Howard is confined by his voice which makes him a bore to listen to, though he is quintessentially the better PM than Rudd ever would be in terms of substance.

Is that the subjective view, or the objective one?

Demonizing minorities. Underfunding health and education. Still in denial about climate change. Invading countries and increasing terrorism. Bribes to dictators. No plan for the future.

Is that the substance you’re talking about?

“The Federal Government’s education record has triggered one of the most heated exchanges of the leaders’ debate, with the Prime Minister bristling over Kevin Rudd’s use of OECD data.

The stoush began when the Opposition Leader said Australia was ‘the only government in the OECD in the period 1996 to 2004 to have disinvested in universities, to the tune of seven per cent.’

Mr Howard said the report did not consider HECS, the Government’s ‘most recent measures in the last Budget in relation to the Higher Education Fund,’ or ‘investments in technical education.’

‘Mr Rudd knows that, he should not have endeavoured to use that as a rather dishonest debating point,’ said Mr Howard.

Mr Rudd replied: ‘but you’ve been in for 11 years, the changes you’ve just referred are in the last two or three.’

Raising his voice, John Howard said: ‘no, that’s not the point I made Mr Rudd, I corrected your improper use of that OECD report, and talking about 11 years does not alter the fact you were trying to mislead the Australian public.’

The Labor leader persisted, saying: ‘Mr Howard, your officials are represented in the OECD, if there was a grave problem with it, I would have thought they would have put forward additional information to the OECD.’

An angry Mr Howard pointed accusingly at his opponent, saying: ‘no, that’s pathetic. You were wrong. And you knew it, and you shouldn’t have said it.’

Mr Rudd said he stood by everything the OECD had said, before mediator David Speers moved the candidates on.”

Bring it on…if only…Trillion Tip takes on…Rudd? Joking…Swan? don’t think so…Craig? too much detail there…oh Lindsay?…err…moderator Bishop Cassidy? don’t think so.., poor $weetie, just can’t get a gig anywhere…
Oh I know, Red thang, commie de dah dah dah…go on Tip you can do it; helping to re elect the whatshisname, you brave thing. Do it.

Video: See the entire debate
http://media.theaustralian.com.au/multimedia/mediaplayer/index.html?id=507

Bed for me.

Thanks for an entertaining evening William and fellow posters.

The President of my ALP Branch was a Bill Cusack, Solicitor.

I just thought you might be related.