When is the last time you noticed a congressional investigation meting out serious punishment for a high level government official? Do you think Karl Rove will go to the slammer for revealing a spook? Is there a smoking gun? Did he leave his DNA on Robert Novak?
If you haven’t already heard it, there’s a joke making the rounds about George W. Bush’s visit with the Queen of England that seems appropriate. It goes like this:
BUSH: Your majesty, for some time you’ve been the figurative head of a great nation. Surely, there’s some advice you can give me.
QUEEN: Well George, the most important thing is to surround yourself with truly intelligent people.
BUSH: How can I tell if they’re intelligent?
QUEEN: Give them a test. Look, I’ll show you. (pushes intercom) Send in Tony Blair.
BLAIR: You rang your majesty?
QUEEN: Tony, if your parents had a child and it’s not your brother or your sister, who is it?
BLAIR: Why it’s me, of course.
QUEEN: Do you see George?
(Bush thanks the Queen and returns to
BUSH: Dick, I’ve got a question for you. If your mother and father have a child and it’s not your brother or your sister, who is it?
CHENEY: Hmmmm. I’ll have to get back to you on that.
(Cheney asks many in his staff and even thinks of appointing a committee. But finally, in the men’s room he notices Colin Powell’s shoes under a door. Taking the stall next to him Cheney says:)
CHENEY: Colin, I’ve got a riddle for you. If your parents have a child and it’s not your brother or your sister, who is it?
POWELL: That’s easy. It’s me.
(Cheney rushes back to the Oval Office)
CHENEY: Mr. President, I have the answer.
BUSH: OK, who is it?
CHENEY: It’s Colin Powell.
BUSH: Wrong answer. It’s Tony Blair.
This would truly be funny if it wasn’t so close to reality.