Jim, Ian and the Pope
The 12th is just getting underway. All appeared calm overnight, but, true to form, a few people have been lambasting others. Whilst our dolphin friendly MEP (see below) is concerned about "intelligent mammals" being caused needless suffering, the other unionist MEP is showing no such mercy to the intelligent mammals who used to be his party colleagues.
Instead Jim Allister used a County Antrim bonfire to launch an assault on his former leader Ian Paisley who last year talked about sharing power with "IRA/Sinn Fein" over his dead body. The independent MEP accused the Doc of being "Marty's buddy. The glee says it all; giggling constantly with IRA leader McGuinness. Shame on him!"
So far the DUP leader hasn't hit back directly. But he has taken a side swipe at the Pope saying his recent statement that the Catholic church was the only true church and others are merely religious associations is "startling." Ian regards this as the excommunication of all Christendom by the Pope, and claims that resisting the Pope's dogma is "the chief battle of the day. There is no other."
Of course the day is young and when politicians and preachers take to their platforms things may change, but for now the message to Jim seems to be 'lay off Ian, or the Pope gets it'.
UPDATE: As predicted, Dr Paisley avoided politics during his speech in Ballymoney, sticking to concerns about religion and the breakdown of marriage. No direct mention of his erstwhile MEP. It was left to another Jim, the Assembly member for South Down Jim Wells, to use his speech to raise concerns about the IRA Army Council. Most importantly, despite some isolated incidents, it's been a remarkably relaxed Twelfth of July.
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