West Wing Week: May 20 - May 26, 2011

West Wing Week "OCONUS III: A Homecoming of Sorts"

This week, President Obama embarked on a six-day trip to Europe, visiting Ireland, the United Kingdom, France and Poland to engage our allies in the region on a host of issues. While overseas, the President pledged support for those back home affected by devastating tornadoes in Missouri and across the Midwest. Before leaving, the President met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and went to the CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA. That's May 20th to the 26th, or "OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States) III: A Homecoming of Sorts.

Ireland Votes NO to Lisbon Treaty!

Irish voters reject EU treaty Ireland today decisively rejected the Lisbon treaty on European Union reform, plunging the project into chaos. The European commission president, José Manuel Barroso, said he believed the treaty was still "alive", but was immediately contradicted by Luxembourg's prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker – the longest serving leader in the EU - who said the Irish vote meant it could not enter into force in January 2009 as planned (link via guardian.co.uk) Eighteen countries have already ratified the Lisbon Treaty and it was due to come into force on January 1 if all nations agreed. Ireland was the only country to hold a referendum on the issue. I don't profess to understand all the implications of the proposed treaty but so far I haven't been convinced by any of the politicians that it would be a good thing, so I'm grateful to Ireland for their decision to reject the Lisbon Treaty of the European Union. Thank you Ireland! The EU's Lisbon Treaty explained in simple terms by The Telegraph What will the EU look like if Lisbon is passed? Lisbon Treaty explained - YouTube video produced by Galway for a Democratic Europe - Vote No Edited to add a link to an excellent post to explain the referendum result today and the repercussions: Hurrah for the Irish! on the BillCarmichael blog. (thanks for the link, Flighty!)