Huelscamp won that contest, but only by the imaginary hair of his chinny-chin-chin. (He's primly smooth shaven) Jilka often looked ill at ease (who wouldn't in his shoes) but sounded more like a moderate than anybody else except Marck Cobb. Cobb's smile looked a lot more comfortable and real than the clearly ambitious Rob Wasinger's who is pleased as punch at having sired nine kids. Wasinger is also very proud of his "New Homestead Act" idea, arguably one of the novel approaches.

Barnett, an Emporia M.D., managed a rare smile when he said he had two colonoscopies scheduled for the next morning and said he enjoyed doing them, maybe because they're so profitable. The audience laughed, I thought uncomfortably.

Frankly, I felt the rest ho-hum, except maybe for Sue Boldra, who comes across like 7th grade teacher trying to maintain control of pubescent boys. Maybe she was trying to be the "best man for the job"?

I had some empathy for Monte Shadwick as a former basketball coach myself, but thought he was out of his league here. As a plus, he did advocate for digitizing health care records, but I think that's a Democratic idea.

The local news headline reads Big First hopefuls debate at FHSU. But whoever wrote the headline either didn't attend the event, or doesn't know what a debate is. No questions were permitted from the audience: the skimpy time slot didn't permit it.

Among those I'd like to have asked:

• If you're so concerned about the deficit and the debt that you want to cut taxes, who's going to pay off the deficit."
• If you're so concerned about curbing illegal immigration, why aren't you advocating putting employers in jail who hire them? There's a free data base for employers to weed out most illegals --that's been around for, like, 15 years but employers are not required to use it. Since most states, including Kansas, have tort reform, why isn't that a state issue?
• Ditto for buying insurance across state lines?
• Do you think any of the money spent for "defensive medicine" might be more to make money for the doctors, clinics, and hospitals? After all, you have these expensive machines and staff standing by, and if they aren't being used and staff is standing idle --- you know, who's making payments.
• If you advocate tax cuts for small business, do you oppose the up to 35 percent tax credit for small businesses to provide workers health care? Do you think allowing kids to stay on their parents plan until they're 26 a bad idea?
• How much health care do insurance companies provide? None? If none, why would you call a single payer system (or a public option) a "takeover of the health care system"?
• Do you think all federal government regulations are bad? Any that you like? Which ones would you eliminate?
• Do you think corporations should be able to contribute as much money as they want to political campaigns? What about foreign stockholders or owners?
• Do you think Obama was not born in Hawaii? If so, what makes you think that? Do you think the Hawaiian goverment is lying?
• Do you think Obama is comparable like Karl Marx, Adolph Hitler, Mao Tse Tung? If so, please specify. Is he a doggone socialist? What is the evidence?
• You say you don't want regulation, so do you think the near collapse of our economy was because of too much regulation? Please explain.
• Do you believe that global warming is real and that humans are mostly responsible?
• Do you realize that Cap and Trade was a Republican strategy (and a successful one) originated in H.W. Bush's administration?
• Are you opposed to a federal minimum wage? Why?
• Do you think signing statements are Constitutional?
• What about torture as defined by the Geneva Convention?
• What about violations of FISA?

You know, impertinent stuff like that.

The attendance was a scant 200 - which, along with the time allotted, should tell us a lot about American citizens' involvement, education, and interest in our democratic republic. Maybe it's sound bytes we really want. That's less work than thinking, and the escapades of Tiger Woods are soooo titillating..

Following are are my semi-organized notes from the evening. Make of them what you will.

Rob Wasinger:

Cottonwood Falls. Brownback chief of staff for 12 years. Has 9 kids, another coming. soon. Proposing "New Homestead Act" to help rural America.--loans, etc. Concerned about "our immigration problem. Is anti-Sierra Club and PETA.

CONSENSUS BLDG Look for input mostly from locals.

HEALTH CARE: Would repeal HC bill, wants tort reform, Doesn't like public option.

CAP & TRADE: It "will wreak havoc. Opposes low level ozone regs. Negative view of Kathleen Sebelius. IMMIGRATION: "Enforce the law."

SMALL BUSINESS: "New Homestead Act" Tax incentives. (wouldn't that be a government subsidy??) Doesnt like OSHA--" need to get regulatory agencies under control."

BUDGET DEFICIT/DEBT: "Irresponsible [spending'.. for last couple of years."

CLOSING REMARK: Again pitched "New Homestead Act"

Tracy Mann

Quinter. Grew up on farm. Worked for Jerry Moran. Ag. background. Small business (Commercial Real Estate) Father would keep him from straying from people's interest by making him scoop feed bunkers.

CONSENSUS BLDG: "Tired of bickering in D.C. Importance of ' "give & take".

HEALTH CARE: Advocates tort reform. "30 % of cost is defensive medicine."

CAP & TRADE: "would devastate western Kansas" "We need to control the EPA... Congr. has the purse strings"

IMMIGRATION: Likes the recent AZ example: control the border. Make route to legal citizenship easier. SMALL BUSINESS: Need more in Congr. with backgound in sm. business. Decreased regulation. Lower taxes. Health Care bill will add to tax burden, for example.

BUDGET DEFICIT/DEBT: Nat. debt is $40,000 per person. (Wore a Moran button)

CLOSING REMARK: Negative remark on Harry Reed, Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama.

Jim Barnett

M.D. Emporia. (soon to retire). Big interests--agriculture. and HC. Former opponent of Sebelius.

HEALTH CARE: Would work to repeal Obama health care plan. Coalition? All need access, to affordable HC. but health care is a "personal responsibility" not the Government's. Advoc. "tort reform."

