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There was nothing brought up before or during the hearings that showed he shouldn't be confirmed. The fact that Schumer is left wing and Roberts is conservative does not mean that Roberts is not qualified. Schumer appears to be in a snit because he didn't like the way Roberts answered his questions. In the little bit that I saw of the hearings, Roberts sounded extremely well versed in past Court cases and came across as intelligent, thoughtful, and well spoken. Roberts was following Ginsberg's lead in how to answer questions before the committee - a nominee does not speak directly about cases that he may have to judge. (I'm not a lawyer, obviously, so maybe you can fill me in on the details of why that is.) Ginsberg made it out of committee with 0 votes against her. Breyer was also recommended to come up for a floor vote with no votes against him. Roberts should have received the same. I saw nothing in the hearings and read nothing about them in the papers that indicated Roberts should not have received a full Senate vote. I was not happy with Clinton's choices to the SC, but I don't think either should have had as many "no" votes in the full Senate as they did. While I disagree with several of their rulings, I realize that the guy that's in the White House gets to choose who he wants. As long as there is nothing that turns up to disqualify the person, the President should get to choose who he wants. That is a big part of the reason I voted against Gore and Kerry even though I live in a state where my vote had no chance of being in the majority. In my opinion, Roberts is well qualified to be on the Supreme Court. Dave.

I don't like him, but plan on voting for him for one simple reason - seniority. The longer he is in office, the more seniority he will have and, theoretically, the more spoils he will bring back to NY. (Yes, I realize that is a HORRIBLE reason to vote for the guy; but until the pork fest gets scaled back, I'd rather have him in there trying to get what he can for NY rather than a Daniel P. who stood on principal and let NY take it up the backside or the other one who I can't honestly believe gives a rat's butt for NYers.) I think NY screwed up royally voting him in and Senator Pothole out, (ooooh, we don't like him; he's a politician (and the other guy ain't?!?!?!?!?)) but considering the damage is done; I'd say keep him and hope for the best. He, unlike the other one, actually does try to do well for NY. While his views oftentimes clash with mine, I think he is better than the alternatives (especially when the Republicans won't bring a legitimate candidate to challenge him). Plus, I REALLY don't like the thought of the other one being my senior senator. I don't agree with a lot of Schumer's views and am embarrassed that he voted against Roberts but I do believe that in some warped way he does have NY's best interests in mind. Dave.

You are missing my point. The point is, right now there are a lot of people posting that Donahoe should be gone. Without a plan to bring someone better than him in, the Bills are setting themselves up for even worse problems. As for your question about how does one consider replacing him? Well, Donahoe has put together a team that I think looks good on paper these last few years, even with the offensive line woes. (It doesn't look like my opinion is shared nationally as most preseason publications have tended to have the Bills finishing 3rd or 4th in the division typically.) However the team has not performed up to the preseason expectations. I still think that this team can make the playoffs (even with Takeo's injury). But if they don't, maybe I've overestimated how good a job Donahoe's been doing. Donahoe's performance should be evaluated just like any of the players or coaches regardless of how the Bills do. Donahoe right now is in an elite region of league GMs; his team is one of only 4 or 5 to have missed the playoffs for the last 4 years running. I give him a pass on the 1st 2 years because of the salary cap issues he inherited. Eventually though, you reach a point where you have to perform. How could you possibly not even CONSIDER the possibility of replacing a guy who has not gotten the job done for 5 years (assuming they miss the playoffs again). At what point in time do you start to consider replacing him? At 6 years, 8 years, 20 years, never? Dave.

I can't say that I disagree with this, IF the Bills do in fact miss the playoffs again this year. My question is: who do you bring in to replace him? I am sure that there is a better football mind out there somewhere, but I don't know who that will be. Ralph Wilson does not have a stellar record hiring people to run the organization. Since the leagues merged, you basically have his decision to hire Stu Barber and Chuck Knox and then Bill Polian who brought in Marv. Everyone else that he chose to hire has been horrible to adequate (again, assuming the Bills miss the playoffs again - which is not a given). If the team does miss the playoffs this year, I would not be adamant about not firing Donahoe, but I definitely want the Bills to have a plan for who they will bring in before getting rid of Donahoe. On paper, even with essentially a rookie quarterback, this team should be challenging for a playoff spot. If they get there, Donahoe is definitely back; if not, unless the team feels reasonably certain that they can hire someone who will do better then I guess the Bills enter year 6 of the 3 year plan. Dave.

I'd be shocked if they go to the 3-4 with their 2 best linebackers being nowhere near 100% (Spikes out, Fletcher playing hurt). Dave.

Not true. Retatta goes (and I do mean GOES) well with a fine Thunderbird - preferably of a Thursday vintage. By the way, you are supposed to be starting your 3rd bottle before easing into the nuanced taste of the Retatta. Dave.

How does being injured affect JP's ability to learn from someone else? He did have a 1/2 season that he couldn't line up in practice, but he could still watch film and watch what the #1 guy was doing while his leg was in a cast. Dave.

