The Rev Ian Paisley is a man to change with the times. Over 30 years ago, it was the alleged colour of the Pope's socks which provided the content of his insults. Yesterday it was the shape of Brian Cowen's lips.
However, just as the Pope (it was Paul Vl) failed to respond to Dr Paisley's "old red socks" taunt, the Minister for Foreign Affairs yesterday declined to respond to Dr Paisley's remarks about him. "I do think we have gone past the failed politics of insult," he said.
Maybe he should listen again. "I was enraged when I saw that strange character from Dublin coming again to see us", Dr Paisley said yesterday of Mr Cowen.
Speaking at the launch of the DUP election campaign in Belfast, he said: "Somebody told me the other day that the reason his lips were so thick was that when his mother was bringing him up, he was a very disobedient boy. So she used to put glue on his lips and put him to the floor and keep him there, and that has been recorded in his physical make-up.
"What right has a Foreign Minister from Dublin to have a say in our affairs, our internal affairs? None whatsoever. Yes, away with him. If he wants to use his lips to better effect, he should do it somewhere else and do it with people of similar physical looks."
Asked about Dr Paisley's remarks, Mr Cowen deflected several invitations to respond directly, choosing instead to talk about the need for political stability and for the elections to go ahead.
Asked again, he said: "Those comments have been made, and I'm quite prepared to allow the discernment and judgment of the Irish people to decide their merits or otherwise."
The closest Mr Cowen got to responding was in his speech launching the book The Tallyman's Guide to the Northern Ireland Elections. "I welcome the fact that political contests are not beauty contests and it's great to be successful in that respect," he said.
Asked if this had been a reply to Dr Paisley, he said: "No. It was an attempt at humour."