CONSENSUS BUILDING: He's a "conservative leader" looking for consensus.

CAP & TRADE: "job killer" "unclear science" Concerned about SCOTUS appts

IMMIGRATION: "secure the border."

SMALL BUSINESS: Lower taxes,control spending. Fewer regs. More $ on infrastructure.

BUDGET DEFICIT/ DEBT; "Gov't should live within its means."

CLOSING REMARK: I'm 100 pct. pro-life. "I'm a conservative consensus-builder.". Quip:"I would like to see Nancy Pelosi [scooping] in a feed bunk

Alan Jilka

Lone Democrat. "I am very much in the center." Farm backround. Perspective is retail business. Notre Dame grad. Lived south of border. Former Salina mayor. Has worked for both Republicans and Democrats.

CONSENSUS BUILDING: Fed government is dysfunctional. In local gov't learned to look for "right" answer not the partisan answer.

HEALTH CARE: AARP quote--"just the facts, please" Emotions have clouded the issue. Reform will help cut the deficit, rein in HC costs.

CAP & TRADE: Most KS power plants coal-fired, and some reg inevitable in coming years."

IMMIGRATION: "advantage of having lived on other side 4 years. Drug gangs have collaborators in U.S.v

BUSINESS: Need both small businesses .large corporations/and gov. Sm. business most important in job creating.

BUDGET DEFICIT: follow local gov.model & balance the budget.

CLOSING REMARK: "I'll bring experience and perspective. I'm not an ideologue."

Sue Boldra

Hays. Born/educ. in lst Dist. Taught pub. schools in Hays, now at FHSU. Family. owns Orschlen's in Hays. Speaks rapid fire, authoritative tone. Quip: "I'm the best man for the job."

CONSENSUS BUILDING: Feels there's a "mandate for change." Would sponsor amendment for term limits. Wants tax reform & balanced budget.

HEALTH CARE: Very concerned. Wants to repeal new legislation. HC must be "affordable" and "portable" Sell insurance across State lines. Objects to pharma/insurance lobbyists.

CAP & TRADE: "Would be most fiscally devastating ever" Thinks outlawing incandescent bulbs by 2014 is a terrible idea. (Pity those with candelabras!)

IMMIGRATION: we love immigrants, because we all were. Illegal is the prob. We reward them. Expedite process toward legal citizenship.

SMALL BUSINESS: "Capitalism is not a dirty word."

BUDGET DEFICIT: Argentina example should teach us.

CLOSING REMARK. "Elections have consequences." Negative focus: she doesn't like Obama's power to appoint judges..

Mark Cobb

Galva. Air Force vet., flew combat missions. Univ. of Illinois/ Business Law. Sm. Business exp.

COALITION BLDG? "Negotiate but stand on principles." Support interests of your Dist.

HEALTH CARE: rein in Drs./ Pharmas/ Insurance. Co's. ... but support s private business solution. Not Gov. interference/regulation.. (??)

CAP & TRADE: Need incremental changes in "a green direction" but not wholesale changes by Cap and trade. Support fuel efficiency.

IMMIGRATION: Enforce the law. For one thing, make employers accountable.

SMALL BUSINESS: Give them tax breaks because they are best at creating jobs.

BUDGET DEFICIT/DEBT: "deficits are the road to destruction."

CLOSING COMMENT: Stressed the importance of education.

Monte Shadwick

Gt. Bend/Salina. KU (ed.), K-State (bus. admin) BB coach at Goddar. Frmr. Mayor/City comm. Salina. Sm. Businessman (sporting goods?). Staffer for Moran. Would be "voice for rural America." Opposes deficit spending. Wants term limits.

CONSENSUS BLDG,: "Gov't doesn't create jobs." Like Moran, listen to constituents, and to "the other side."

HEALTH CARE: Opp. to Gov't "takeover." Tort reform. Sell Ins. across state lines. Digitize health records.

CAP & TRADE: :"An environmentalist can oppose C&T. We need "innovation, not taxation." Not a "one size fits all approach" which the Obama administration will implement using regulatory agencies (EPA).

IMMIGRATION: "Fed. gov't has no cohesive policy, so the states are acting." (AZ??) "The Immigration Service is broken."

SMALL BUSINESS: Gov't can't create jobs. Jobs are being exported overseas.

BUDGET DEFICIT/DEBT: "Immoral" including paying for stimulus and bailout.

CLOSING REMARK: ?

Tim Huelskamp

Fowler. KS farmer/rancher. State senator. "Proven conservative record." Would work for amendment defining marriage -- one man-one woman. Wants "more money in your pocket, not government's. Pro oil-gas. Washington D.C. "out of control and out of touch."

CONSENSUS BLDG:(again) "Washington is out of control." $13 trillion debt. Lower taxes! "EPA is out-of control."

HEALTH CARE: New legislation mandating everyone get health care violates the 10th Amendment. People should have freedom. KS should join in legal challenge.

CAP & TRADE: Very much opposed. EPA will be used to carry out regulation.. "It will be a job killer."

IMMIGRATION: "Secure the borders. The federal government doesn't get it. Enforce the law. It's a national security issue."

SMALL BUSINESS. Sm. businesses face huge taxes. There is (or will be) huge regulation by the EPA in the Obama administration.

BUDGET DEFICIT/DEBT: : $13 T --and both parties are responsible. Hasn't ever voted for a tax increase.

CLOSING REMARKS: For ag. , limited government, an the 2nd Amdt. (NRA A+ rating) "I would defend Constitution."

I'm more than a little concerned about our country these days. Maybe, you can sense why.