Buftex

I don't know why this reminded me...remember when Vince Ferragamo got traded to the Bills, just prior to the magnificent 1985 season? He had trouble remembering the playbook, so, for the first time I recall (common now) the Bills wanted him to wear a wrist-band/playbook, to help remember the plays. He was incensed and insulted, because he was a Super Bowl QB...he did great his first game, when the team just aired it out...but after getting his ass kicked a few weeks in a row, he gave in and wore the wrist-band...then was traded to the Packers a week or two later. At that time, Green Bay was one of the few places in the league less desireable than Buffalo, to play NFL football. I remember him playing on a MNF game a few weeks later, for the Packers, and he got his ass kicked all over the field again...and he was wearging the Packers playbook on his wrist...

Who would have thunk, Bills, Bengals, Lions and 49ers all pick in the bottom third!

I thought it was the best episode yet. Looks like Rick got his "sign" from god! Beyond just looking for the girl, this episode showed that there are factions growing in the group, and, their leader is beginning to question himself... for such a silly show, I am amazed at how real this show feels. Not normally the kind of thing I like, but I really like this show. If it devolves into some campy, schlock (see "True Blood" which had some potential) I couldn't watch. To me, it is just a solid sci-fi/action-adventure show.

Well, going to war under false pretenses is the one that comes most immediately to mind. As for the rest, I honestly don't have any idea what you are talking about. And, I am not saying that to be a smart-ass. I feel like we are in some sort of "mirror universe" here. My memories are that of a very condescending Republican leadership, who, basically have been contrary to the president from day one. To this day, I think Obama has been far more (and too) compromising to make nice with Republicans who have been, basically, functioning as obstructionists for the last two years.

You really think that? I couldn't disagree more with this. Bush may have been verbally respectful of his opposition, but he certainly did not act that way. It is abundantly clear that those around him were hostile to any opposition. I guess it is our partisan ears, Obama has always held out the verbal olive branches...I think you are hearing what you want to hear. He came into office, his critics on the left say, bending over backwards to appease right opposition, and, in the process, watered everything down so much, it was useless. What Obama never seemed to get "these people hate you, they have no respect for you, and they don't want you here"...Hillary Clinton would have never fallen into this trap. The political system we have right now is very cynical, and I think Obama was a bit naive.

I realize this is your opinion, but to say that Obama started the current climate in DC is really off...Bush JR ("I'm a uniter, not a divider") did precisely what you are accusing Obama of, after 9/11. He had everyone in the palm of his hand, both sides of the isle, and crapped all over them...and his motivations were questionable. That is what united lefties enough, to vote Obama in.

Wow! I guess, not surprisingly, we have completely different takes on this. But, I must say, this is the first time I have ever heard that the left was better at organizing than the right. As a leftie, I wish Obama had done what you are accusing him of. In fact, I think that Bush Jr's greatest attribute was to push things through, no matter how much objection there was. I wish Obama had that back-bone. Also, I think your history of things is a little short...this has been going on forever. Are you forgetting Bush's "mandate"? The rise of the christian fundamentalists in the 80's?

A lot rests on how many games the Bills win before that Broncos game. Sometimes, teams that have had bad seasons (as the Broncos appear to be having) they find their groove at the end of the season...and, if the Bills are eliminated from playoff contention, on Christmas Eve, you never know how things will turn out.

Even though I don't think this will pan out well for the Raiders (Palmer is in steep decline, IMO, and isn't likely to help them out all that much this year, which is what they need), that line, sir, is perhaps the best thing I have read here in some time! And oh so true!

The "news" networks are essentially video op-ed channels... I might make the argument that CNN is much more in the center than the others, but I know most would object. MSNBC and FOX are the extremes. You watch these two channels with any regularity (and I do, I admit) you would think we live in two very different countries. But, as to your point about Sarandan, Penn, etc...I don't know that they have as much clout as you are giving them. I admire Sean Penn for the fact that he seems sincere in wanting to affect positive change for his causes, but I also realize, he is no expert in politics. I don't hold a grudge against him for using whatever power his name brings him, to shine light on causes that are important to him. There are plenty of conservative leaning entertainers who could do the same, should they choose. If they think "coming out" as conservatives will hurt their show business careers, those are the breaks...but there is always strength in numbers. But, be honest, this doesn't go on with both sides? Herman Cain is running around saying that liberals have the goal of "ruining the American economy" isn't a little over the top? Hannity, and his ilk, constantly saying that Obama is a socialist, to play into the fears of the ignorant, isn't a little disingenuous? From my view, Breitbart is running around like he is some sort of champion of the Tea Party movement, like he wants to make sure it gets fair representation in the media...which is fine. I applaud that effort. I really wish that movement had a rational, coherent spokesperson. Breitbart isn't it, though. I get the feeling he is into this for very personal reasons...whenever I see him interviewed it is "me, me, me...I, I, I...". I just don't think he adds anything, but slime, to the cause. And isn't there enough of that, everywhere? People like Dana Loesch are like the Tea Party equivalent of the mindless protesters at the Occupy Wallstreet demonstrations. They are all talking points, and no substance.

