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 can answer 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 a 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 lookee 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 dumb
cracker."
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, it's Tony Blair."