Even with those 2 calls, the Bills have to hold Atlanta on 3rd down and convert the good field position into a touchdown, not just 3 points. Dave.

I still think this team can make the playoffs. They SHOULD beat San Antonio next week. They can beat Carolina at home (I don't know that they will, but they should and can). They should sweep the fish and split with the Pats and Jets. If they split with the Chargers and Raiders and sweep the Broncos and Chiefs at home or split those 2 and beat the Bungles they are 10-6 and should make the playoffs with that record, considering 2 losses were out of conference. Dave.

The refs definitely did not help the Bills, but they didn't beat them either. The Bills have to be better in the Red Zone on offense and better on 3rd down on defense. Until they do improve in these areas, they won't make the playoffs. On the plus side; although you never want to lose at home, at least it was out of conference. Dave.

You have a problem with this?????? Dave.

Furthering your argument: the thing is, you can stop buying soft drinks (it took me three years of trying, but I finally did it). In the short term (say, next 5 years) you can only reduce your oil consumption, not eliminate it. The oil companies are a different beast altogether. I think the govt. screwed up when they let the oil companies remerge. I've heard that Exxon-Mobil controls 40% of the oil supply (unfortunately, I haven't heard a definition of what "control" is). Oil is a bit different from other commodities in that it appears to be a finite resource (like gold or silver) but once it is used it is gone (unlike say wheat or corn or even gold which can be remelted and remolded). Typical supply and demand theory doesn't fully hold, in that someone who has oil resources has a finite supply and (if he has 40% of supply, as I have heard Exxon-Mobile has; again, I repeat, I have not heard how this percentage of supply is defined) isn't necessarily going to put product on the market once his margin cost is exceeded. With a finite supply and no fear of product coming back on the market from customers, it is in the seller's best interest to limit current supply and raise prices both now and in the future. Yes there is a price that will increase conservation and limit demand, but what that price is is not entirely clear. That is part of the reason we have witnessed such large increases in price over the last 2 years. Dave.

No, it shows a complete lack of shame and a lack of respect for her audience. She wouldn't sell this stuff, if she didn't think her audience were dumb enough to buy it. Dave.

I haven't received my notice yet and was wondering how the package was going to work this year. I checked the sports ordering channel and didn't see anything, so I scanned the dial. As of last night, DirecTV didn't have any mention of Center Ice on any of their channels. The season is only 2 weeks away. I figured that they would at least advertise it a little to try to get people to buy it. I checked their web site and had to go down a second level on the sports ordering info page to even get a mention of Center Ice. I hope the NHL does a better job advertising the game this year than they have the past few, but it doesn't look like they will. Did your renewal notice mention anything about the NHL network? Comcast is supposed to be starting one for the States and I was wondering when it would start, whether DirecTV would carry it, and if it would basically be the same as the one in Canada. I've never seen the Canadian version, but if it's anywhere near the quality of the NFL network, I can't wait to see it. Dave.

According to the website, the voting closes 9/27. Of course the website also says Buffalo's the number one seed and should have been going against New England (#4 seed), not KC (#2 seed). Dave.

LOL! When I read that, I immediately got an image in my head of Todd doing the intro scene in Wayne's World when Wayne is describing his "career". "Well, let's just say I have an extensive collection of name tags and hair nets..." Dave.

Answer to question 1 - The previous posts you have made have provided a basis that yes your primary concerns are yourself. Answer to question 2 - I would first ask myself why the govt. won't let me get affordable insurance as the federal govt. keeps most of the flood insurance premiums at submarket rates. As I posted earlier, I don't know much about the flood insurance program details; but what little I do know supports VABills' statements regarding it in that the only places that aren't supposed to get ridiculously affordable flood insurance are areas that the govt. doesn't want to be built upon. Response to next statement - If you would like EVERYONE in the country to support you and GIVE YOU MONEY, you may want to stop making statements saying you can't stand the people in the north. When someone spits in my eye, I tend to not want to provide much help to that person. You don't help your cause by showing your disdain of the people you are asking to reach out to you. Response to next statement - The northern states tend to have the highest tax rates in the country. Also, most of the people in the WNY area that I know have made PERSONAL donations to various relief efforts. Your comments are misguided at best, and unsubstantiated and ignorant at worst. Answer to question 3 - Yes, I remember. Some friends of mine got caught in the path of 2 of them. Response to next statement - How many people are you referring to? What details of these circumstances can you provide? Simply stating a lot of people have yet to receive aid, while sounding very interesting doesn't really say anything. Response to final statement - I don't know what the federal government's actions or inactions have to do with whether you are selfish or not. Also, I find it rather interesting how an individual that was faced with a personal choice (buy insurance and cover the risk of water damage to house/ possessions or save money and hope the dice don't come up snake eyes; or taking it up one notch, if your contentions about the condition of insurance in the Biloxi area are correct (and VABills and others are wrong) then the choice is buy house you can't afford or rent and get renter's insurance) that ended up turning out bad is now chastising everyone on this board for being selfish because they don't necessarily want to have the risks of YOUR decision transferred to them after the fact. Dave.

