Bob Hawke's death and implications for the election

[Sdajii]

This is the first time I've ever been sad about the death of a politician, and I suspect it'll be a long time before it happens again. I was having a lengthy chat about what a good PM Hawke was, with an Australian guy I met here in Vietnam just a couple of days before it happened. We definitely haven't had a PM as good as Hawke since him, and there don't seem to be any contenders in the same calibre anywhere on the horizon.

Abbott did make a shameless exploitation of Hawke's death, but it wasn't as bad as people made out. Still, trying to win points from the death of your opponent is pretty poor form. And if you're as hated as Abbott is (only partially deserved, but the hatred is still there), it's probably not a strategic move anyway. But charm was never, ever Abbott's strong suit, which is why he is so hated.

Hawke will definitely be one of the most missed of Australian politicians. Perhaps one of the few actually missed at all!

 

[sptrawler]

I think the "Liberal Head" jibe was out of line considering the circumstances but to me it also comes across as historically inaccurate. After all, the whole western world shifted to the third-way / new-right free market way of thinking in that era. If anything, it was Keating that flirted with neo-Liberalism more than anyone else in the ALP. He even sided with NSW Libs selling wires and poles a few years ago.

But Hawke didn't have a Liberal head. To say he did is to pretend the Liberals were the architects of the free market reforms when in reality they were merely spectators.

Not wanting to say anything bad, but didnt the Government of that era , use the armed forces and allow the use of overseas workers, to strike break?
One would think that would have been a Liberal kind of thing.

 

[basilio]

I began his thread suggesting the stories about Bob Hawkes success as a Labour PM could be an electoral advantage for Labour.

Maybe. Turns out this focus on Bob Hawke has meant that some "really stoopid xhit " from politicians like Barnaby Joyce has been lost. In fact the overall focus on Hawke has taken the heat off the Libs for a couple of days.

Go figure

'They fired the first shot': Barnaby Joyce warns Coalition at stake as Senate civil war rages
https://www.smh.com.au/federal-elec...s-senate-civil-war-rages-20190515-p51nnk.html

 

[Smurf1976]

I began his thread suggesting the stories about Bob Hawkes success as a Labour PM could be an electoral advantage for Labour

What's missing from Australian politics at the moment is everything Hawke stood for and was good at.

Integrity, intelligence, an ability to fully comprehend the opposing viewpoint and a willingness to take risks.

The current crop are risk averse and that's a bad thing not a good thing.

All sides at present have a profound lack of ability to properly understand the opposing viewpoint. The corporate world is not immune from the same problem - some companies manage to do it but others don't and usually suffer accordingly.

No point even mentioning the integrity and intelligence bits, that goes without saying.

As for the effect on the election, well we're about to find out but, and I mean this from a neutral but respectful perspective, Hawke's death has brought publicity and attention to Labor's past successes that no amount of money could have bought as paid advertising. Everywhere on every media outlet and even from opposing politicians.

On the other hand it has also kept the heat off the other side as you say.

 

[PZ99]

Not wanting to say anything bad, but didnt the Government of that era , use the armed forces and allow the use of overseas workers, to strike break?
One would think that would have been a Liberal kind of thing.

Not sure about that event but I guess it's all academic anyway given Abbott's lost his seat.

 

[sptrawler]

Not sure about that event but I guess it's all academic anyway given Abbott's lost his seat.

I didnt want to mention the Hirohito incident, because you should never speak ill of the dead.
RIP

 

[sptrawler]

I began his thread suggesting the stories about Bob Hawkes success as a Labour PM could be an electoral advantage for Labour.

Maybe. Turns out this focus on Bob Hawke has meant that some "really stoopid xhit " from politicians like Barnaby Joyce has been lost. In fact the overall focus on Hawke has taken the heat off the Libs for a couple of days.

Go figure

'They fired the first shot': Barnaby Joyce warns Coalition at stake as Senate civil war rages
https://www.smh.com.au/federal-elec...s-senate-civil-war-rages-20190515-p51nnk.html

If you had been a worker, on the workshop floor, you wouldnt have had to ask that question.
The ones that rejoiced, werent recipients, if he had been the mesiah(as he could have been) he wouldnt have been rolled.

 

[So_Cynical]

Has to be worth an extra 1 or 2% for Labor, i thought that ScoMo had closed the gap a little, Labor will win easy now...RIP Bob and thanks for the memory's.

No sympathy vote for Bob - im genuinely surprised, perhaps we are not that sentimental anymore?

 

[Macquack]

No sympathy vote for Bob - im genuinely surprised, perhaps we are not that sentimental anymore?

The untimely death of Bob Hawke and the mass media coverage of his great life over the last few days did huge damage to Labors election chances because it highlighted the fact that compared to Bob, Bill Shorten had ZERO charisma.

 

[wayneL]

The untimely death of Bob Hawke and the mass media coverage of his great life over the last few days did huge damage to Labors election chances because it highlighted the fact that compared to Bob, Bill Shorten had ZERO charisma.

I think it highlighted that Bob had a more inclusive agenda. He understood that employer magnanimity relied on their business success. The accord was a formula for mutual prosperity.

 

[basilio]

Spectacular sendoff for Bob Hawke at Sydney Opera House. Even ScoMo made a good speech!!.

‘Long live love’: Blanche d’Apulget pays tribute to Bob Hawke in memorial service – politics live
Party greats, members of former PM’s family and those who knew him best led the public service at the Sydney Opera House

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...bob-hawke-memorial-labor-sydney-politics-live

 

[jbocker]

Spectacular sendoff for Bob Hawke at Sydney Opera House. Even ScoMo made a good speech!!.

‘Long live love’: Blanche d’Apulget pays tribute to Bob Hawke in memorial service – politics live
Party greats, members of former PM’s family and those who knew him best led the public service at the Sydney Opera House

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...bob-hawke-memorial-labor-sydney-politics-live

I started watching it reluctantly, but really glad I did. I felt good that as a nation both main parties were there in numbers. Respect.

 

[sptrawler]

Spectacular sendoff for Bob Hawke at Sydney Opera House. Even ScoMo made a good speech!!.

‘Long live love’: Blanche d’Apulget pays tribute to Bob Hawke in memorial service – politics live
Party greats, members of former PM’s family and those who knew him best led the public service at the Sydney Opera House

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...bob-hawke-memorial-labor-sydney-politics-live

A shame Hazel couldnt have seen it.IMO