Ted Kennedy's in the hospital after a seizure -- and DU on its home page

[pnwmom]

highlights an anti-Kennedy article by Gore Vidal, a longtime Kennedy hater.

I turned to DU expecting to see something about Ted Kennedy at the top of the page and found this Vidal crap instead.

Disgusting.

[krispos42]

1. It was there a couple of hours ago

:shrug:

[pnwmom]

6. I don't understand your point. The Vidal post could be pulled from its position

at the top of the home page. Why hasn't it?

[krispos42]

15. I don't know

I do know that when I got on at about 3:30pm CDT today the top headline was about Kennedy, and it had over 200 reponses.

I don't know why it was changed, but it WAS on there.

[pnwmom]

18. Then it's WORSE than I thought. They deliberately removed a headline

about Kennedy's hospitalization, and replaced it with a post that features a writer who is a known Kennedy family hater.

Disgusting.

[krispos42]

29. That is true

However, unlike Senator Johnson, Kennedy's problem is less serious than first reported and he's not in any danger. That might be why the headline eventually changed.

Or their might be a time limit on those things, and it changed automatically. :shrug:

[pnwmom]

32. He's not in "immediate danger." That's very different from saying he's

not in any danger.

They're still trying to figure out what caused the seizure. In a 76 year old, this could still be very serious.

[krispos42]

40. Yes it is and yes it can be

I'm not arguing with you. In fact, I think you're probably right in this case!

:-)

[Ian David]

2. Uhm... Ted Kennedy endorsed Obama, too. Geesh!

See prior threads:

Ted Kennedy endorses Obama so what does Hillary hack Taylor Marsh do:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4238848&mesg_id=4238848

(Reprise) Ted Kennedy endorses Barack Obama
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6009886&mesg_id=6009886

Caroline Kennedy Endorses Obama
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3158122

Ted Kennedy endorsing Obama
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3158670

Will Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama have an effect on you?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4230976

And thanks for playing, "Who's Not Paying Attention!"

[pnwmom]

19. All the MORE reason for my post.

What has Kennedy done today to deserve having an article at the top of the DU's home page with quotes against his family like this:

“I never believed in Jack’s charisma,” Vidal says shortly. JFK, he believes, was “one of our worst presidents”; Bobby, his brother, was “a phoney, a little Torquemada”; and their father, Joseph, was “a crook – should have been in jail”.

So much for Camelot. “But Jack had great charm,” he adds. “So has Obama. He’s better educated than Jack. And he’s been a working senator. Jack never went to the office – he wanted the presidency and his father bought it for him.”

[uppityperson]

3. there were a while ago today. Relax, we did it already

[pnwmom]

20. I'm not going to relax until Kennedy is safely out of the hospital.

And I think it's disrespectful to what he and his family are going through to highlight an article with quotes such as this (in the link):

“I never believed in Jack’s charisma,” Vidal says shortly. JFK, he believes, was “one of our worst presidents”; Bobby, his brother, was “a phoney, a little Torquemada”; and their father, Joseph, was “a crook – should have been in jail”.

So much for Camelot. “But Jack had great charm,” he adds. “So has Obama. He’s better educated than Jack. And he’s been a working senator. Jack never went to the office – he wanted the presidency and his father bought it for him.”

[uppityperson]

37. I meant relax that it wasn't top of DU home page right now as it was and you missed it.

I hope he gets better soon.

[pnwmom]

41. It shouldn't have been replaced by an article giving a prominent podium

to a Kennedy family hater -- IMHO.

[uppityperson]

42. Looking to see. I was wrong, I thought you meant Greatest page.

I see what you mean and I agree. Thank you.

[pnwmom]

44. Thanks. No, I understand that articles on the Greatest page end up there

automatically. But there must be some decision-making process involved in what gets put on the top of the home page, since it's not related to the number of recommends.

[uppityperson]

45. I noticed that. Not the recommends but something else. I agree.

[davidinalameda]

4. send a message to the admins

[pnwmom]

9. I did. I'm waiting. n/t

[Warpy]

5. The article compares JFK to Obama

and doesn't disparage Senator Kennedy.