Randi Rhodes is a bitter spiteful creature. She has about as much shame as Michael Savage and is almost as intelligent as Jessica Simpson. She was still harping about Ohio election results this past February, it wouldn't surprise me if she is still harping on them. For crying out loud, even Kerry doesn't believe Ohio was "stolen". I would not be surprised to hear anything come out of her mouth, provided it is bashing the heck out of the right. Al Franken, annoying as he is, at least only massively distorts the truth. He typically doesn't go and pull something out of thin air to make up. The only left wing radio I've heard that does a reasonable job of staying civil and using facts without major distortions is Ed Schultz (sp?). That might be part of the reason that he gets a show during the afternoon drive hour and Randi gets one around midnight. Also, I think Ed is part of Mother Jones Radio, not Air America. Dave.

Nope. Daughter, maybe. But definitely not the son. Dave.

Scary s**t. Isn't the Netherlands the country that will perform non-self-elected euthanasia? Logan's Run, here we come. Dave.

3,500 out of how many? There are over 18MM people living in NY. I don't know how many are 18 year olds, but if the 3,500 is out of the entire state, that is fantastic, if it is out of the Buffalo City School District, that's not so good. I don't know what exam you are referring to so I can't comment on the results. By the way, I did a little digging on the internet and found one source that had MS rated all the way up at 47 in 2004. I apologise about exaggerating about the MS school system deficiencies. (In case you were wondering, NY was ranked 6.) Dave.

It's NOT Drew's fault Williams got his jock handed to him. It's not Drew's fault the team lost. However, Drew was provided 3 chances in the late going to win the game for Dallas. It DID NOT happen. I don't take issue with Drew losing the game. I take issue with Drew NOT winning the game. He's kind of like the anti-Flutie. Flutie typically stunk in the 2nd and 3rd quarters but would score on the opening drive and then find a way to get things done in the 4th. Drew seems to be the opposite. He does reasonably well before the game is on the line, but then when the 4th quarter comes he can't get it done. When I watch him play, I always get the feeling that he doesn't know how to function once the game gets to a pressure situation. That is probably unfair and a bit of an overstatement (I mean he played well in the Minnesota game a few years back), but he just seems to be lacking something. It kind of stinks that he gets that way. He seems like a good guy and he has some tremendous physical tools; I was very psyched when the Bills got him. However, I also was glad that the Bills realized that Drew won't take them any farther than he has. Is JP the answer? I don't know, but I do know Drew isn't the answer for the Bills. Maybe he will be for the Pokes, but I sure wouldn't want to have any money on him being the answer. (Also, I know for me personally, it would be a LOT easier to root for Bledsoe if he didn't wear that evil star on his helmet. I don't want him to do bad, but I really wouldn't mind seeing them go 5-11 for oh, about the next decade.) That game was there for Drew to win. It simply didn't happen. Once again, it's not his fault the Pokes lost; but it is his fault they didn't win. Dave.

Thanes05, First off let me preface this with saying that I am very sorry to hear that your house was destroyed. I hope you and your family came through intact. I am going to stay away from the comments on the flood insurance as I have no experience with flood insurance. However, when you talk about NY needing a lot of help and MS being wonderful; all at the time you are asking for more money from NY, I take exception. NY pays the 2nd most money to the federal government of any state! In 2004, NY sent $171,948,716,000 to the federal government. It received back 80 cents on the dollar (2003 stats, I couldn't find 2004 info.). MS sent in a WHOPPING 8,951,397,000 to the fed and received back $1.89 for every dollar it sent in. So NY sent in about $34 BILLION more than it got back and MS got more than $7 BILLION more than it sent in. (But MS hasn't needed that much help in the past. They get MASSIVE HELP EVERY SINGLE YEAR!!!) No wonder people support the MS government and complain about NY's. In NY, the government is EXPECTED to find a way to pay for what it spends (unfortunately, a lot of that is through issuing bonds and basically mortgaging the future of residents) and it is starting from a hole of $34 BILLION; in MS the government provides much more limited services for the residents and it is starting out with excess money from the federal government. Now you are saying no state could possibly be expected to cover the damages within its borders. Well guess what, if NY had an extra $34 BILLION EACH AND EVERY YEAR it would go a long way towards covering a mess like this. By the way, has the wonderful government of MS gotten the school system rankings ahead of DC yet, or is it still 51 out of 51? And finally, gas prices are as high as they are in the UK due to TAXES, not because they aren't close to the US refineries along the Gulf Coast. Dave. PS I do hope you manage to rebuild. I realize you probably wouldn't be railing on NY under normal conditions, but I couldn't let groundless acusations go unchallenged.

They are definitely going to miss Weis. Right now they are still running things pretty much the way Weis used to. Once teams are used to what they are calling, I'd be surprised to see the new signal caller be able to devise new stuff the way Weis did. It kind of reminds me of '92 with the Bills. The Bills offense looked great the 1st 4 games, but then they started putting in Bresnahan's plays and adjustments and never looked the same as they did with Marchibroda. Dave.