Or maybe, just maybe, I and others switched off or over because try as they might all the three parties did was remind us why our national politics are so boring and in such a mess in the first place.
David Brown, Nick Cameron and Gordon Clegg all took it turns to tell a studio audience how wonderful they were and suck up to to every voter i.e. "Before I start can I say how much I admire the work you do in our (schools. hospitals, armed forces) and what a great debt the country owes you blah blah blah.So tiresome and cringeworthy were some of the answers that Daniel my eldest son (23) asked me at one stage "Isn't Songs of Praise on the other side dad?"
The pollsters say Nick Clegg won the debate? which will be tough news for the big two to take, but I think it reflects the the ease in which any body sounding at least part interested in political change can sway an audience.
For what it's worth I thought Brown was most statesmanlike, Clegg the most relaxed and Cameron? well he looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights, unable to move out of the way of difficult questions that were coming straight at him. If this man is Prime Ministerial material then King Herod should open a Care Home for Young Children.
What the show did do though is strip away from the Tory and Labour Party all the gloss, take the shine of of their party posters and the power away from media moguls and expose them all to the stark clear light of normailty and let the public start to judge our politicians crowell style, Warts and All.
But it's the viewing figures not the voting figures I want to see, and I also want to see how many viewers switched off or over half way through the show.
Meanwhile earlier tonight we had our own first mini version of the big debate at the Sunley Management Centre with Northampton's Youth as the audience. With 11 politicians on the platform!!
2 Green 2 UKIP 2 Lib Dem 2 Tory 2 Independent and er......... 1 Labour! One of their candidates was missing, and I bet you can guess who.
It was in the main a light hearted and gentle opener to the hustings season, but one worrying aspect was the Lib Dem's Paul Varnsverry (he of no comments on my blog please, fame) who fired the first negative shot of the campaign by asking me to "withdraw your candiditure" (silly boy) after failing to read my leaflet correctly, or perhaps taking it too literally. Either way it was nice to see his feathers rattled.
I have a nasty feeling about young Paul's ability to last the distance, negative politics and silly gestures are never flattering to the electorate watching on and I hope he learns an early lesson.
The others? well the Greens were good and bad (one of each) I will let them decide which, but well, done Julie!
The Tories? so so, a bit all things to all people, UKIP? Barking mad, The Lib Dems? Andrew put up a decent fight, Paul over prepared and overstretched himself and Sally for Labour did as good a job as she could being a man down.
Meanwhile fellow Independent Malcolm Mildren standing in Northampton North respendent in his check jacket was a joy to be sat alongside, free from any party shackles he did what politicians should all be doing.
He told people what he really believed and what he really thought, and that alone was enough to make the night worthwile.