[greenbriar]

8. exactly

thank you

I was about to say the same thing

[pnwmom]

10. Gore Vidal hates all the Kennedys. This doesn't belong there today. n/t

[Ian David]

12. Didn't know Gore Vidal hated The Kennedy's. But it looks like this year, they're on the same team.

They both endorse Obama.

[BlooInBloo]

13. He would hate all rigidly entrenched power institutions.

[pnwmom]

14. From the article in the OP:

“I never believed in Jack’s charisma,” Vidal says shortly. JFK, he believes, was “one of our worst presidents”; Bobby, his brother, was “a phoney, a little Torquemada”; and their father, Joseph, was “a crook – should have been in jail”.

So much for Camelot. “But Jack had great charm,” he adds. “So has Obama. He’s better educated than Jack. And he’s been a working senator. Jack never went to the office – he wanted the presidency and his father bought it for him.”

[Truth2Tell]

39. So when can material critical of sick politicians

be posted or not posted on DU?

Would you be kind enough to create a spreadsheet or memo that breaks down the particulars? Maybe include which illnesses, sicknesses or emergencies would qualify for special consideration, and also what levels of criticism or negative reference would be acceptable in each case?

I think that would be really helpful for everyone. Thanks.

[pnwmom]

43. Common sense should prevail here. At Kennedy's age, a seizure could

be related to a life-threatening illness. You'd think that DU could show more respect to someone who has been among the most progressive leaders in the Senate for decades -- and who has strongly endorsed Obama. Instead, we prominently feature an article attempting to promote Obama by slamming Kennedy's brother.

[Darth_Kitten]

46. The Kennedy's became one person?

The Kennedys support both Obama and Clinton.

Didn't know Ted had a seizure. Get well soon, Ted. :(

[pnwmom]

47. Ted Kennedy endorsed Obama, as you know.

Obama's supporters should pay him the respect of not trying to build Obama up by disparaging other members of Kennedy's family -- especially when Ted is in the hospital.

Perhaps the OP was posted before Ted was hospitalized -- but there is no reason for the administrators to choose this Gore Vidal promo for the top of the home page.

[Ian David]

11. Those of us who have been paying attention know Ted Kennedy endosed Obama. n/t

[Warpy]

17. That too. Besides, anyone who bothered to read the article

would know that the real bile is directed at McCain.

The article belongs where it is.

[pnwmom]

21. I read the article. You must have missed this anti-Kennedy family bile:

“I never believed in Jack’s charisma,” Vidal says shortly. JFK, he believes, was “one of our worst presidents”; Bobby, his brother, was “a phoney, a little Torquemada”; and their father, Joseph, was “a crook – should have been in jail”.

So much for Camelot. “But Jack had great charm,” he adds. “So has Obama. He’s better educated than Jack. And he’s been a working senator. Jack never went to the office – he wanted the presidency and his father bought it for him.”

__________

There is no reason to put an article containing this kind of crap at the top of the home page on a day like today.

[Warpy]

25. It seems that's as far as you read

and nowhere was Senator Ted Kennedy mentioned.

[pnwmom]

27. So what? It slams the whole Kennedy family. It doesn't belong at the top of

the home page on a day Ted Kennedy is in the hospital.

[Ian David]

50. I couldn't get past page thirty of Gore Vidal's bizarre book about some kind of museum...

... where some sort of time-travel thing was taking place.

Still, that doesn't excuse me for not having read his entire message post before clicking "recommend."

[Henny Penny]

23. You do know who Torquemada was don't you...????

[pnwmom]

24. Exactly. Why would an Obama supporter post an article containing slams of

the Kennedy family on the same day Ted Kennedy is hospitalized? And why haven't the administrators removed it from its entirely unnecessary position at the top of the home page?

Or are you implying that Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Obama contains an implicit authorization for Obama supporters to slam the Kennedy family?

[Ian David]

49. Well, I'm embarrassed to admit that I read the headline that a well-known author endorsed Obama..

and hit the "recommend" button without actually noting that it also contained an anti-Kennedy screed.

I guess it is I, after all, who wins the prize for playing, "People who aren't paying attention."

