There is a saying: “Bad luck is when poor preparation meets reality.''
Under that definition Edwin Poots is the epitome of bad luck. His putsch against Arlene Foster was a pure and simple old fashioned, ill thought out, power grab without a plan for the day after the coronation.
This mini revolution within the DUP of trying to out right the right was worthy of Monty Python’s Life of Brian and the recruitment criteria to the People’s Front of Judea when Reg said: “To join you really have to hate the Romans!”
''I do'', said Brian. ''How much?'', said Reg. ''A lot!'', said Brian. “Right, you are in!” says Reg.
Of course, delete Romans for a Northern Ireland context.
Poots also got his timing wrong and gave Sinn Féin an opportunity they could not resist - even if it meant going cap in hand to the British government to get a result.
But the blame for the most embarrassing day in the history of the DUP doesn’t lie solely at the door of Edwin Poots, it sits with those who encouraged him to go forward as leader.
After accusing Arlene Foster of ignoring her party colleagues, it turns out Poots, true to character, was equally tone deaf. His fate was sealed by walking into the assembly chamber to nominate his acolyte Paul Givan as first minister. Two thran northerners lifted too high with an ill placed sense of hubris were always destined for a crash.
The newly appointed DUP ministers needn’t get too use to their ministerial Skodas. They are now in a place somewhere between limbo and purgatory. At least two of them are assured of losing their jobs. The first minister is in office but with no real authority until the new leadership takes over.
Mervyn Storey (who apparently spurned the Poots offer of first minister) must feel blessed with the wisdom of Solomon.
Just how Poots thought he could agree a last minute deal with the slippery secretary of state Brandon Lewis and astute Sinn Féin negotiators without consulting his senior party colleagues is mind blowing.
Sinn Féin’s strident, if not humiliating, put down about the “dead hand of the DUP” was a short sighted soundbite. Mary Lou McDonald was completely over the top.
Sinn Féin have dragged its heels on their own commitments in the New Agreement New Deal document but crowing at a moment when generosity is required may come back to haunt them.
Firstly, they have no guarantee that this British government will honour their pledge on Irish language. Trustworthiness has not been a hallmark of this Tory administration.
And secondly, Sinn Féin still have to deal with the new DUP leader to get things back on an even keel within Stormont. It’s the duty of politicians to keep political temperatures low especially at this time of year when loyalism and certain elements of republicanism are like a tinderbox looking for a match.
Then there is the very real fear that the British government will act unilaterally on the NI Protocol as a sop to unionists.
This has the potential not just to create political instability but worse still - economic instability. Businesses across Northern Ireland which create jobs and opportunities have been recognising the benefits of the protocol. Foreign direct investment is buzzing with companies from overseas seeing the benefits of locating in Northern Ireland because of the unique access the protocol gives to both the GB and EU markets. Unilateral action by the British will throw all of these opportunities into chaos. Uncertainty will freeze investment plans. It could spark an EU backlash with a trade war. And the end result is we in Northern Ireland are caught in the crossfire.
An autumn election is very much a possibility and as the Sam Cooke song about civil rights says: “A Change is Gonna Come.”
Embracing change could take the pressure off whoever is the next DUP leader.
