Bob Levey (Barbara Tyroler)

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Levey Live: Speaking Freely
Washington Post Columnist
Friday, Oct. 4, 2002; 1 p.m. EDT

"Levey Live: Speaking Freely," hosted by Washington Post columnist Bob Levey, appears every Friday. It is a live, open-agenda discussion offering washingtonpost.com users around the world the opportunity to ask questions and discuss topics of their choice with Bob.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Washington, D.C.: Hi Bob,

You wouldn't happen to know who the quote "If not us, who? If not now, when?" is first attributed to, would you?

Thanks!

Bob Levey: Sorry, I don't. I'm solid as a rock on "Hit 'em where they ain't" (Willie Keeler) or "I know it when I see it" (Potter Stewart on the definition of pornography). But not this one. Click-sters?

La Plata, Md.: Hi Bob, I'm having an arguement with a friend, hopefully you can help. It's about right turns on red. At normal traffic lights, you have to stop, check to make sure no one is coming, then you can proceed. But what if there is a light for a right turn? Do you obey the light and not turn until it's green? Or do the same, stop, look, go rules apply?

Also, some lights don't have a specific light for turning right, but a different kind of light. The type with the one red, then two columns of lights, the left side for going straight, the right for turning right. What are the right turn rules for this type of light?

Thanks so much!

Bob Levey: As far as I know, you can make a right on red whenever the coast is clear and whenever no signt ells you otherwise. Doesn't matter if there's a red arrow pointing to the right, or any other kind of "split light" arrangement.

Washington, D.C.: So Bob,

Any chance that this batch of random shootings will convince those in charge to outlaw guns? Or at least bring about tighter controls on them?

Bob Levey: I'm sure the horrors of yesterday will bring the gun issue to the fore in the Maryland governors' race--although I'm at a loss to understand how any governor (or any law) could have prevented what happened. We're obviously dealing with someone who is an excellent long-range marksman, and who doesn't care a whit about gun control measures.

Chevy Chase, Md.: Mr. Levey, you've mentioned several times that you used to own a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which you sold in disgust after 11 months in 1996. The experience prompted you to write a column saying Washingtonians in general were getting tired of the SUV fad. Knowing how much you despise these vehicles, why did you ever buy one in the first place?

Bob Levey: As I've written many times, we got "rhythymed" into it by the bleats of our then-14-year-old daughter, who thought it would be cool. It wasn't.

Phila, PA: Hello Bob, haven't seen your column archive updated since 9/30. I don't read the print edition of the Post, but certainly access it online daily. Are you on vacation or am I not looking in the right place? I fear the withdraw symptoms will soon become apparant to those around me.....

Bob Levey: I've been out of the paper (and technically on vacation) since Sept. 30, in keeping with the byline strike that our union has been running here at The Post. Same reason why you see almost no bylines, either on washingtonpost.com or in the ink-on-paper Post. My column will return--and my name will return along with it--on Monday.
I know The Case of The Disappearing Bylines has been very confusing to readers. I hate to bring them into the middle of this (or any) labor dispute, because I like readers and respect them tremendously. But sometimes push comes to shove

Alexandria, Va.: Since your column hasn't been appearing in solidary with the by-line strike, what have you been doing these 4 days? Working on your book, cleaning the office, taking some well deserved days off, working on next week's columns?

Bob Levey: Working on next week's columns. I was going to do some investigative reporting near the $5 win window at Pimlico, but cooler heads prevailed

Arlington, Va.: Can you please explain why all of a sudden The Washington Post has all of a sudden NOT stated who writes an article or what writes a movie review? This is really unprofessional to me.

Bob Levey: See previous answer re the byline strike. I wouldn't call it unprofessional. I'd call it a contractual right that our union won at the bargaining table--the right to withhold one's name at any time, for any reason. It's a right that our union (and many Posties who are not members of the union) are exercising this week.

Silver Spring, Md.: Mr. Levey: As a recent college graduate with a strong interest in labor relations, I am a bit perplexed by the byline strike. Is its purpose simply to draw attention to the ongoing contract dispute in much the same way flight attendants might do by picketing in front of National Airport? Furthermore, since I would never dream of "crossing a picket line" was my decision not to buy the Post this week appropriate?

Bob Levey: You've got it precisely right. The idea is to draw attention to the stalemated negotiations, and hope that some public pressure will be brought to bear on management to improve its offer (believe me, it could stand improving).
As for whether you would have "crossed a picket line" by reading The Post this week, I'd say no. First of all, we didn't erect a picket line. Second, we didn't call a strike in the generally accepted meaning of the phrase. This is a job action. We've never urged that people boycott The Post. That might be a secondary boycott as defined by U.S. labor law, which would make our union (and maybe its members) liable for penalties. All we're trying to do is turn up the heat a few degrees.

