(We take you now to the Oval Office, after Hu Jintao is named chief of the Chinese Communist Party.)
G.W. Bush*:
Condi! Nice to
see you.
What's happening?
Condoleeza Rice*: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.
G.W. Bush: Great. Lay it on me.
Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
G.W. Bush: That's what I want to know.
Condi: That's what I'm telling you.
G.W. Bush: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes.
G.W. Bush: I mean the fellow's name.
Condi: Hu.
G.W. Bush: The guy in China.
Condi: Hu.
G.W. Bush: The new leader of China.
Condi: Hu.
G.W. Bush: The Chinaman!
Condi: Hu is leading China.
G.W. Bush: Now whaddya' asking me for?
Condi: I'm telling you Hu is leading China.
G.W. Bush: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?
Condi: That's the man's name.
G.W. Bush: That's who's name?
Condi: Yes.
G.W. Bush: Will you or will you not tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
G.W. Bush: Yasser? Yasser Arafat is in China? I thought he was in the Middle East.
Condi: That's correct.
G.W. Bush: Then who is in China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
G.W. Bush: Yasser is in China?
Condi: No, sir.
G.W. Bush: Then who is?
Condi: Yes, sir.
G.W. Bush: Yasser?
Condi: No, sir.
G.W. Bush: Look, Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. Get me the Secretary-General of the U.N. on the phone.
Condi: Kofi?
G.W. Bush: No, thanks.
Condi: You want Kofi?
G.W. Bush: No.
Condi: You don't want Kofi.
G.W. Bush: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.
Condi: Yes, sir.
G.W. Bush: Not Yasser! The guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi?
G.W. Bush: Milk! Will you please make the call?
Condi: And call who?
G.W. Bush: Who is the guy at the U.N.?
Condi: Hu is the guy in China.
G.W. Bush: Will you stay out of China?!
Condi: Yes, sir.
G.W. Bush: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.!
Condi: Kofi.
G.W. Bush: All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the
phone.
(Condi picks up the phone.)
Condi: Rice, here.
G.W. Bush: Rice? Good idea. And a couple of egg rolls, too. Maybe we should send some to the guy in China. And the Middle East. Can you get Chinese food in the Middle East?
- Jim Sherman, 2002. The document is public domain, courtesy the Harpsichord Listserv.