Coverage of Sen Kennedy

[kyscott]

Is it me, or does it appear that CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, et al are rooting for Kennedy do die? Is that why they are staying with this story ALL FRIGGIN DAY LONG[/b?

Cable TV news never ceases to amaze me in what THEY think a story is. I'm so glad I have Tivo.

 

[landtuna]

Why would the supposedly left-leaning orgs you mention (well, OK, except for Faux) want Kennedy to die?

More likely they are covering him because:

1. Saturday is a slow news day.
2. Kennedy is one of the most senior senators and one of a very few serving 40+ years.

 

[raccoonradio]

SaveWRKO.com says: "FOX is fawning all over Kennedy, lavishing an embarrassing amount of praise upon him. So much for the network's supposed "right-wing" agenda."
Even they... (all the channels I saw spoke highly of him)

 

[kyscott]

Why would the supposedly left-leaning orgs you mention (well, OK, except for Faux) want Kennedy to die?

More likely they are covering him because:

1. Saturday is a slow news day.
2. Kennedy is one of the most senior senators and one of a very few serving 40+ years.

Because they want to be the ones to break it before anyone else. Kennedy had a seziure and was taken to the hospital. What more is there to report?

And it's interesting how you liberals want to make everything political. I was not speaking in political terms. I was making a comment on our tragedy TV media. Not a political statement.

 

[kyscott]

SaveWRKO.com says: "FOX is fawning all over Kennedy, lavishing an embarrassing amount of praise upon him. So much for the network's supposed "right-wing" agenda."
Even they... (all the channels I saw spoke highly of him)

They were reporting the story almost as if he had died. I watched it all for about five minutes then moved on. If the man gets better and is released, tell me. If he takes a turn for the worse, tell me. But for Fox to stay with the story and report on it the way they did was a bit awkward to watch.

 

[landtuna]

I'm sure Bilgewater O'Rabid and Tush Porkbaugh and the rest of Faux Newz are hoping and praying old Eddie bites the dust. And......Saturday's are slow news days.

Disclaimer: This is not, in any way or interpretation, a "political" post.

 

[kyscott]

I'm sure Bilgewater O'Rabid and Tush Porkbaugh and the rest of Faux Newz are hoping and praying old Eddie bites the dust. And......Saturday's are slow news days.

Disclaimer: This is not, in any way or interpretation, a "political" post.

Ironic how you call O'Reilly and Limbaugh names, yet you say it's not a political post. If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. You are a liberal, tuna. Admit it. I'm a conservative, yet you don't see me using the unlimited adjectives I could think off off the top of my head to refer to Senator Kennedy. My original post was a comment on the rediculious amount of coverage this non-story was getting.

 

[johnnyu]

I am a conserative. Probably to the right of Atilla the Hun. That being said, I do not wish any harm to Senator Kennedy or any other human being. I only hope for a speedy and complete recovery.

 

[dhett]

The non-stop coverage is because he is a Kennedy. Period. The Kennedys, for good or for bad, have been anointed by the news media as America's Royal Family, and are treated as such. Whether Ted Kennedy is liberal or conservative is irrelevant.

 

[brian4]

I'm surprised and upset that Fox News preempted Fox News Watch just to rehash the story, when they were going to have the Fox Report 30 minutes later. It's one thing if Senator Kennedy died, but not 'just in the hospital.'

The non-stop coverage is because he is a Kennedy. Period. The Kennedys, for good or for bad, have been anointed by the news media as America's Royal Family, and are treated as such. Whether Ted Kennedy is liberal or conservative is irrelevant.

I 100% agree. I don't remember if Sen Tim Johnson (D-SD) got this much coverage back in December 2006 when he had his medical problems.

 

[oldschooltv]

I hope the Senator recovers and wish him well.

However, it really irks me to see the media swarm a regional politician like this. He represents Massachussetts in Washington, DC. This is not breaking news to viewers in Florida, Iowa or Oregon. I think it's totally rediculous. I'm tired of certain families running the show in this country, or thinking they run the show because of the media attention they're given. We're starting to turn into a monarchy for crying out loud. And what about the millions of other Americans sitting in hospital beds across the country? What makes this man more important? What about all the elderly people who end up in the hospital in this country because they have to choose between medicine, food, or paying their bills? I respect the Kennedy family, but we need to move on and so do they.

To the media: Please report news that is relevant.

 

[Nate Wesley]

SaveWRKO.com says: "FOX is fawning all over Kennedy, lavishing an embarrassing amount of praise upon him. So much for the network's supposed "right-wing" agenda."
Even they... (all the channels I saw spoke highly of him)

They've still got the other six days to program.

And they do lean to right.

 

[landtuna]

Ironic how you call O'Reilly and Limbaugh names, yet you say it's not a political post. If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. You are a liberal, tuna. Admit it. I'm a conservative, yet you don't see me using the unlimited adjectives I could think off off the top of my head to refer to Senator Kennedy. My original post was a comment on the rediculious amount of coverage this non-story was getting.

If it waddles like a duck it is probably Fatbaugh. If it quacks like a duck it is probably O'Really. I call them names because they do likewise and disclose their personalities as blowhard buffoons in the process. I do not respect them and, to me, they represent a large part of what has become disgraceful in American broadcasting. I would use other terms but this is a family board.

And, as far a me being a liberal.....not much. I am far more conservative, in the moral and political sense, than you could possibly imagine. And not knowing me how could you even make that statement? But one thing I am and that is disrespect of idiots, liars and blowhards. I do not tollerate them no matter on which side of the fence they call home.

