Liveinjapan  +  610532 Sat, 13 Dec 08 04:30 AM The Republicans refused to back the bail-out after the UAW union refused to cut wages next year to bring them into line with their Japanese counterparts. UAW's current contract with the car makers expires in 2011. "We were about three words away from a deal," said Republican Senator Bob Corker. "We solved everything substantively and about three words keep us from reaching a conclusion." "We were about three words away from a deal" means "we were very close to a deal", right? Thanks. Liveinjapan Joined on Sun, Feb 4 2007 Osaka, Japan Senior Member 2,280 Please feel free to correct any words I wrote.LiJ Asia

	Mister Micawber  +  610537 Sat, 13 Dec 08 04:33 AM . Yes, that's right. . Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,842 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

	Avangi  +  610557 Sat, 13 Dec 08 07:03 AM Sometimes politicians, like other salesmen, put a spin on their words, allowing the listener to hear what he wants to hear. Perhaps the three words were "no" instead of "yes,"  "billion" instead of "million,"   "five" years instead of "two" years.  How close would that be to a deal? Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,211 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

	Liveinjapan  +  610866 Sun, 14 Dec 08 11:46 AM A ha! 'Three words' might make listeners think there were very close to a deal, but it was true that they actually said 'no'. Thanks, Avangi. Liveinjapan