Apparently I'm a big jerk cause I don't genuflect everytime discussing those in power. It's been suggested that I should be nicer. Whatever.

I discussed some things with LCTV's Tom Christy and we discussed the 10 most important issues in our area for the first quarter of 2007 - a stupid governmental requirement.

Is this new budget plan good? Bad? What does it mean for the future of "Governor Steam Roller?" And what does it mean for us?

I'm disappointed in the governor's inability to get the legislature to work with him on the state budget. So are several callers. Others, however, say it's too early to call Eliot a lost cause.

Monday was hectic for me, so I threw open the phone lines and let the people decide what we talked about. It went well ... until the power went out, that is. But it came back on and we resumed ...

Lockport Mayor Mike Tucker was in studio discussing city issues, the IDA, and more.

Clyde Burmaster is horrible. He's part of the problem in Niagara County.

Tom Grzebinski is a breath of fresh air in Lockport ... and the rest of Lockport's Common Council want to get rid of him.

We owe it to ourselves to right these situations.

John Hall and Melissa Dunlap discuss "crossroads of Niagara County."

Tuesday we discussed the impending appointment of Andrea McNulty to the Niagara County Legislature. Her only qualification that I can see is her unabashed allegiance to the GOP. We also discussed the accidental release of city employee Social Security numbers to the local paper. Managing Editor Tim Marren explained their side of the issue.

It's been a while since we discussed national issues - or international issues, as the war on Iraq is. We talked about the anniversary and listened to a press conference with the president.

Our "Who Are You" feature continues with former US Attorney Michael Battle, who seems to be politically connected to all the WNY players ... and some Washington bigwigs, too.

Thursday's show wasn't really so much about the salaries of city employees as it was about the "friends and family plan" in city government. The Union-Sun & Journal did a great piece on city employees and it listed all the employees names, which we then used for the discussion.

Tom Reynolds power rankings are in the toilet. Jim Mills is looking worse all the time - and dragging the former Newfane School Board with him. And Michael Battle seems to have fallen from grace, too.

For the congressional rankings, click here.

Tuesday we discussed the planned "sick-out" being carried out by Buffalo police ... and in general, we discussed how much power public unions have.

Good stuff.

Monday we discussed the lifetime benefits politicians receive and why they recieve them ... and what it's like in the "real world" where most of us work.

I advised people that I was irritated about all the hang-up calls the day before and that they had to crash the phone lines with REAL talk or I wouldn't take phone calls next week.

Lots of good banter resulted.

Niagara County Democratic Chairman Dan Rivera was in studio. Henry Wojtaszek was supposed to be in, too, but Leffler screwed up (what else is new?)

We'll get Henry in soon.

Bob Confer and Tom Christy help hold Scott together and provide some semblance of sanity and reason in an otherwise unreasonably insane world. One caller referred to us as "the first line of defense" or something crazy like that. Whatever. I just hope you enjoy the show.

Monday I had some nice things to say about the local paper. They had a fairly mistake-free Sunday edition.

Lockport Journal Managing Editor Tim Marren was live in studio on Friday. Tim wanted to clear some things up - and I think we did that. Good show.

Greg Lewis, Niagara County manager, wore a hat he used to wear - that of law professor - as he dissected the AES PILOT deal and the recent ruling by Judge Dick Kloch. We didn't get many phone calls in, but we did get lots of info.

We make some assumptions - give people the benefit of the doubt on some things. And still find them to be in the wrong. Hint: Newfane School Board.