Asked on Network Ten whether he would accept the prime minister's offer to debate him next week at the National Press Club, Mr Abbott said it was more important that Mr Rudd name the election date.

Asked whether he was too scared to debate Mr Rudd he said he debated Mr Rudd every day.

“I mean, Mr Rudd can recall Parliament if he wishes to have a debate. As soon as he names the election date, then the election debate will be in full swing,” he said.

Mr Rudd said Friday he wanted “an open public debate on the question, to start off with, of debt and deficit”.

“Let's have it fully and out in the open at the National Press Club,” he said. “Sometime next week, sometime the following week but let's actually have a debate about the facts.”

Mr Abbott confirmed that the Coalition planned to abolish the carbon tax even if Mr Rudd changed the mechanism from a fixed to floating price as he says he is considering.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/abbott-ducks-rudds-call-for-economy-debate-20130630-2p4w9.html

Abbott has prior form with running. He wouldn't even got on Q&A with Gillard, what hope have you got of him going up against Rudd, who is a polished performer in front of the camera? I bet Abbott would rather back gay marriage than debate Rudd live before an election.

Abbott is filling his little budgie smugglers.

A pathetic coward.

The next few months are going to be good.

I doubt that Mr Abbott could accept an offer to do QandA unless he can have his daughters sitting either side of him nodding whenever he says anything  ;D

1. Abbott would wipe the floor with Rudd over the soaring debt and the continual deficits under Labor.
2. What's the point of a debate without an election date?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 3:50pm:

1. Abbott would wipe the floor with Rudd over the soaring debt and the continual deficits under Labor. 2. What's the point of a debate without an election date?

Well, if so, then Abbott would be happy to have the debate.  What relevance has the election date got to the proposal?  Answer = none.  It's just a very feeble excuse to avoid engagement.  He can run, but he will not be able to hide forever.

____ wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 3:14pm:

Asked on Network Ten whether he would accept the prime minister's offer to debate him next week at the National Press Club, Mr Abbott said it was more important that Mr Rudd name the election date. Asked whether he was too scared to debate Mr Rudd he said he debated Mr Rudd every day. “I mean, Mr Rudd can recall Parliament if he wishes to have a debate. As soon as he names the election date, then the election debate will be in full swing,” he said. Mr Rudd said Friday he wanted “an open public debate on the question, to start off with, of debt and deficit”. “Let's have it fully and out in the open at the National Press Club,” he said. “Sometime next week, sometime the following week but let's actually have a debate about the facts.” Mr Abbott confirmed that the Coalition planned to abolish the carbon tax even if Mr Rudd changed the mechanism from a fixed to floating price as he says he is considering. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/abbott-ducks-rudds-call-for-economy-debate-20130630-2p4w9.html

I agree with Tony let rudd and his ex gillard answer a question in QT... so that the people can make their own minds up.... come on ruddster isnt  that fair and transparent?....

well at least it would be a first in 5 years...


how about rudd go on BOLT at the same time???

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 3:50pm:

1. Abbott would wipe the floor with Rudd over the soaring debt and the continual deficits under Labor. 2. What's the point of a debate without an election date?

of course he would ... that's why he is running away instead.

As for the election date, what is the difference? We all know it will be towards the end of this year .... how does the date being Sept. 14 or Aug 30 change the debate in any way, shape or form? It's just an excuse to explain his running away.

Abbott would rather kiss the witch than debate Rudd.

Aussie wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 3:54pm:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jun 30th, 2013 at 3:50pm: 1. Abbott would wipe the floor with Rudd over the soaring debt and the continual deficits under Labor. 2. What's the point of a debate without an election date? Well, if so, then Abbott would be happy to have the debate.  What relevance has the election date got to the proposal?  Answer = none.  It's just a very feeble excuse to avoid engagement.  He can run, but he will not be able to hide forever.

from memory rudd =didnt get the costing of the computers right... nor the pinkbatts right... he made a mess of the stim by sending most of the money offshore..wont mention dead people...

the boat people   well did he ever have any idea what THAT MESS HE CREATED would cost us.???? will he put his HAND UP?? not bloody likely.

I am sure he is busy trying to sweep it all under the carpet....do you think the ruddster will answer those questions..in a debate?????

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 3:58pm:

Abbott would rather kiss the witch than debate Rudd.

do you mean you pan si????

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

cods wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 4:00pm:

Aussie wrote on Jun 30th, 2013 at 3:54pm: Armchair_Politician wrote on Jun 30th, 2013 at 3:50pm: 1. Abbott would wipe the floor with Rudd over the soaring debt and the continual deficits under Labor. 2. What's the point of a debate without an election date? Well, if so, then Abbott would be happy to have the debate.  What relevance has the election date got to the proposal?  Answer = none.  It's just a very feeble excuse to avoid engagement.  He can run, but he will not be able to hide forever. from memory rudd =didnt get the costing of the computers right... nor the pinkbatts right... he made a mess of the stim by sending most of the money offshore..wont mention dead people... the boat people   well did he ever have any idea what THAT MESS HE CREATED would cost us.???? will he put his HAND UP?? not bloody likely. I am sure he is busy trying to sweep it all under the carpet....do you think the ruddster will answer those questions..in a debate?????

you'll never know if Abbott won't debate him .... so you agree then, Abbott should do the debate instead of running like chicken little?

