Getting more difficult to figure out who is really running the country

A LONG time ago, a senior Irish politician went to see President Reagan in the White House. It was something of a breakthrough at the time in Irish-American relations which, up to then, had played second fiddle to Anglo-American relations.

The Irish politician, determined to make the most of his time with the President, gave him a quick, intense dissertation on the current state of play.

Imagine his surprise when, by way of answer, the President produced some six-inch by four-inch cards from his pocket, and read the first one aloud (it contained only some very bland pleasantries). When he was finished he looked expectantly at his Irish visitor, who realised that he was now supposed to talk again. This continued until the President had read all of the cards aloud, one by one. When the last one was finished he stood up and offered a hand-shake.