absolutely still while the world passes them by—tran, Irag, Nicaragua, El Salvador—and they get paid for it, just like the Mime. The Democrats are like the Pacer, walking around in circles while the world passes them by—lIsrael, Libya, Cuba, Honduras—and they don’ tget paid for it, just like the Pacer. But recently the Pacer did something that hurled such a comparison right into the metaphor graveyard, along with “That' s like bringing coals to Newcastle” (for Newcastle finally ad run out of coal) and “Good as gold” (since the government now prints money without the benefit of the gold standard). The Pacer had put a cardboard box down on the ground and started walking around it. And now people began giving him money. By the mere presence of that cardboard box, the Pacer had transformed his personal perversion into a marketable talent. Just like so many of us. And | could no longer feel superior to him. He was not just some nut walking in circles. Now he was earning a living. | still “do” the Pacer in my act, but with increased respect. “His job is no less dignified than anything we do,” | tell the audience. “He works hard all day, and then, just like you and me, he goes home and unwinds.” And | proceed to walk around and around in a circle onstage, only now in a clockwise direction. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015188