Tuesday, May 01, 2007

No handshake?

So Ian Paisley won't be shaking Martin McGuinness' hand as they swear the joint oath on 8th May. Given that he's undoubtedly already done so several times in the negotiations and joint meetings that led up to this power-sharing deal you might say, why?

Because Paisley's a master strategist, that's why. Imagine the scene. Paisley and McGuinness standing in front of Madam Speaker at the focal point of the Assembly chamber like in a wedding. Vows said, then a handshake. If it's a handshake without smiles, it'll appear awkward, forced and doomed to failure like when Trimble and Hume posed in Oslo looking like statues forced to be there. But if there are smiles, it'll look like a sell-out, with Paisley risking even more marginalisation from his right-wingers.

No. The handshake, if Paisley has his way, will take the press by surprise. It'll be at some semi-mundane gathering in the summer - the opening of a call centre perhaps.

Unless, of course, Máirtin decides to put the old man on the spot by standing square-on to him, oaths still echoing round the chamber, and offering his hand with a modest smile and the words, loud enough to be picked up by the mikes, "Looking forward to working together". Sinn Féin are nothing if not brilliant tacticians. What choice would Paisley have then? Just remember - you heard it here first.

13 Comments:

At 1:19 p.m., Blogger Ulster Protestant said...

As if the lack of a handshake masks the betrayal.

 
At 12:08 a.m., Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hanson

Would it be better to betray democratic principles in your view?

>>Given that he's undoubtedly already done so several times in the negotiations and joint meetings that led up to this power-sharing deal<<

I am surprised at this, what makes you so sure BU?

 
At 10:29 a.m., Blogger B.U. said...

Tony - I'm only guessing of course, but look at this (hat-tip to United Irelander) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00162/paisley385_162783h.jpg

 
At 1:42 p.m., Anonymous Anonymous said...

Aye I saw it. Do you really think that Paisley has commited political suicide re-your joke.

I for one think that stability will ensure that Unionist voters don't wish to go back to the dark ages advocated by the voice 4 democracy crowd.

I hope so anyway :)

 
At 2:04 p.m., Blogger B.U. said...

Re the 'Bang bang, you're politically dead' caption I submitted to UI, I don't actually think he's a political basket case - I just couldn't resist the fact that some think he is and that, thankfully, ex-terrorists now have to play with make-believe guns.

 
At 4:51 p.m., Blogger Ulster Protestant said...

Tony,
A deal that puts terrorists in government under a formula which means that they can never be removed from power IS a betrayal of democratic principles.

 
At 6:23 p.m., Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hanson

The people get who they vote for plain and simple!

Re- your repost on For God and Ulster - NOT.

Are you putting forward the case that mainstream Unionist politicians ONLY had dealings with terrorists due to furthering the peace process?

If you are then where have you been?

 
At 9:57 a.m., Blogger Ulster Protestant said...

Tony,
You cannot vote to abolish democracy. Regardless of how large the majority is it's still undemocratic.

 
At 5:33 p.m., Anonymous Anonymous said...

Seems we have differing views of democracy Hanson!

Strange how you have failed to comment on Unionist politicians. Surely they should fall into your affront on democracy. Or do they have to be green?

 
At 3:31 a.m., Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm curious, what democracy was abolished?

 
At 1:39 p.m., Anonymous Anonymous said...

Curious as to who the Unionist politicans are Tone? Care to name them with some hard evidence?

 
At 10:05 a.m., Blogger Ulster Protestant said...

"I'm curious, what democracy was abolished?"
The right to an opposition as well as a government. The right for democrats to live without being ruled by terrorists. The right for justice for the victims of violence. Etc. Etc.

 
At 4:41 a.m., Anonymous Anonymous said...

?????

 

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