It couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch.

The following is the conclusion in the Leading Article in today's Wall Street Journal, linked here:

With all the effort put into avoiding referendums, it's hard to escape the conclusion that EU politicians are trying to pull a fast one on their voters. On the one hand, they're selling Lisbon as a grand reform treaty that propels Europe out of the malaise that followed the French and Dutch no votes. On the other, they say the treaty is a small tightening-up exercise that doesn't require a return to the ballot box. Which is it?

EU partisans find it hard to make a persuasive case for the treaty, except to trot out the tired argument that "good Europeans" would support whatever EU leaders think up. To which an antitreaty jingle making the rounds in Ireland offers a proper response:

You're not saying no to Europe when you vote this treaty down.

You're saying yes to democracy and the right to stand your ground.

Should Lisbon be rejected in Ireland or Poland, EU leaders and Brussels insiders will proclaim yet another crisis for Europe. It couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch. (blog editor's highlight)