As Jay Carney, Obama’s press secretary, was taking questions from correspondents in the White House briefing room a flash of light streaked across the skies above and came to rest beside him.

Was it a drone from Afghanistan gone feral or Obama going into orbit after a discussion with the Republicans about raising the debt ceiling? No it was Palinpower.

‘Hi Jay’ said Palinpower ‘I’m taking over so I suggest you go and stand over there. As I shall become the president in a year or so I thought I should drop in for a bit of practise answering questions from the press. Ok who’s going to ask the first question?’

‘You don’t seriously think you’ve got a chance of becoming president do you?’ asked a leading hack

‘Of course’ said Palinpower ‘I’ve got no competition. I’m sexier than Bachmann, I can put two and two together faster than Romney and I’ve already broken through the glass ceiling so the debt ceiling would be a doddle’

‘What is your foreign affairs policy?’ asked a really slack hack

‘I think the real problem is overseas’ said Palinpower ‘Foreign countries know even less about the US than I know about them. So I’m proposing to give the head of state in every foreign country a free subscription to Fox News’

‘What is your policy to protect the US from the effects of global warming?’ asked a green hack

‘I have a plan’ said Palinpower ‘to convert the whole of the US into becoming exactly like Alaska. Every neighbourhood will be given a snowmaking machine, caribou shooting will be permitted in all cities and every household will receive an instruction booklet detailing procedures for building an igloo’

‘Perhaps I should take over again’ said an agitated Jay

‘Relax Jay’ said Palinpower ‘if you behave yourself I might consider reappointing you when I take office’

‘How would you solve the debt crisis?’ asked a really tacky hack

‘First of all’ said Palinpower ‘I’d stop all government spending except the cost of keeping the White House open. Obama’s such a spendaholic that he almost bought his senate seat back off Blago’

‘What is your vision for the future of the US economy?’ asked a hack called Mac

‘I’m yet to decide between a public piggybank policy’ said Palinpower ‘and following the teachings of Arnie the truly great economist who transformed California into the Greece of the Pacific. Any other questions?’

‘No’ said Jay ‘just a request. Shove off because if I don’t persuade this crowd to demand the debt ceiling is lifted I won’t get paid after the 2nd August’

With that Palinpower was gone in a flash leaving Jay to ponder the problems a White House press secretary would face explaining that the UFO activity around the White House was actually the president.