ttbn,

What you accept or don't is up to you.
You are entitled to believe whatever you choose.
However I prefer facts - not opinions or beliefs.

The facts speak for themselves. Bob did give up
alcohol - and drank only non alcoholic drinks
after 1980. His wife, family, friends, acquaintances,
have all testified to that.

Also -

From all reports his state of mind was still
first class right up to the end. People who were
with him have confirmed this.

He also got to know Bill Shorten over time and was
aware of Bill's capabilities and background.
Hawke knew Shorten when he became Victorian
Secretary of the Australian Worker's Union in 1998
and National Secretary 3 years later. He also got
to know Shorten when Shorten won pre-selection and
a seat in Parliament and when Shorten was Parliamentary
Secretary and Minister during the Rudd-Gillard years,
spear-heading the creation of NDIS.

Bob Hawke would not have written an open letter to
voters calling on them to vote for Bill Shorten and
his team at Saturday's federal election if he didn't
think they were the best choice for the country.
Of that we can be certain.

AS Bob Hawke wrote:

"" While Bill's political opponents argue his trade union background is a liability for a future PM - I consider
it an asset as it was for me."

"It gives him the experience to achieve consensus with
business, unions, and community-based organisations for
the challenges that lie ahead."

Of course, as a man who devoted his life to labour, then Labor, who else could or would Bob Hawke recommend? Scott Morrison? He's the only option. If the biggest nitwit in the Labor party was the prime ministerial candidate, BH would still have to recommend him. And, I wouldn't dream of suggesting that he actually hasn't recommended the biggest nitwit.

For anyone interested in signing a condolence book
for Bob Hawke which will be presented to Hawke's
family Bill Shorten invites all Australians to
pay tribute to Bob Hawke in a national condolence book.
The following link explains:

http://mygc.com.au/bill-shorten-invites-australians-to-pay-tribute-to-bob-hawke-in-national-condolence-book/

Bob Hawke did not write an open letter to voters
for anyone else.

Foxy,

“The facts speak for themselves. Bob did give up
alcohol - and drank only non alcoholic drinks
after 1980. His wife, family, friends, acquaintances,
have all testified to that”.

They could all have been drunk (or lying), too.

I'm trying very hard to be conciliatory, Foxy, but I have to say you don't make it easy when you advise that I am “entitled to believe whatever (I) CHOOSE”, but you prefer FACTS, even though you don't have any facts, just hearsay. There was no “testifying”, no proof. Unless you were with Bob Hawke, yourself, 24/7, you simply don't know what went on behind closed doors any more than I do. And you seem to be totally aware of the hold alcohol has over people. It's not something a person with Hawke's drinking history can just put aside. He had a serious drinking problem.

You are also entitled to think what you wish about what. But you give the impression that everyone else is wrong, and you are right. An unfortunate trait in people trying to convince others to listen to them.

Now, you will not believe a thing I say. You've had your vote, and it's all over for you. No need to carry like a butcher's magpie until the next election.

ttbn,

I've expressed what I've learned from what's on
record. What I have researched, and what
I have read from several of Hawke's
biographies.

The facts that I have garnered - have been
resourced. Yours I assume are based on your
opinions only.

However, as I stated - I'm not arguing with
you. I'm merely stating what I have learned.

You are of course - entitled to disagree with me.

It makes for robust discussions.