Coward refuses the Worm

"I will decide who I debate at this election, and the circumstances under which I debate them"

John Howard says he wants a debate with Kevin Rudd, but he wants it all on his terms. He wants a hand-picked audience constituting 50% Liberal and 50% Labor supporters, which in no way reflects his support in the community (which is sitting at record low levels). Howard also refuses to have the Worm present at the debate, after his humiliating defeat revealed by the Worm in the debate against Mark Latham during the 2004 election campaign.

Personally I think these debates are a waste of time, and the Worm was the only fun thing about the last one- watching it plummet off the screen whenever Howard spouted more of his 'I love George Bush We are strong on national security because we do whatever America tells us' nonsense.

Rudd should call Howard on his cowardice and rally support for a relatively non-partisan audience, or at least one picked by lottery rather than chosen by Howard, as well as having the Worm at the debate. Otherwise it'll be boring as hell. Mark Latham may have lost the last election, but at least he brought a brash and interesting style to politics. Rudd needs to ensure that boring predictability isn't the outcome.

Rudd is also wrong in calling John Howard's demand for a debate this Sunday and this Sunday only, 'arrogant'. Once again, it's Howard's cowardice in trying to ensure that the debate is over at the start of the election campaign rather than any humiliation he suffers at Rudd's hands being fresh in the minds of voters as they enter the polling booth. For Howard, demanding a Sunday debate is not about arrogance, it's about getting the whole humiliating business over and done with as soon as possible.