To: ms.smartest.person who wrote (326 ) 3/20/2000 12:36:00 AM From: ms.smartest.person Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 615
O.T./ We need to <ggg> -- Chen's Best Friend Beijing could be on a winner By ADI IGNATIUS March 20, 2000 Web posted at 11 a.m. Hong Kong time, 10 p.m. EST China tried to scare Taiwan's electorate into voting against Chen Shui-bian. As predicted in this column last week, the effort was doomed to backfire. Sure enough, in a dramatic victory Saturday, Chen won the presidency. A similar thing happened in 1996, of course, when the missiles Beijing launched over the Taiwan Strait to disrupt the presidential election helped deliver a resounding victory for Lee Teng-hui. Anyone detect a pattern? If China's officials do, and if they're feeling entrepreneurial, they might just be able to turn this into a business. So, let's jump forward to September 2000, two months before the U.S. presidential election. Opinion polls show George W. Bush is way behind Al Gore...Bush: How'm I gonna win this thing? Adviser: We can still get you the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, Moms for Execution and most of the Bob Jones Choir. Bush: That won't do it. Adviser: Well, for a fee, Beijing's willing to help. Bush: How they gonna do that? Gore's helpin' 'em get that dang trade deal. Adviser: The People's Daily's got a plan. Bush: Yeah? What is it? Adviser: Depends how much you're willing to pay. For $1 million, the paper will call you the Sinner of the Month. For $2 million, the Sinner of the Past Year and a Half or So. And for $5 million, it will brand you the Sinner of All Time. Bush: Sooo-eeee! What's that last one worth? Adviser: Probably five or six ticks in the polls. Bush: That ain't chicken feed. What else they got up their sleeves? Adviser: Well, this would probably cost you big-time, but they're willing to put that Premier Rongji guy on TV wagging his finger warning that a Bush victory could unleash a Chinese invasion. Bush: Of the U.S.? Adviser: Of Puerto Rico. They seem to like islands. But that's a start. Bush: So what do I do while all this is going on? Adviser: Just keep cool while the dragon spews its fire. Bush: Sounds like fun, boys. I'm startin' to feel presidential.cnn.com