The Queen's Riddle

[justashooter 430]

Barack Obama meets with the Queen of England. He asks her, "Your Majesty, how do you run such an efficient government? Are there any tips you can give to me?"

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

Obama frowns "But how do I know the people around me are really intelligent?"

The Queen takes a sip of tea. "Oh, that's simple. You just ask them to answer an intelligent riddle."

The Queen pushes a button on her intercom. "Please send Tony Blair in here, would you?"

Tony Blair walks into the room and bows. "Yes, my Queen?" The Queen smiles.

"Answer me this, please, Tony. Your mother and father have a child. It is not your brother and it is not your sister. Who is it?"

Pausing for a moment, Tony Blair answers, "That would be me, Your Majesty."

"Yes! Very good," says the Queen.

Obama goes back home to ask Joe Biden, the same question. "Hey Joe. Answer this for me. Your mother and your father have a child. It's not your brother and it's not your sister. Who is it?"

"I'm not quite sure," says Biden. "Let me get back to you on that one." He goes to some of his advisors and asks every one, but none can give him an answer.

Finally, he ends up in the men's room and recognizes Colin Powell's shoes in the next stall.

Biden asks Powell, "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 from inside the stall, "That's easy. It's me!"

Biden smiles, and says, "Hey, Thanks!" Then, he goes back to speak with the President.

"Say, I did some research and I have the answer to that question you asked. It's Colin Powell."

Obama, realizing that it is too late to take the Queen's advice, gets up, stomps over to Biden, and angrily yells into his face, "No, you idiot! It's Tony Blair!"

[Peikko 1,575]

Illustrating how little you know about the British parliamentary system.

[Pooky 3,844]

Illustrating how little you know about the British parliamentary system.

Too right. He didn't Alistair Campbell or Peter Mandelson once.

And since Gordon Brown is the current FW PM in 10 Downing Street, it's even less funny now than it was then

[Peikko 1,575]

Too right. He didn't Alistair Campbell or Peter Mandelson once.

And since Gordon Brown is the current FW PM in 10 Downing Street, it's even less funny now than it was then

Off with his head!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

First time I heard this it was George W. Bush meeting the Queen and the other two were Powell and Rove. Tony Blair was Prime Minister then!

Edited February 6, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Pooky 3,844]

First time I heard this it was George W. Bush meeting the Queen and the other two were Powell and Rove. Tony Blair was Prime Minister then!

It gave Prime Minister Soundbite too much credit then, too.

[Peikko 1,575]

It gave Prime Minister Soundbite too much credit then, too.

Bleugh Blair. Did you hear what he said in the Chilcott inquiry? Smarmy git!

It also factually misplaces the Queen's role

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Does anyone else hear crickets?

[Pooky 3,844]

Bleugh Blair. Did you hear what he said in the Chilcott inquiry? Smarmy git!

It also factually misplaces the Queen's role

I never liked Tony Blair. I'd have voted for John Smith and it was a tragedy for British politics when he passed away. Blair was someone you could never trust, recycling the slimy git Mandelson to positions of power as often as he could and generally being ready with a catchy turn of phrase whenever something substantive was what was required. Gordon Brown is even worse, lacking the charm and charisma that Blair had.

And the Iraq issue turned my stomach, especially after the David Kelly affair. The smell of that still lingers.

[Peikko 1,575]

Agreed. Obama reminds me of Blair

[Pooky 3,844]

Agreed. Obama reminds me of Blair

A scary comparison for certain.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Blair was just the soft version of Thatcher - without the iron hand.

[Pooky 3,844]

Blair was just the soft version of Thatcher - without the iron handbag.

You missed a bit.

[scandal 951]

Ah, for the good old days. When Prime Ministers were made of the strong stuff. Like Neville Chamberlain. Or Anthony Eden.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Blair wasn't made of "strong stuff", that was his problem. The best of his cabinet resigned over Iraq.

As to Chamberlain, his poor reputation is rather unfairly deserved imo.