Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Otto von Bismarck/archive1

Otto von Bismarck
This is an excellent article one of many on wikipedia that just need improving slightly to become a featured article. Minimal improvement is needed for feature status I thinkErnst Stavro Blofeld 09:09, 17 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Note - this was previously nominated (quite a while back) Raul654 09:12, 17 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Comment while it seems to be a good article to me there is a clear lack of foot notes. I think the ofcus for inmprovement should eb to add inline cites. Jeltz talk  10:27, 17 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Oppose whilst inline cites are not strictly necessary, having "citation needed" tags is unacceptable for a FA. Batmanand | Talk 10:46, 17 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Oppose. The article needs citation. Looking through, some sections are incomplete--the Franco-Prussian War for example. The fact that there's no mention of Count Waldersee either is troubling. This article isn't ready for primetime yet. Mackensen (talk) 12:40, 17 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Strong Oppose. The lead is too long (see WP:LEAD) & has way too many wikilinks (see WP:CONTEXT. Several of the linked dates, for example, could easily be deleted). The prose certainly isn't compelling ("The latter was enlarged in 1871 to the German Empire, as the first Chancellor of which Bismarck served until 1890", for example, is very awkward. Several other cases can be found). There are serious problems with citations: (1) inline cites are lacking (especially glaring wrt direct quotes), (2) there are several fact tags & (3) the citation style is inconsistent (there are two in-text external links, one footnote, several Harvard cites & books in the bibliography). Several pov problems: Bismarck "refuted" claims that he was a reactionary with "generous social reform and welfare"? According to whom? "Bismarck played a crucial role in uniting most of the Confederation's members"? I'm sure he did but this fails both WP:NPOV and WP:V unless it is attributed to some reputable source. von Molke was an 'organizational genius'? Says who? etc. etc. (Generally speaking, superlatives like "crushing defeat", "tremendous victory," "greatest statesman" should be avoided unless attributed). Also... why only one external link? Surely there is more good info on the web like, for example, his memoirs? (Compare, say, Richard Dawkins). Lastly, shouldn't the box be moved down? Mi kk er (...) 01:38, 18 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Object per above arguments. Needs a lot of work before it gets anywhere near FA.UberCryxic 04:50, 18 September 2006 (UTC)