to Ireland with puppet image that they thought they could convince Europe easily which stayed in semifinal and then kicked out for good.
Some people are not creative but fool about by looking for an easy game, Eurovision Song Contest is not an easy game.
People like Dustin should stop being too smart and watch and learn something. Seriously, these foolish people are getting on my nerves.
That bleedin turkey. Drumsticks and chicken wings all round.
With you all the way Tim H - I vote in a government to pass laws on my behalf. Thats how democracy is supposed to work. This Treaty should carry on being ratified by all the other countries.
hehe the eurovision song contest is more democratic than the EU!!! 
I agree Tim, it is not really an ESC related subject. However, anything that can result in ruducing the power of the EU is a good thing. The EU should have remained as an economic community, rather than meddling with anything else, as it has become.
Whilst I agree with you about the escence of democracy whereby elected representatives make decisions for their electorate, something as fundamental as this is should be decided directly by each countries electorate.
How interesting the contast is here, where the ESC has phone voting, and the EU (except for Ireland of course) has decision making made by individual government. Entirely different subject of course :-)
haha I would love to see Omid Djalili aswell!!
It would be funny with Omid Djalili for the UK next year.
I don't feel that just because half of one country that accounts for 0.8% of the EU has voted against it, the treaty should be chucked away. Yes the Irish may have voted against, but democracy has also happened in the 18 countries that have ratified it already - governments are elected to make these decisions for us after weighing the evidence and debating (that is democracy) and the EU badly needs reform so it can function better. The ratification process should continue for the time being and only when everyone has made a decision, should a final decision be made on what to do with the treaty. It's already a majority in favour!
I know this isn't ESC related really, but others have added their thoughts so I thought i would add mine.
Thank you Ireland for giving the only truely democratic decision on the European Union. I am not sure which is more undemocratic, the EU or the EBU?
Thank you to Ireland ...
For making everyone feel clever!
Thank you to Ireland for saying No to the treaty - which after all is the Constitution in all but name (being 90% indectical).
who cares about the Irish anyway? their glorious era in the eurovision is over, apparently with no return
Thanks Milan!
@Jonny K
I second that, too.
Thanks Keith
@Jonny K: Yup, I second that.
@ Jonny K [46883]
I think most are laughing t the UK , Poland and Germany !
I'm also pretty su there'snothing to so much funny about for Th Irish Minister of Culture either...
Stockholm Calling:
Thanks!
BURR:
And the whole of esctoday is laughing at you
Andy Abraham is a conceated no body - weather he can sing or not is irrelevant - he is a C class artist - he will have faded away in a couple of years (thank god) and good riddance - the song was bland and even Dustin looks better than he does!
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