Centreville, Va.: Just moved out to Centreville as I got married and I've decided to use my car to commute to my office Bethesda. One, Metro is really not an option for us out here. Sure, we could pay .50 cents for a Metro bus to Vienna, then $3.45 each way, rush hour to Bethesda. Total: $7.90

Or I could drive to Vienna and park there for about the same cost.

I figure it costs about $12.00 a day to use my car when you factor in payment, gas and insurance. I get free parking at my job, so there's a plus for driving in each day.

Bottom line, I really don't want to have some bozo's brief case smack me on my head when I am seated on Metro, if I can find a seat, nor do I want to deal with the headaches of transferring at Metro Center. Add in the inevitable delays and busted escalators and I'll take the roomy ride with good music every day over Metro.

It takes me roughly 45 minutes to drive to work as opposed to an hour an a half on the Metro bus and train. No brainer here.

I love my job too much to ever consider leaving Bethesda but would offer to carpool if I met a couple people interested in doing so.

Bob Levey: Take free parking out of the equation and you have an entirely different calculation, don't you?
As I've said for ages, free parking is the "bennie" that limits public transit use in this community more than any other. If employers were really serious about being good citizens, they'd subsidize Farecards and force one-to-a-car drivers (and all others) to pay for parking.

Rockville, Md.: I am glad that the Montgomery County school system elected to lock down the schools yesterday in light of the situation. I did hear rumblings from colleagues saying how ridiculous it was but, given the fact that no one knew where these people were, it seemed the smart thing to do. However, for there to be any question about whether or not there would be school today did seem ridiculous. I wonder why people would even consider not sending their kids to school. What are your thoughts?

Bob Levey: Prudence is never wrong, even when it's inconvenient. I don't think the schools had much choice. Of course, where does the ripple effect end? Should we have locked down schools in Northern Maryland just because the shooters migth have driven there (or been able to, in the time elapsed)? I'd say no--but I'd hate to have been wrong if more shooting had erupted in Rising Sun, or Delaware.

Md.: Bob,

I haven't heard anyone make mention of the fact that the killings in Montgomery County seem to form a geometric pattern. Maybe I've seen too many movies, but they form a diamond with sort of a tail on top. With the latest killing being the point - sort of like an arrow. What do you think?

Bob Levey: You've seen too many movies

Silver Spring, Md.: Expanding things a bit beyond D.C., to something that's related to sports but certainly not strictly a sports question, which city do you think will eventually snag the 2012 Olympics? I thought Rio had a chance, but the ability of a drug gang to shut down much of the city can't help. I've heard some IOC officials want Africa to get its first Olympic Games, so Cape Town might have a chance, despite some infrastructure problems. Paris again? Non!

Bob Levey: Dan Knise was our guest on "Levey Live" a few days ago (Dan speaheaded the DC-Baltimore effort). He said he thinks New York will get the U.S. nod, because of 9/11 sympathy. He guessed that Paris might get the overall nod.

Va: Why do journalism professionals need a union? Aren't you all grown-up people capable of negotiating your own terms of employment? Millions of us do it all the time with no ill effects.

Bob Levey: Because we're stronger as a group than any of us could be as individuals. Sure, it's LIKELY that we grown-up people could negotiate a nice package of salary and benefits. The union (and the union contract) makes it a CERTAINTY.

Driver Welfare: Parking is the free bennie? Since we subsidize road building, and we subsidize gas engines by separating fuel costs from the costs of cleaning up the pollution that it leaves behind, people who drive (and yes, I am one of them) are getting far more subsidies than free parking.

Bob Levey: Good point. I was talking about a DIRECT bennie. You're certainly right about all the indirect bennies.

Kingstowne, Va.: So, when can we walk into Borders to buy "The Clarry"?

Bob Levey: My agent is reading it.
My fingers are turning blue from being crossed.
Who knows?
Maybe in a year?
Pleasssssssssssssssssssssse?

Washington, D.C.: Bob - WRONG on the right on red. I was pulled over a few years ago making a right on a red arrow in Washington Circle. The red arrow means no turn on red.

Not obvious, and I notice that a lot of No Turn On Red signs have gone up to accompany the arrows. But even if there is none - you can get ticketed. (Lucky for me, I only got a warning.)

