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Things

.
While they were being coy with their Democratic counterparts,
Republican members of Congress proposed dozens of amendments
to health plan proposals.  Then, when it came time to vote,
they voted against everything.  That had been their intention, anyway.

Finally, Barack Obama convened a roomfull of legislators
and tried to pry from them some agreement about health care.
In effect, he kept asking, "What do you want?  Tell us!"

So they did.  They said they wanted to throw out everything
that had been done so far, and start over by enacting those things
both sides agreed on.  And what would that be?   Oh, things!
You know:  things.  Things like saving money by not spending
any of it on a health care overhaul.  Getting government out.

What they really mean is, "Let's do almost nothing."

"Get serious," the President said.  "What do you propose to do
about health care for the 30,000,000 who do not have it,
and how do you propose to control costs and the insurance companies?"

"Oh, you know, things!" 
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