The Democrats are in Boston, following the carefully drawn script of their quadrennial convention. As carefully planned as have been all the presidential conventions since 1960, the Democratic National Convention expects to adjourn at week’s end with its presidential ticket of Kerry and Edwards and a party platform of virtually unanimous approval.

Since 1960, the conventions of both parties have been little but great weeklong pep rallies staged for television. Organizers have planned, rigged and managed to feign a unity that seldom exists (nor should it necessarily exist) in any political organization.