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+--- Thread: RIP Bob Hawke (/thread-4304.html)
Re: RIP Bob Hawke - PaulP - 05-17-2019
Mixed feelings about Hawke. I felt as though he gave Keating’s neo-liberal agenda a leftie sheen which it didn’t deserve. He seemed affable enough, but his hobnobbing with Holmes à Court and Bond never sat well with me, especially for an ex-union boss. Great Labor politicians of the past (Chifley, Whitlam, JJ Cahill) would be turning in their graves. And the way he treated his ex wife after he took up with Blanche was pretty poor IMO. His daughter had to come out and publicly defend Hazel from accusations that she was a gold digger, accusations that were never countered by Hawke himself.
Given the fairly low political standards under which we currently live, it may seem churlish to pan him, but I’m only a partial fan.
Re: RIP Bob Hawke - Gointocarlton - 05-17-2019
(05-17-2019, 04:01 AM)PaulP link Wrote:Mixed feelings about Hawke. I felt as though he gave Keating’s neo-liberal agenda a leftie sheen which it didn’t deserve. He seemed affable enough, but his hobnobbing with Holmes à Court and Bond never sat well with me, especially for an ex-union boss. Great Labor politicians of the past (Chifley, Whitlam, JJ Cahill) would be turning in their graves. And the way he treated his ex wife after he took up with Blanche was pretty poor IMO. His daughter had to come out and publicly defend Hazel from accusations that she was a gold digger, accusations that were never countered by Hawke himself.To use football parlance, his "off field" form was very ordinary at times.
Given the fairly low political standards under which we currently live, it may seem churlish to pan him, but I’m only a partial fan.
As for hobnobbing with the affluent, it happens all the time and quite frankly makes the world go round. I read a couple of quotes in the small paper from him, made me stop and think about the type of bloke he was:
“Do you know why I have credibility? Because I don’t exude morality”
“The essence of power is the knowledge that what you do is going to have an effect, not just an immediate but perhaps a lifelong effect, on the happiness and wellbeing of millions of people and so I think the essence of power is to be conscious of what it can mean for others”
On how he wanted to be remembered
“As a bloke who loved his country, still does. And loves Australians and who wasn’t essentially changed by high office.
On the third one, he certainly was the same old Bob IMO.
Re: RIP Bob Hawke - cookie2 - 05-17-2019
@ GTC/Paul
He was no saint for sure but his off-field antics are not exactly rare within the political class. Ruthlessness, being two-faced, carefully choosing when to comment, partying etc. are all too prevalent - some just cover it up better than others. The Simon Pures of this world are a rare breed in politics.
Re: RIP Bob Hawke - ElwoodBlues1 - 05-17-2019
(05-17-2019, 04:01 AM)PaulP link Wrote:Mixed feelings about Hawke. I felt as though he gave Keating’s neo-liberal agenda a leftie sheen which it didn’t deserve. He seemed affable enough, but his hobnobbing with Holmes à Court and Bond never sat well with me, especially for an ex-union boss. Great Labor politicians of the past (Chifley, Whitlam, JJ Cahill) would be turning in their graves. And the way he treated his ex wife after he took up with Blanche was pretty poor IMO. His daughter had to come out and publicly defend Hazel from accusations that she was a gold digger, accusations that were never countered by Hawke himself.
Given the fairly low political standards under which we currently live, it may seem churlish to pan him, but I’m only a partial fan.
Hawke was a good prime minister, as good as they can be as they all get turned into something worse when they get the job, but his treatment of his ex wife was terrible, gold digging was the domain of the replacement IMHO.
Re: RIP Bob Hawke - cookie2 - 05-17-2019
(05-17-2019, 06:42 AM)ElwoodBlues1 link Wrote:Hawke was a good prime minister, as good as they can be as they all get turned into something worse when they get the job, but his treatment of his ex wife was terrible, gold digging was the domain of the replacement IMHO.
And some prime ministerial candidates are the ones doing the gold digging.
Re: RIP Bob Hawke - ElwoodBlues1 - 05-17-2019
(05-17-2019, 06:46 AM)cookie2 link Wrote:And some prime ministerial candidates are the ones doing the gold digging.
Think you have to be the megalomaniac type to want the job and be prepared to sell everything from your soul to your grandmother
to make it happen. Hustling and being almost Real Estate agent like in the skills of deception are all part of the makeup of a wannabe PM.
ScoMo and Bill Shorten are over qualified for the job on this basis....
Re: RIP Bob Hawke - cookie2 - 05-17-2019
(05-17-2019, 06:59 AM)ElwoodBlues1 link Wrote:Think you have to be the megalomaniac type to want the job and be prepared to sell everything from your soul to your grandmother
to make it happen. Hustling and being almost Real Estate agent like in the skills of deception are all part of the makeup of a wannabe PM.
ScoMo and Bill Shorten are over qualified for the job on this basis....
Very true EB. Making a good marriage can also be a very useful tool to have in the bag.
Re: RIP Bob Hawke - Baggers - 05-17-2019
(05-17-2019, 04:01 AM)PaulP link Wrote:Mixed feelings about Hawke. I felt as though he gave Keating’s neo-liberal agenda a leftie sheen which it didn’t deserve. He seemed affable enough, but his hobnobbing with Holmes à Court and Bond never sat well with me, especially for an ex-union boss. Great Labor politicians of the past (Chifley, Whitlam, JJ Cahill) would be turning in their graves. And the way he treated his ex wife after he took up with Blanche was pretty poor IMO. His daughter had to come out and publicly defend Hazel from accusations that she was a gold digger, accusations that were never countered by Hawke himself.
Given the fairly low political standards under which we currently live, it may seem churlish to pan him, but I’m only a partial fan.
So what did you like about him?
Re: RIP Bob Hawke - Baggers - 05-17-2019
(05-17-2019, 06:59 AM)ElwoodBlues1 link Wrote:Think you have to be the megalomaniac type to want the job and be prepared to sell everything from your soul to your grandmother
to make it happen. Hustling and being almost Real Estate agent like in the skills of deception are all part of the makeup of a wannabe PM.
ScoMo and Bill Shorten are over qualified for the job on this basis....
Couldn't have said it better.
If you're looking for credibility, leadership and integrity we need only look across the 'ditch.'
Re: RIP Bob Hawke - cookie2 - 05-17-2019
Not to mention Oscar-winning acting skills.