Why Don't I Shut UP?

George W. Bush meets with the Queen of England. Heasks her, "Your Majesty, how do you run such anefficient government? Are there any tips you cangive to me?"

"Well," says the Queen, "the most important thingis to surround yourself with intelligent people."

Bush frowns. "But how do I know the people aroundme are really intelligent?" The Queen takes a sip of tea. "Oh, that's easy.You just ask them to answer an intelligence riddle." The Queen pushes a button on her intercom."Please send Tony Blair in here, would you?"

Tony Blair walks into the room. "Yes, my Queen?"

The Queen smiles. "Answer me this, please, Tony.Your mother and father have a child. It is not yourbrother and it is not your sister. Who is it?" Without pausing for a moment, Tony Blair answers,"That would be me."

"Yes! Very good," says the Queen.

Back at the White House, Bush asks to speak withvice president Dick Cheney. "Dick, answer this for me. Your mother and your father have a child. It's not your brother and it'snot your sister. Who is it?"

"I'm not sure," says the vice president. "Let meget back to you on that one."

Dick Cheney goes to his advisors and asks everyone, but none can give him an answer. Finally, he endsup in the men's room and recognizes ColinPowell's shoes in the next stall. Dick shouts, "Colin! Can you answer this for me?Your mother and father have a child and it's not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"

Colin Powell yells back, "That's easy. It's me!"

Dick Cheney smiles. "Thanks!"

Cheney goes back to the Oval Office and to speakwith Bush. "Say, I did some research and I have theanswer to that riddle. It's Colin Powell." Bush gets up, stomps over to Dick Cheney, andangrily yells into his face,"No, you idiot! It's Tony Blair!"

posted by Michael Witmer @ Thursday, August 12, 2004