As Hosni Mubarak was working at his desk in the presidential palace a flash of light streaked across the skies above and came to rest beside him.

Was it a Hamas rocket trying to find Israel or Ahmadinejad taking leave of his senses. No it was Palinpower.

‘Hi Hosni’ said Palinpower ‘I’m here to save your ass from the Gyppos gone troppo’

‘You’re not Jihad Jane are you?’ asked a startled Hosni

‘No way’ said Palinpower ‘I am the symbol of honor, democracy and small government who has come to take you away to a better place’

‘I’m not going anywhere’ said Hosni ‘I’m the President of Egypt’

‘Look Hosni’ said Palinpower ‘I’m sorry to be the one telling you this but you’re stuffed’

‘If you think I’m a turkey’ asked Hosni ‘why are you here?’

‘Because you have been a loyal friend of the US for over thirty years’ said Palinpower ‘and I don’t want to see the daddy of the nation suddenly becoming a mummy’

‘Those millions in the streets’ said Hosni ‘are nothing but religious zealots’

‘Right’ said Palinpower ‘they threaten the democratic policies of political zealots like us. But the folks round here don’t seem to appreciate you anymore. There’s as much chaos in Cairo as at an Obama economic policy meeting’

‘Hold on there’ said Hosni ‘my son stands ready to lead Egypt into a new era of greatness’

‘You can’t mean’ said Palinpower ‘the tyro from Cairo. Forget it Hosni. There’s as much chance of him succeeding you as me being appointed head of an abortion clinic’

‘I’m staying put’ said Hosni ‘the only thing I can do besides dictating is running a pyramid selling scheme’

‘Not true’ said Palinpower ‘I am here to offer you a senior position in the US Tea Party. It is the ideal gig for ex-right wing dictators. You would be amongst people who believe in democracy as much as you do. And let’s face it anything’s better than ending up in a glass case at a Cairo museum where the tourists can come and peer at you for a few piastres’

‘The Tea Party’ asked Hosni ‘what the hell’s that?’

‘A US political movement’ said Palinpower ‘dedicated to small government, restoring national honor and being a pain-in-the-ass to Obama’

‘That sounds interesting’ said Hosni ‘especially as Obama’s being such a pain-in-the-ass to me’

‘Ok’ said Palinpower ‘how about flying off with me right now to take up your new position as head of the Tea Party in Alaska?’

‘No thanks’ said Hosni ‘I’m staying here to found the Tea Party in Egypt. It sounds just what the country needs’

‘Ok’ said Palinpower ‘I’ll send you a copy of our Operational Manual’

With that she was gone in a flash leaving Hosni to ponder what they put in the tea to produce a teabagger like that.