In Boston, the word is ‘mum’, dissent gets no invitation

[BaysideLiberal]

With Kerry’s chances so fragile, dissent gets no invitation

BOSTON - The Democratic Party, for decades burdened by deep divisions and misgivings about how and how much America should engage the world, is preparing for the first time since 1972 to make American foreign policy and national security a centerpiece of their national campaign.

This is not to suggest that the divisions that have haunted the party since Vietnam are gone; they are not. Many of the rank-and-file Democratic delegates gathered here to hand the party’s standard to Sen. John Kerry remain deeply suspicious of the size of America’s defense budget and the deployment of American troops in places like Iraq.

The vast majority of these Democrats also put domestic economic and social concerns ahead of foreign policy issues, and many of them object privately to Kerry’s stated intention, if elected, to keep American troops in Iraq and even to expanding the size of the U.S. Army by 40,000 troops.

Yet there appears to be a consensus, at least among the party regulars, that Kerry’s chances of unseating George W. Bush are too fragile to survive any kind of internal debate on issues of national security.

“Inside the Fleet Center, you’re not going to see a whole lot of dissent on any aspect of foreign policy,” says a Howard Dean supporter from Wisconsin who asked not to be named. “I think people understand that even if national security isn’t a Democratic advantage, the Iraq war has made it one of Bush’s vulnerabilities. So, basically, we’ll hold our noses and applaud.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5520038/

[Justice]

1. Being United Implies Fragile? Don't You Love The Words These Folks Use

This is too rich.

[underpants]

3. Literally written by a MORAN

That is too funny.

[bushisanidiot]

2. "Fragile"? Kerry is trouncing AWOL in the polls..

heh.. sounds like wishful thinking from the repuke media

[rock]

4. Note that bushsucks*'s chance are not fragile

They're not that good.

[underpants]

6. A second look this isn't too bad of an analysis-but I LOVED this

As the prospect of a Kerry presidency has gone from unlikely to conceivable in recent months,

Uh-huh

[displacedtexan]

5. What a crock!

Cheney it, MSNBC! I just want the news!

No facts to support the use of "fragile," "divisions," or "many... deeply suspicious."

This MSRNCBC fish-wrap excuse for reporting is why Journalism classes have been reduced to multiple-choice spelling and grammar exercises: rightwing fascist fundies can't pass real Journalism tests.

[russian33]

7. I love it when they quote sources who 'ask not to be named'

[lottie244]

8. Evidently Jimmy Carter didn't get the word!

The most honest President, the most decent President of all time.