No one seems to be writing opinion pieces quite the way I would, so I decided to do it myself.

The name? Taverns are places where one goes to discuss the interesting events and things in the world, so this is my tavern.

I will offer my views on politics, economics, and whatever else strikes my fancy.
I will occasionally publish the entire article from another journal for purposes of causing discussion.

What is this Republican Convention about??

Are you like me? Confused about what this Republican Party is trying to present at its convention?

Ezra Klein has the closest thing to an answer I have seen yet. He is posting at Kevin Drums' blog Washington Monthly.

Ezra Klein
SEPTEMBER SURPRISE...This has been a -- what's the adjective I'm looking for? -- surprising convention. We high-falutin media personnel (particularly us intern/blockers) love our pre-event storylines, it makes covering the convention so much easier. And this time, the storyline was not only obvious, but seemingly based in fact. With McCain and Giuliani headlining the first night, Arnold taking the second, and fair-weather Democrat Zell Miller attaching himself to the third, it seemed clear that the Republicans were going to paint a hopeful, inclusive portrait of their party. But then, between McCain's call-out of Moore and Miller's Emperor Palpatinesque performance, a funny thing happened. It became clear that moderation was not the theme of the week and a new narrative was needed. In the resulting scramble for storylines, two distinct narratives have emerged:

? Illusion, the first, has been best expressed by the LA Weekly's Josh Bearman. This launches from the observation that the delegates seem, well, unexcited. Where the Democratic convention offered crushing crowds and enough body heat to render the Fleet Center suitable for baking, the Republican convention seems sparsely attended and unenthusiastic, to the point that Maryland Lt. Governor (and token black guy) William Steele had to go camp-counselor on the delegates, repeatedly exhorting the crowd to turn up the volume for the renomination of the ticket. There's been no attempt to set forth an agenda, little effort to build up Bush and no feeling of security or strength emanating from the stage. Instead, we've seen fear-mongering, a focus on this dangerous world, and an assurance that John Kerry will bring the country to its knees, right before handing Osama (c'mon, you remember him) a key to the gates.

Tonight, I fully expect Bush to try and make himself loveable. But the Republicans have spent the rest of the convention demonizing the Democrats, and along with Bush's appearances on fishing shows, speeches at Nascar rallies and advertisements in red states, that speaks to a significant uncertainty that moderates are reachable or important in this election.

If you are a moderate, or a half way educated individual, why would you buy the garbage the Republican Party is trying to pass off on us?

Fear.

There is no other answer to that question. They are offering us the option of supporting them because they promise success in the war on terror and they tell you that Kerry does not make such an absolute promise.

But they don't tell you how they will make it work. It is just a "Trust us!" statement, and they ask you to ignore the idiotic decisions made after we invaded both Afghanistan and Iraq. They ask you to ignore the fact that Iran and North Korea are greater threats than Iraq ever was, but that they have no way of dealing with either. Essentially, they are ignoring the real problems, and threatening you with the lesser set of problems that they have opted to deal with.

They offer us a picture of fear, but as an alternative they offer us George Bush, a man who has never failed to fail to deal with a problem he was faced with.

Bush has made many promises, and never lived up to any of them. But he made some beautiful promises. Of course, they were never funded, or didn't work, but he made great promises. Just as he is doing now.

What else does he have to offer?? Just promises. No results, just promises.

Look for the nastiest campaign of the last hundred years in the next two months. Bush has nothing else to offer except anger, lies, promises and misrepresentations.

He will then ask his supporters to carry out the promises he has made. Then ask if that is the kind of people who should be in charge of the very serious problems of terrorism and the economy.