So here we go. I don’t know why I’m bothering to live-blog the 2007 election debate but…

7:31pm: Rules of engagement declared by some 16 year old guy from Sky News.

7:32pm: Rudd: Future, future, future.

7:34pm: Rudd: “Implement an education revolution.” Whatever that means.

7:31pm: Howard: “My fellow Australians.” I just spewed.

7:36pm: Howard: It’s all about Don Bradman, man.

7:37pm: Howard: Love growth.

7:41pm: McBec just proposed a drinking game where we sip whenever Krudd says “mining boom.”

7:45pm: Howard: “I have a fantastic team.” I think I just sprayed my dinner out of my nose. Brilliant.

7:47pm: Both leaders: I’m more economic conservative than you, bitch.

7:53pm: Howard trying to be all small government over tax cuts despite his government being the largest yet.

7:55pm: Rudd kicking arse. “Leveling” with Australian people that he cannot promise lower interest rates. Nice.

7:56pm: Liberal = good. Labor = evil. The election in six words according to Howard.

7:58pm: Did Howard actually say that he accepts responsibility for stuff rather than passing the buck to media, colleagues etc.? Surely I mis-heard.

8:04pm: Rudd: Productivity, education, broadband. You got that?

8:06pm: Rudd: “Howard during eleven long years.” That’s a focus group-tested term if ever I heard it.

8:07pm: First time Rudd addresses Howard directly. Brilliant! Howard: “That’s pathetic.”

8:11pm: Peter Costello reminded to follow the rules (shut up in the audience) set down by his own Party.

8:13pm: Text message from my Mum: JHo is p’ing me off

8:14pm: My response to Mum: Let’s vote the bastard out!

8:15pm: Mum’s reply: I’m there

8:17pm: Rudd: “Good to get a word in.” Damn straight. Been the Howard show for the past five minutes.

8:19pm: Text message from Mum: Lost track of how many times he has referred to what ‘he’ has done. Coalition 1 mention. Clearly it’s about the ‘team’.

8:23pm: Paul Kelly slams Rudd — quite reasonably — over lack of detail on climate change detail.

8:24pm: Howard: humans responsible for climate change but our response must not affect the human economy. There’s logic there, I’m sure.

8:25pm: Howard announces Climate Change Fund to subsidise low income earners in the purchase of cleaner energy.

8:27pm: Howard: We’re going to meet our Kyoto targets. Only because we’re reducing land clearing.

8:28pm: Text message from Mum: I think I must have misheard Rudd’s response on targets?

8:29pm: My response: No. There wasn’t one. Not a proper one.

8:30pm: Mum’s reply: Thank God — I thought I must’ve been having a senior moment.

8:35pm: Howard, no matter what, will not answer whether the threat of terrorism has increased or decreased since the Iraq invasion. Evading desperately and Rudd capitalises.

8:37pm: Text message from Mum: Terrorists overboard!

8:39pm: The way Rudd said “calibrate” and “SECDET” with his wonky mouth made shivers go up my spine.

8:43pm: Rudd just lied through his (wonky) teeth about “global opposition to the death penalty.” There was a big-arse but.

8:45pm: Howard: “I’m sorry but not sorry.”

8:48pm: Rudd: An apology is a bridge.

8:49pm: Howard blatantly dodged Rudd’s redundancy-under-WorkChoices question.

8:52pm: Rudd nicely slaps Howard down on his debating skillz.

8:54pm: Howard to Rudd: “I don’t care about you, bitch.”

8:55pm: Howard: The war in Iraq is all about image.

8:57pm: Rudd totally out-cooling Howard.

8:59pm: Rudd: “The best for the kids.” That’s right — Labor: Doin’ It For The Kidz.

9:00pm: Howard: “I’m an optimist, but it’s in the hands of the resources.” What?

9:01pm: Howard: “It’s all about the strong economy.”

9:02pm: Howard: Who cares about education revolution when all that matters is “reading, spelling and adding up.” Sounds like the bare freakin’ bones of education to me. Lowest common denominator.

9:03pm: The Editor and McBec’s score: Howard — 6; Rudd — 8.

9:04pm: The Editor’s mum’s score: Howard — 3.5; Rudd — 8.5.