There were certainly moments where it seemed the debate last night at the University of Arizona Student Union would boil over. Between seemingly random angry shouting coming from the audience, Dr. Stoltz declining to answer some questions and the back and forth between U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and challenger Jesse Kelly, substantive discussion of the issues sometimes took a back seat.

However, our debate was a model of calm efficiency compared to the gubernatorial debate last night in New York, where the two likely contenders, Andrew Cuomo and Carl Palladino, were surrounded by a cast of candidates for which the term "third party" might be too generous.

While anytime you can have a former madam comparing using her former line of work as a framework to discuss the transit system that's certainly something to enjoy, the breakout star was certainly The Rent Is Too Damn High Party candidate, Jimmy McMillan, who even had Andrew Cuomo agreeing with his very specific and focused stance on the issues.

Arizona politics are often described using words like "joke" and "comedy" by those in and out of the state, but it would be nice if we could be in on the humor once and awhile. New York, I'm a little bit jealous today.