You may be right, but I think this would be a worse trade by the Raiders. Palmer's play has slipped over the last two seasons, likely the toll of too many injuries. To give up that much, to have him join in the middle of the season, is just nuts. And, from what they were saying, Campbell should be ready to play again this season...I know they don't want to fall out of playoff contention, but hell, I don't think Palmer is a guarantee to help them, this season, at all. And then, what do you do next season? You have a healthy Campbell, who was playing very well, and an old, broken Palmer who you overpaid for? You can't play both of them, so you either have to trade one, cut them, or have one very unhappy backup QB on your hands. I really think the Raiders would be better off going with their backup, or signing someone like Trent Edwards (he at least knows their playbook), and just pound the ball with McFadden and Bush, until Campbell is back...dumb move by the Raiders... even though Al loved the long ball, even he knew the importance of having someone mobile at QB...

Then he should also point out that Merrimans' sack wasn't much of a sack at all...but a statistical sack, none-the-less So, if a guy breaks Bruce Smiths all-time sack record, do they go back and see how many of the new record holders sacks came in garbage time? Do they go back and see how many of Bruce's came in garbage time? It is a slippery slope...

Sorry you had a rough time. I am going to the Dallas game, I think...I will take your frustrations out on them...they deserve it! What I found kind of amusing, as there were so many Bills fans there, in old school jerseys, you would see Giant fans trying to high-five Bills fans, thinking they were Giants fans...saw a dude in a dark "56" LT jersey saluting another guy walking down the stairs in a white "56" Talley jersey...saw similar mistakes made with Bavaro/Tasker...I thought about wearing my old Chris Spilman jersey to the game, but decided I didn't want to pack it, and, besides, it looks too much like a Giants rag.

Go to HR, file a sexual harassment complaint against him...

No, you are right...I just think it is hardly a story...Matt Taibbi has been "exposed" by Breitbart? Just read Rolling Stone, he has not been trying to be covert at all...he fully backs the "occupy" movement...media types have been activists forever... I don't see how anyone with a brain in their head could cover these things, and not have an opinion, or point of view. Breitbart is so full of himself, I just kind of find him repulsive. Kind of the way some of you feel about Michael Moore, I am sure. I understand that he has taken it upon himself to be a conservative activist, if you will... but he is as disingenuous as the people he tries to expose, IMO. Whenever he tries to explain his position, he sounds like some kid who wanted to be popular, but wasn't, so he is turning on everyone he was trying to impress. I am not real familiar with Dylan Ratigan, but, if I am not mistaken, he has a few books out about "taking on corporate America", so thinking he has been exposed as something other than what he presents himself as, is kind of silly... at this point, anybody who watches CNN, FOX or MSNBC and thinks they are getting objective news coverage deserves what they get. btw- kind of unrelated, but I can't think of anywhere else to tell this anecdote...I was in NYC over the weekend, for the Bills game, among other things. I was taking a cab, we were driving down Park Ave...the driver, Indian I believe, points to some nice condos and says, in a thick Apoo accent, "lock your doors, this neighborhood is full of criminals"...I thought it was pretty funny...the person I was in the cab with had no idea what he was talking about...

Funny...I was trying to remember the very scene you were talking about, talking to a buddy of mine this weekend...Artie says something, in that scene like "just cuz you know how to eat, you know how to run a restaurant now?" I just couldn't remember it...good re-call. I agree with you...such an amazing show...all the actors are great, but Gandolfini and Imperioli, to me, are as good as it gets, in this show... Incidentally, and you probably know this, but Matthew Weiner, and Terrance Winter, two of David Chases' most trusted assistants on the Sopranos, both have great shows of their own now...I won't say "Sopranos good", but damn fine..."Mad Men" and "Boardwalk Empire". Winter's BE is closer to Sopranos on the surface, but if you watch MM, despite its' seemingly very different premise, covers a lot of the same territory in a different way. Don Draper (MM), Nucky Thompson (BE) are no Tony Sopranos, but they are faced with many of the same ethical issues.

