November 12th, 2011 – Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
Today’s Speakers
Host: Barak H. Obama, President of the United States
Introduction: Timothy Geithner, United States Secretary of the Treasury
Hu Jintiao, President of the People’s Republic of China
Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia
Kim Hwang-sik, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea
Tony Tan Keng Yam, President of the Republic of Singapore
APEC is an annual economic forum attended by the leaders of 21 Pacific Rim nations. This year APEC included it’s first ever Finance Ministers meeting as part of the forum. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, was brought along to represent America in the meeting. This being Geithner’s first time at APEC, President Obama briefed him about what to expect.
Obama: “I know you don’t usually work much with foreign heads of state, so I’ll tell you everyone’s names beforehand. Try to remember everyone. There are 20 other world leaders here, and we don’t want to embarrass any of them.”
Geithner: “Got it, boss. Who’s up first?”
Obama: “President Hu.”
Geithner: “That’s what I want to know. President who?”
Obama: “Exactly.”
Geithner: “Which president is up first?”
Obama: “President Hu.”
Geithner: “I’m asking you. Who is speaking first?”
Obama: “Yeah. You got it.”
Geithner: “Who is the guy speaking first?”
Obama: “He sure is. Hu is the guy we owe the most money to.”
Geithner: “Who’s that?”
Obama: “Yup. He’s the guy. He owns so much of our national debt, it’s ridiculous. So you got this now, right? The first guy speaking will be…?”
Geithner: “I dunno!”
Obama: “Yudhoyono’s up second.”
Geithner: “Well if you don’t know, how am I supposed to know? Okay…let’s try this again. Who is the first person speaking?”
Obama: “That’s right. You’ve got the first one down.”
Geithner: “I don’t even know what I’m talking about! Well…let’s try third. Who’s up third?”
Obama: “Hu is up first.”
Geithner: “I’m not talking about first! I’m talking about third! Who is up third?”
Obama: “Why do you insist on putting Hu third?”
Geithner: “Ugh…this is making me sick…”
Obama: “That’s right. Hwang-sik is up after Yodhoyono.”
Geithner: “Err…! Who’s up first, I don’t know’s up second, I’m sick is third, and as for the rest, I don’t even give a dang!”
Obama: “What?”
Geithner: “I said I don’t give a dang!”
Obama: “Oh. President Yam’s last.”
Musings of an Earth Alien 