[pnwmom]

52. Congratulations! You have just demonstrated,

in acknowledging a mistake, a degree of self-confidence that seems to becoming more rare around here.

:applause:


But the main reason I was upset wasn't that people like you had given the article some recommends -- it was that someone in charge decided to post it at the top of the home page, on what must be a scary day for that whole family. Fortunately, it's gone now.

[pnwmom]

26. The article disparages both his brothers and his father.

Vidal can't stand the Kennedy family. This particular article just didn't include a mention of Ted.

[MethuenProgressive]

7. It's not done on purpose, I'm sure.

...

[pnwmom]

16. No, but it should be purposely removed from the home page, where it is

unnecessarily highlighted.

[babylonsister]

22. No it shouldn't. Freedom of speech and expression is a lovely

thing. It wasn't purposely posted because Kennedy had a seizure today.

Perspective: my m-i-l, in MA, had a small stroke today. Her son wanted to know why everyone was concentrating on Kennedy today instead of his mom. We 'might' get to talk to her tomorrow.

IOW, don't take it so personally if you can help yourself.

[pnwmom]

28. So sorry about your mother-in-law, babylon sister.

But my beef isn't with the post being made, and it doesn't concern freedom of speech. I object to the post being chosen for the honor of the top position on the home page, which was entirely unnecessary given the events of today.

And I don't have anything "personal" at stake here. I just think we -- and especially Obama's supporters, since he endorsed him months ago -- owe this man some respect today.

[babylonsister]

31. Do you know how posts are chosen? I don't.

:shrug: I do think it depends on the popularity of them, and trying not to duplicate the same ideas.

And thanks for your concern, sincerely. All we know is it was a 'small' stroke. She's still in emergency.

[pnwmom]

36. Is she at some distance away?

Sending my thoughts and prayers for your family.

[babylonsister]

38. Yes.

She's in MA, we're in TX, but we visited a few weeks ago. It's tough being so far away, but there are some brothers there taking care of things for the moment. And thanks.

[EFerrari]

30. Maybe you should do a search for all the images of Gore and Jack

campaigning together. I think you might be missing something here.

[pnwmom]

34. Vidal obviously had a change of heart -- or else he's a raging hypocrite:

From the article in the OP:

“I never believed in Jack’s charisma,” Vidal says shortly. JFK, he believes, was “one of our worst presidents”; Bobby, his brother, was “a phoney, a little Torquemada”; and their father, Joseph, was “a crook – should have been in jail”.

So much for Camelot. “But Jack had great charm,” he adds. “So has Obama. He’s better educated than Jack. And he’s been a working senator. Jack never went to the office – he wanted the presidency and his father bought it for him.”

[EFerrari]

35. Gore has never been easy on anyone, including himself

and his life partner.

:shrug:

ETA links:

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Diclotican]

48. pnwmom

pnwmom

I really hope mr Kennedy would be well. But he may have to stop eating all this food he is eating.. It can't be smart in his age to eat what he is eating I guess:eyes:

I hope he get well.. And I do hope he get all the medical need he need to get well..

Well, I might get him a little prayer tonight, just to be on the right side of things...

Both US, and the rest of the world need some like him, even with all his flaws, he is better than many other in Your Congress or Senate still..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[pnwmom]

51. Thank you, Diclotican.

I agree -- even with his flaws, Kennedy is among the better people in the Senate.

And I very much appreciate your kind thoughts. Kindness is a wonderful thing, in ANY language.

[Diclotican]

53. pnwmom

pnwmom

Yes, if just the US senate had more of his kind.. Then the US would be in so much better shape... Mr Kennedy could just live his life as his please, he is definitely rich enough to do it. But had served the US for many, many years now... Even that he also have had some flaws that is bad...

Kindness is a language who are under stable in all language I guess;).. We can just hope that mr Kennedy would be Ok, soon. And back in his job soon.. Maybe not as hardworking as he was before, he is a old man and my guess is that his body was telling him to go little slower now when he is passing 75. But he is still one of the grand old man on the Capitol Hill

Think if he was younger, with that sure name and was going for the Presidency... He would possible win by a landslide... The Kennedy name are still magical.... after almost 50 year after his brothers killing in Dallas...

Diclotican