Virtual Illusions

While visiting England, George Bush is invited to tea
with the
Queen. He asks her what her leadership philosophy is.
She says
that it is to surround herself with intelligent
people. He asks
how she knows if they’re intelligent.

“I do so by asking them the right questions,” says the
Queen.
“Allow me to demonstrate.” She phones Tony Blair and
says,
“Mr. Prime Minister, please answer this question:
“Your mother
has a child, and your father has a child, and this
child is
not your brother or sister. Who is it?”

Tony Blair responds, “It’s me, ma’am.”

“Correct. Thank you and good-bye, sir,” says the
Queen. She
hangs up and says, “Did you get that, Mr. Bush?”

“Yes ma’am. Thanks a lot. I’ll definitely be using
that!”

Upon returning to Washington, he decides he’d better
put the
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to
the test.
He summons Jesse Helms to the White House and says,
“Senator
Helms, I wonder if you’d mind answering a question for
me?”

“Why, of course, sir. What’s on your mind?”

“Uhh, your mother has a child, and your father has a
child,
and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who
is it?”

Helms hems and haws and finally asks, “Can I think
about it
and get back to you?”

Bush agrees and Helms leaves. Helms immediately calls
meeting
of other senior Republican senators, and they puzzle
over the
question for several hours, but nobody can come up
with an
answer. Finally, in desperation, Helms calls Colin
Powell at
the State Department and explains his problem.

“Now look here, son, your mother has a child, and your
father
has a child, and this child is not your brother or
your sister.
Who is it?”

Powell answers immediately, “It’s me, of course, you
idiot.”

Much relieved, Helms rushes back to the White House
and
exclaims, “I know the answer, sir! I know who it is!
It’s
Colin Powell!”

And Bush replies in disgust, “Wrong, Senator. It’s
Tony Blair.”

Government