Sunday, March 25, 2007
Forget Paisley and move on with Plan B
We all know there is a movie about the life of Ian Paisley currently in the works but I don't think this was in the script, do you?It seems the Doc is facing quite a backlash from his party colleagues who apparently aren't as spineless as we previously thought. Unhappy with the prospect of devolution being restored to the North plus Sinn Féin in government, the DUP party executive meeting on Thursday was the scene of furious objections from angry DUP members.
According to The Guardian, Paisley was said to be shocked at the day's events and the strength of the executive reaction. Said one source:
"It went ten times worse than we expected, and he is now looking for a big concession we do not have."
That concession would be a six-week delay on the deadline that the two governments originally set - for this Monday. It seems Paisley and his party are willing to enter government with Sinn Féin in May but not now in March. Why? Beats me. I don't get this at all.
Time to adopt this stance
Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams has accused the DUP of frustrating the will of the electorate and has urged the British government to fulfil its promise of dissolving the Assembly and initiating Plan B, which involves joint stewardship of NI and all-Ireland partnership arrangements.
The scale of the DUP's problem is not to be underestimated. The Guardian reports a worrying 45% of the party are said to be opposed to power sharing at this stage.
Interestingly, sources have spoken of increasing worries that Paisley is losing his grip on the executive as a succession battle starts between Peter Robinson and the more hardline Nigel Dodds. Meanwhile figures such as South Antrim MP Willy McCrea and MEP Jim Allister appear to be opposed to any deal with Republicans. Who would have thought that the cult-like status of the Reverend would be challenged in this fashion?
I guess Paisley severely misjudged the resentment that was swirling amongst the rank-and-file of the DUP. Do these maniacal clowns not realise that the people of NI want devolution restored? Who the hell do they think they are? If they were so opposed to devolution they should have ran on an anti-devolution ticket like the rest of the rejectionist dinosaurs.
Regardless of Paisley's problems I hope the British government remain resolute and pull the trigger on Plan B. This is the only way real progress can be made. It's ridiculous to continue pussyfooting around a party whose lunatics are mounting a takeover of the asylum.
I have a horrible feeling however that the DUP will once again get their way and that another crazy chapter will sadly begin in the north of Ireland. It's quite pathetic, don't you think?
I'm wondering if the Paisley film will actually be a comedy because what Ian and the boys are getting up to now is not compelling drama, rather it's full blown farce. Maybe his new film should be called "Carry On stalling"?
Regardless, it's now time for the Irish and British governments to carry on making politics work in the North and to strengthen the peace.
"Not yet" has become the new "never, never, never." I'm tired of this BS.
# posted by United Irelander @ 3:34 AM 
© 2008 United Irelander.
