The debate that wasn’t

Three lawyers, 22 minutes, equals 7 minutes apiece of zero substance

Expecting a debate, voters in Congressional District 3 who tuned in to PBS’s Horizon this evening must have wondered what happened.  If they blinked, they missed it.

The participants, incumbent Congressman Republican John Shadegg, Democrat challenger Bob Lord and Libertarian Michael Shoen, sat down with Horizon moderator Ted Simons for a hurried tête-à-tête.

The word “disappointing,” would just about cover the short 22 minute dialogue. There was a brief discussion of the economic bailout with Shadegg explaining his change of vote on the two bills by saying, “They didn’t change my vote, I changed their bill.” He credited John McCain, saying the package “would have been dramatically worse if John McCain hadn’t stepped up.”

Shadegg, whose radio ads state he has often “voted against this own party,” then read from a praiseful Arizona Republic editorial endorsing him. It’s plain to see that candidates, trusting the turnout of their base support, are blowing kisses to the Independent voters this cycle.

Bob Lord, presented with an opportunity to differentiate himself, called the bailout a “rescue package,” but said he agreed with Shadegg, adding, “the risk of doing something was better than doing nothing.”

Lord, also casting about for Independent votes, made a point of declaring he has issues on which he disagrees with his party, such as gun ownership rights and farm subsidies.

The three candidates momentarily touched on social security and all agreed they would vote their conscience on the question of whether a congressman represents his constituents or himself. Missing was any mention of border security and the mammoth issue of illegal immigration.

Shoen stuck to the limited government line of the Libertarian Party and pledged that if elected he would not accept a penny of the congressional pension.

Blink. You missed it.