I went to the Giants game too...wore a Bills sweatshirt...saw lots of Bills fans. I had, possibly, the best seats I have ever had for a game, and I have been to quite a few...48 yard line, behind the Bills bench, 23 rows up...I had an awesome time. I took the NJ Transit to the game, from Penn Station. I must say, as a whole, I thought Giants fans were pretty cool. I am not one who is going to let a stupid comment escalate, particularly if someone is telling me my team sucks...I did see one, old man, and his wife, escorted out of the stadium...they were dressed in Giants gear...also know, there was one fight behind us, but couldn't make out if Bills fans were involved. My seat was in front of where Phil Simms and Jim Nantz were sitting...Giants fans kept turning toward him, to salute. One idiot Bills fan, turned and gave him the finger, and caught some verbal guff for it...can't imagine anything less happening at the Ralph, if it was Jimbo, or, say, even Joe Ferguson. It was kind of disrespectful...and I am no big Simms fan. It was funny, when the Giants had that TD overturned, there was some confusion. At the stadium, it looked like a TD, and even with the replay, it looked like a TD. As the refs were mulling it over, and all the Giants fans were sure it would go in their favor, you hear someone yell "Phil says no!"...I turned around, and Simms, before the refs made any announcement, was gesturing that it was not a catch...he was right. When I saw the replay at home, it looked different than at the game. All in all, I had a great time, except the final score...and I thought Giants fans (the real fans) were not all that different than fans of any other team. Honestly, I have seen more boorish behavior towards visiting fans, at the Ralph, than I have most anywhere else. One thing about New York fans, in general, though...there is a "hipness" factor to going to any sporting event in New York (New Jersey?), so there are always folks there that don't know the first thing about the game, the team, etc...sat next to two nice looking ladies, both decked out in NY Giants ladies gear (likely purchased that day) who paid almost no attention to the game, except when all the Giants fans cheered...they got up and down so many times, they went, in my book, from being hot, to just annoying...I am sure this goes on in places like LA, Chicago, etc... these are the kinds of people most likely to call security.

I actually purchased the whole series on DVD, in this massive box set...it weighs about 30 lbs. No joke. I have only watched the extras on it...will dig in some day...I love this show so much, even after owning the box set, I purchased the first season on blu-ray, assuming they would be releasing the rest..that was over a year ago...no season two on blu-ray as of yet... some pretty damn good shows on over the last few years, but still, nothing touches the Sopranos in my book.

Wow..Dylan Ratigan? They got him? Who is he again? Matt Taibbi? Isn't that the guy who writes for the underground rag, "Rolling Stone"? I think it is, I just read an article in the latest issue, where he lays out what the demands the "occupy Wall Street" movement should be making...that sneaky bastard!!! Next thing you know, they will dig up evidence that Sean Hannity has a conservative slant to his coverage of the news...damn that Breitbart!!!! I wonder if Dana Loesch has someone crafting her messages for her...cuz when you hear her speak, she sounds like a complete moron...

Like-wise...I have purposely avoided watching them in re-runs, so I can go back and watch them from the begining, all over again...once football season is over, I may take the plunge! Absolutely my favorite drama of all time...though Breaking Bad is inching up there...

100% agreement there...but if any attempt is made to address this, it is meant with the "keep government" out of my business, and cries of "too much regulation". And, as fast as anything can change, insurance companies will be always be one step ahead, figuring out loop-holes.

Isn't it the "job creators" who ship jobs over seas!!!?

Yup...he has repackaged Republican plans, only to have them voted down...the Republican party, as it is constituted now, hate the president more than they care about the well-being of their country. Mitch McConnell has said it repeatedly, "our no.1 priority is to make sure that Barack Obama is not re-elected". It is sad that Romney is, arguably, the best candidate the Republicans can offer, and he has to dis-own things that he did that were very successful, to appease the crazies in his own party. Last election, Romney was (rightfully) proud of his record as governor, and now he is being forced to grovel, because his health-care plan for Massachussets (one that has been overall, very successful) bares a striking resemblance to the one Obama wants for the country. Not to mention the jobs bill that Repulicans will fight, tooth and nail, to ensure won't pass. Perhaps Christy's endorsement will help Romney. That is of course, if the Republican party doesn't do their best to "swift boat" their best candidate...they are off to a rousing start.

So, how is Romney being "screwed"? Republicans have been crucifying Obama as long as he has been president, for presenting their own ideas to them, only to have them shot down...