As far as a "non news" story.....as another poster said "Kennedy is a regional politician". Nothing could be further from the truth. I am no fan of Kennedy or of the Kennedy family. But he is the second-most senior senator serving today and has been a leader and spokesman for the Democrat party for decades. Just as Goldwater was considered an icon of the Republican party so is Kennedy for the Democrats. And with the current close party ratios in Congress today the loss of any member of either party is definately news.

But I do agree with your description of "rediculous coverage" on Fox even though I never watch hate Faux Newz. My suggestion would be to turn the dial. You'll be much happier in the long run.

 

[formeraa]

OldSchool --

Let's see -- why is Ted Kennedy more than a regional politician??? He is, I believe, the second most senior US Senator. American History shows that his brother, John, was President and then assassinated and his other brother, Robert, was assassinated running for President. I guess that Ted might warrant a little bit more than "regional" coverage.

Putting the shoe on the other foot, I would expect more than token coverage if, say, Jeb Bush had a sudden medical issue. By your logic, nobody outside of Florida would care. However, he's the brother of a President and the son of a President. So, I would expect national coverage.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

With CNN, MSNBC, etc. broadcasting to a nationwide audience, regional coverage isn't really possible.

I was at work when this story broke, saw it on the wire, and didn't feel the need to pursue additional coverage.

 

[oldschooltv]

OldSchool --

Let's see -- why is Ted Kennedy more than a regional politician??? He is, I believe, the second most senior US Senator. American History shows that his brother, John, was President and then assassinated and his other brother, Robert, was assassinated running for President. I guess that Ted might warrant a little bit more than "regional" coverage.

Putting the shoe on the other foot, I would expect more than token coverage if, say, Jeb Bush had a sudden medical issue. By your logic, nobody outside of Florida would care. However, he's the brother of a President and the son of a President. So, I would expect national coverage.

I understand all of this. But you missed my point. This is not a monarchy. They're not part of an American royal family. Or are they? Sometimes I wonder, seeing how certain families are treated, whether it's Kennedy or Bush kin. Last time I checked, I thought this was a democratic Republic? I'm just tired of these pompous politicians. I don't care who is related to whom or what their role was. We need new blood. Enough of this ancient history. The media doesn't help at all by glorifying these people.

 

[KeithE4]

OldSchool --

Let's see -- why is Ted Kennedy more than a regional politician??? He is, I believe, the second most senior US Senator. American History shows that his brother, John, was President and then assassinated and his other brother, Robert, was assassinated running for President. I guess that Ted might warrant a little bit more than "regional" coverage.

Putting the shoe on the other foot, I would expect more than token coverage if, say, Jeb Bush had a sudden medical issue. By your logic, nobody outside of Florida would care. However, he's the brother of a President and the son of a President. So, I would expect national coverage.

I understand all of this. But you missed my point. This is not a monarchy. They're not part of an American royal family. Or are they? Sometimes I wonder, seeing how certain families are treated, whether it's Kennedy or Bush kin. Last time I checked, I thought this was a democratic Republic? I'm just tired of these pompous politicians. I don't care who is related to whom or what their role was. We need new blood. Enough of this ancient history. The media doesn't help at all by glorifying these people.

Presidents' families get treated as semi-royalty if more than one member held/holds an elective or appointed office in the federal gummint (other that said President). Such as the following:

Kennedys - Ambassador Joe, Senator/President Jack, Senator/Attorney General Robert, Senator Teddy. And the many, many offspring, both living and dead.

Bushes - Sentator Prescott, CIA Director/Ambassador/Congressman/President George-Daddy, President George-Dubya, Governor Jeb.

Clintons - President Bill & Senator Hillary. Imagine if Chelsea ever decides to run for something - national coverage guaranteed even if she runs for State Senator, let alone a national office.

Roosevelts - Presidents Theodore & Franklin, Ambassador Eleanor.

Other Presidents' families also held office, but except for the Adamses, I'd be surprised if as much attention was given to this fact in the 19th century, before the advent of mass media. This bald-faced butt-kissing fawning over political "royal families" really started with FDR, went overboard with the Kennedys, and continues unabated with the Bushes & Clintons.

 

[kyscott]

Teddy is the perfect example for the need of term limits. Serving in Congress was never meant to be a career. I believe that some have touched on it before, but the only reason he's been in the Senate as long as he has is because of his last name.

That being said, he's recovering and doing well. All the "news" channels look foolish now because if the importance they gave to the non-story. It was almost like they were afraid to break away for fear that he would have died while they were on normal programming and they would not be able to be the first to break the story.

 

[raccoonradio]

Ted has been Senator since the year I was born.

I'm 46.


Maybe eventually someone else will take over for him.

Mary Jo never got the chance to recover....

 

[LKellerIII]

"Teddy is the perfect example for the need of term limits. Serving in Congress was never meant to be a career. I believe that some have touched on it before, but the only reason he's been in the Senate as long as he has is because of his last name."

Personally, I'm in favor of term limits. We have them in California for state legislators. Though I'm often sorry to see that a good one has to go because his/her time is up, it also brings in new blood and new ideas.

However, I'd argue with your assertion that serving in Congress "was never meant to be a career." In the 18th and 19th centuries, many senators and congressmen were career politicians and had long careers. A couple even returned to Congress after serving as President.

Also - agree with him or not, Ted Kennedy is a liberal touchstone, and he has served as long as he has because he is from a liberal state. Mitt Romney had to be a liberal/moderate to get elected Governor there. Also remember, Romney ran against Kennedy for the Senate in 1994 and was a tough opponent. but Kennedy ended up beating him with 58% of the vote.