John Smith wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 3:57pm:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jun 30th, 2013 at 3:50pm: 1. Abbott would wipe the floor with Rudd over the soaring debt and the continual deficits under Labor. 2. What's the point of a debate without an election date? of course he would ... that's why he is running away instead. As for the election date, what is the difference? We all know it will be towards the end of this year .... how does the date being Sept. 14 or Aug 30 change the debate in any way, shape or form? It's just an excuse to explain his running away.

We all know why Rudd wants a debate now. he's out of ideas and needs to steal Tony's, as he did with Howard in 07. Rudd has no original ideas - he's the ultimate "me too" politician.

cods wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 4:01pm:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jun 30th, 2013 at 3:58pm: Abbott would rather kiss the witch than debate Rudd. do you mean you pan si???? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

because you never partake in personal abuse do you Cods .......  ::) ::)

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 4:03pm:

John Smith wrote on Jun 30th, 2013 at 3:57pm: Armchair_Politician wrote on Jun 30th, 2013 at 3:50pm: 1. Abbott would wipe the floor with Rudd over the soaring debt and the continual deficits under Labor. 2. What's the point of a debate without an election date? of course he would ... that's why he is running away instead. As for the election date, what is the difference? We all know it will be towards the end of this year .... how does the date being Sept. 14 or Aug 30 change the debate in any way, shape or form? It's just an excuse to explain his running away. We all know why Rudd wants a debate now. he's out of ideas and needs to steal Tony's, as he did with Howard in 07. Rudd has no original ideas - he's the ultimate "me too" politician.

That would be true if Abbott actually had any to steal .....

Quote:

I agree with Tony let rudd and his ex gillard answer a question in QT... so that the people can make their own minds up.... come on ruddster isnt  that fair and transparent?.... well at least it would be a first in 5 years...

What would be a first, cods?  And further, what better than a debate between the two outside the Kindergarden?



Quote:

how about rudd go on BOLT at the same time???

Simple.  While Q&A has established credility, Bolt has established he is a partisan commercial lackey of Gina's et al, and has zero credibility, just like the stupid populous shock jocks like Jones.

how about rudd go on BOLT at the same time???


He's trying to WIN votes, not lose them.

He should keep away from the shock jocks, none of them have an IQ over 75.

Why doesn't Mr Abbott debate Mr Rudd instead of hiding behind Bolt and Jones?

I would love to see Abbott versus  Rudd in a debate, Rudd's track reads like a copy of what went on at Malabar Sewerage works last week.

Rudd's record in his stint as PM is deplorable.

The Pink Batts

Every school gets a new hall whether they needed it or not.

The NBN

The dismantling of an efficient effective boats program to let in 45,000 bludgers.

The borrowings from China 350 billion last count

Yew.. Rudd the Great PM...not

an election-style debate is fine.  All it needs is an actual election and it can be on.  But the australian economy has suffered under this faux-election nonsense all year.  name the date and bring it on otherwise stop electioneering ad expecting everyone else to do it as well.

Who said it needed to be an election style debate?  No-one did.  Rudd called Abbott on a debate.......next week. 

If Abbott has all the marbles (as you would assert) why would he not readily accept, salivating at the prospect?  We all know why.  He is running as low as possible.....but soon enough, he will have to come out for us all (even you) to see.

Aussie wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 7:59pm:

Who said it needed to be an election style debate?  No-one did.  Rudd called Abbott on a debate.......next week.  If Abbott has all the marbles (as you would assert) why would he not readily accept, salivating at the prospect?  We all know why.  He is running as low as possible.....but soon enough, he will have to come out for us all (even you) to see.

He won't debate Rudd - Rudd is 10 times smarter than Abbott.

A blast from the past!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH-AafkQPEo

Words and music by roy orbison and joe melson

Just runnin scared each place we go
So afraid that he might show
Yeah, runnin scared, what would I do
If he came back and wanted you

Just runnin scared, feelin low
Runnin scared, you love him so
Just runnin scared, afraid to lose
If he came back which one would you choose

Then all at once he was standing there
So sure of himself, his head in the air
My heart was breaking, which one would it be
You turned around and walked away from me.

;)

Run Tony Run.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzTMN-S1tbs

Aussie wrote on Jun 30^th, 2013 at 7:59pm:

Who said it needed to be an election style debate?  No-one did.  Rudd called Abbott on a debate.......next week.  If Abbott has all the marbles (as you would assert) why would he not readily accept, salivating at the prospect?  We all know why.  He is running as low as possible.....but soon enough, he will have to come out for us all (even you) to see.

how many public debates do our pollies have outside of election campaigns??

not many that I can think of in fact none.