President Hu. General Hu. Great Leader Hu...

Greetings, loyal minions. Your Maximum Leader likes to keep close tabs on his rivals for power around the world. Well, it seems as though Hu Jintao has set himself up as ruler of China. At least the AP is reporting as much.

This is an interesting development. Your Maximum Leader wasn't sure that former-president Jiang was going to hand over control of the army for a while. But it seems as though he has. (Happy retirement Zemmie! You murderous commie bastard!)

So now President Hu will have to fight corruption, liberalize the strained relationship with the "autonomous region" of Hong Kong, and introduce "reform." Strange... Your Maximum Leader thought that was what President Jiang was going to do while he was in charge.

Your Maximum Leader wonders to what extent corruption can really be fought in China. Not meaning to indulge too much in sterotyping, but it seems as though corruption is widespread in Asia in general. And communism isn't the cause. Corruption seems just as widespread (if sometimes less reported upon) in Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand. It seems to be a cultural problem. Is there some hidden element in Asia's shared Confucian/Taoist/Buddhist heritage that promotes corruption? Your Maximum Leader will ponder that for later.

Regardless. Your Maximum Leader hopes (but doesn't expect) President Hu will act in a "softened and pragmatic" way towards political dissent and dissenters, Tibet, and a more open political system.

Carry on.