You are wrong, Sway. Probably because you dont live in NY you didnt see the local reports on Hillary visiting every single one of our 62 counties, the vast majority several times. She spent more time in podunk little diners drinking crappy coffee than you can imagine. And yes, it took her the better part of 2 years to do it. The national press has no appetite for crappy little upstate town where nothing ever happens so it didnt get in the news much - I am not surprised that you arent aware of it.
I have no particular love for Hillary and wasnt happy that she became our senator for much the same reason I dont want Caroline Kennedy to be our Senator - We have plenty of well qualified New Yorkers who worked hard to get the experience necessary. Hillary worked hard to get elected but she really isnt a New Yorker. Caroline Kennedy IS a New Yorker but she has done nothing to make me think she has what it takes to be a good senator.
Chuck Schumer, though you may not like him, got where he is by being a hard working New Yorker who worked his way up the ladder. Whatever you think about him, he is a very hard working guy.
We NEED good advocates in Washington because we pay far more in federal taxes than we get back in federal spending, unlike many of the so-called red states out west. New York pays its own way and then some. I am tired of subsidizing Republicans who insist on whining about the feds when in fact they are sucking dollars from the rest of us.
check here
http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/sr139.pdf
interesting note - your new commander palin's state is second only to New Mexico in getting more federal spending than they pay. Maybe THAT is what you guys want for your states!! Just more hogs at the trough!