Is Paisley joking too much?
Northern Ireland's First Minister-in-waiting, Ian Paisely, has been cracking lots of jokes in "set-peice" photo-ops with the Deputy First Minister-in-waiting, Martin McGuinness. But do the jokes feel like embarrassing conversation fillers on a first date? That's how they sound to Danny Kennedy, the Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader, who is clearly not amused. In a statement just released, Mr Kennedy warn the DUP Leader not to think he can "joke his way into government".
So what do you think? Does Danny Kennedy have a point? Or is the Doc right to believe that laughter is the best medicine?
Statement by Danny Kennedy
"There has been a series of set piece meetings between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness where some flat jokes and surreal lines about fadge and other innocuous generalities have been shared. This 'joke a day' from Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness is a rather cynical and frankly demeaning double-act. The DUP Leader and First Minister in waiting needn't think he can joke his way into government.
After all the broken promises and venomous bile that was directed at others for years from him about terrorists in government, nobody is fooled by this cod and it is becoming apparent that a growing number of unionists are aghast at recent events and the lightning speed of the turnaround from Ian Paisley. The jokes feel like embarrassing conversation fillers on a first date. People can do without these saccharine pleasantries. They are fooling no one".
Comments
Danny Kennedy needs to find a sense of humour, or maybe borrow one from someone else if his own has been misplaced. It must be somewhat uncomfortable for both McGuinness and Paisley; laughter lubricates the whole process for them I'm sure. Given the historic nature of what is occurring and how improbable such events would have seemed such a short time ago, I find it just a little ridiculous that anyone should be demanding it be done without breaking a smile.
It's Northern Irish politics...if you don't laugh you'd cry.
SG
I regard awkward jokes as infinitely preferable to shootings.