Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick
Only one poll mattered and that was the official one, almost two years ago now.
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You know after the 2004 Presidential election, where George W Bush won (beat Kerry), the Iraqis had their national elections in 2005 (January I believe). It was their first ever "free and fair" election (post Saddam). The war had been going through some bad news cycles back home for the US and Bush so a reporter asked him "do you feel like the poll validated your policy ; do you feel vindicated?"
Bush replied and said that the only poll he cared about was the one in the fall of 04. I thought that his response was slightly crass to be honest and he could have shown some love for the millions of Iraqis who dipped their fingers into purple dye.
None the less though, his statement was accurate for his own political system ; Presidents are term tied / limited and he had won re-election. There was no more for him to win so that argument holds water.
In your case though, you keep saying that it is the one poll that mattered only it isn't just that, is it? There is still the future relationship etc (existing debt / monies owed and so on) but it is more than that. Every person used their democratic vote under our parliamentary system to vote for a member of parliament, every one of them gets a say to vote on the final deal. If they vote no and the UK does not accept the deal, is that not then the most important vote all of a sudden?
If a referendum on the final deal is agreed to, is that not the poll / vote that matters?
If a second referendum is held, is that not the vote that matters?
If the UK wishes to rejoin the EU is it not the vote to rejoin that becomes the most important?
In a binding election with a finite ending and a term limit it is one thing to gloat that you won ; in the US once the electors vote and the House of Representatives affirms that is that. Once a President is sworn in that ends that unless he leaves office (by whatever means) but either way, the term is fixed.
With the EU vote it is nothing of the sort - all of it is fluid per the discretion of UK leaders / the EU / judges on either side etc etc.
So as much as the official poll won out a couple years ago (to leave) there is nothing to stop more and more official polls, on the terms that we leave / the option to stay in / to rejoin and on and on.
Playing the "we won" card becomes rather obsolete in a scenario where there are countless options, to win back.