Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A Side-Step Into Politics...And Teeth

People who know me know that I am not a gung-ho political sort of person. I was excited about Obama...it was so nice to have a candidate (and then a President) who could string words together in an intelligent fashion...who didn't talk like a brain-damaged five-year old...someone who seemed rational and smart and willing to listen. I still like Obama (and love Michelle and the girls), and would support him again in 2012, should he decide to run...but I'm also a little disappointed in him and in the Democrats altogether. They've done a lot but I think they could have done more if they hadn't been so eager to try to work with the Republicans...who showed, ultimately, that they aren't interested in compromise at all and seem to have no ideas of their own. And don't get me started on the Tea Party idiots.

But there are a lot of people out there whining about taxes and the economy and the terrible, terrible debt that Obama has rung up. And in case anyone out there runs into these sorts of people and feels like engaging with them, here are some facts that surprised me:

1) Americans paid their lowest level of taxes last year since Harry Truman’s presidency (USA Today).

2) This year we created 863,000 jobs in the private sector contrasting 673,000 lost under Bush (FactCheck.org).

3)The 10 year $1.1 trillion cost of the Medicare drug program, passed by a GOP WH/Congress, by itself would add more to the deficit than the bailout, stimulus, and health care law COMBINED (CBO).

In the area of teeth...I was back to Dr. Lambrow this afternoon for impressions. (I asked if he'd do Groucho Marx and he laughed a little (like he's never heard that before!) and then turned around and wiggled his fingers cigar-style and said "Say the magic woid!" Have I mentioned that I love my dentist?) I didn't think it would be a big deal but I got two big shots of Novocaine and am home now with it beginning to wear off...things are a little achy now in the sort of way that makes me think they might be more achy later. Given all the grappling and ramming and tamping and oozing and squirting that was going on in my mouth, I am very grateful (as always) for the numbing. Back in three weeks to get the real porcelain teeth installed.

1 comment:

Katharine Weber said...

Hey there -- cannot find a better way to communicate as my email address for you has bounced -- I will be in Baltimore end of next week for some campus visit events at College of Notre Dame, and was hoping to see if you wanted to have dinner thurs pm by any chance?
(I will be staying at that old familiar place.)

Do please email me!