Now, can we get someone to enforce it? There are a bunch of these arrow in Logan Circle and people tear through them at 30 mph without even looking or pausing.

Bob Levey: Sorry, but I think the cop who nailed you was wrong. Unless there's a NO RIGHT ON RED sign, I don't think an arrow means anything that a normal light doesn't mean.

Gaithersburg, Md.: Greetings Bob!

Re: Montgomery County shootings.

Marc Fisher's chat earlier this week was maddening to me. All of the pro-gun nuts were out saying that if people were armed (you can STILL actually buy guns if you want in Maryland folks), this kind of stuff wouldn't happen.

What hogwash. As if I'm gonna be packing heat in my belt a la the old west while filling gas. Meanwhile, a couple of crazies shoot me when I'm not looking and -- bang -- I'm dead. Some help easier gun laws were to me then, huh?

Blaming Townsend and Maryland's gun laws for people being surprised and shot are just as stupid as blaming Bush for not anticipating that crazies would fly a plane into the World Trade Center. Both are surprise acts of violence that no one would be prepared for under normal circumstances.

Repeat for you gun nuts: packing heat would have had zero impact on saving these five lives; if you want, you can still buy a gun in Maryland; this is nothing related to existing gun laws.

Sheesh.

washingtonpost.com: Potomac Confidential Live (washingtonpost.com, Oct. 3, 2002)

Bob Levey: The last thing we ever want to do, it seems to me, is to start shooting BACK at the crazies (or making it easier to do that). These were random acts of violence yesterday. If every man, woman and child in Montgomery County had been packing heat, the killings still would have happened, because the killer had the element of surprise on his side.

Reston, Va.: The first sacrifice of parenthood begins this weekend (2 months before the baby is due). My beautiful, fun-to-drive, 2-door, 3 year-old Acura Integra will need to be traded in for a more practical 4-door car to allow for ease in driving around a baby and accompanying car seat. Any ideas on safe, still-fun, reasonably priced, used car models? The research starts now; the purchase in the next month. Thanks!

Bob Levey: I don't know how much of a keep-up-with-the-Joneses creature you are, or how much looks matter to you, but the impoverished Levey family has done mighty well with
A) a 10-year-old Toyota station wagoin and
B) a sickeningly dented and scratched 11-year-old Toyota sedan.
There must have been something in the water in 1992 and 1993. Our two buggies churn on.
I have no idea what Consumer Reports would say about Toyotas this old. But I know what I say. I'll give up either of them when they pry the keys from my cold, dead fingers.

Disappointed Levey Fan: Bob, it seems to this observer that the concerns of your union and its subsequent byline strike are utterly petty given the grim events in Montgomery County yesterday. You mentioned last week that when the mood strikes, you often write a column on deadline for the next day's paper. Marc Fisher did just as much yesterday for today's Post. Good grief, if five random killings doesn't convince Levey to offer some insights on deadline, or to cross the proverbial picket line for one day, what would? I suspect I'm not the only Levey fan disappointed by your inaction. Though I will read your response to this with an open mind. Thank you in advance for addressing this critical issue.

Bob Levey: Sorry, but being a member of a union means to me that you support the union, whether a dull news day hits or a super-horrible crime hits. The whole point is to withhold bylines NO MATTER WHAT. You may call that petty. I call it basic group discipline.

Laurel: Bob, the main limitation to transit use is that few of us commute from a home in the inner suburbs to a job downtown like you do.

Until that long-term plan for cross-suburban rail service gets implemented, most of us just don't have practical alternatives.

Bob Levey: I understand that, and so do the powers that be. Alas, this metropolitan area has seen its employment patterns change radically since the 1960s, when the Beltway was built and Metro was mapped out. To catch up now with county-to-county or within-one-county commuters is going to require BILLIONS (and at least two decades). To me, the ONLY major issue in the Maryland governor's race is how much dough (and political muscle) is the next governor willing to put behind transportation improvements of all sorts. This was the ONLY major issue in the Virginia governor's race, too.

Arlington, Va.: Bob, I was once standing on the corner of 15th and H waiting to cross. There was a cop at the intersection directing traffic and I waited for him to signal me to cross the street. Since he did not, I crossed when he gave traffic going in my direction permission to go. He ran over to me and told me that I had to wait for the walk light to go on. I told him to give me a ticket but that a policeman at an intersection overrides the traffic light. He let me. Who was right?

Bob Levey: A policeman at an intersection is always the supreme authority.

Md.: Erlich's got a strong record of supporting the sale of assault weapons in MD. If that turns out to be what was used, do you think that it will hurt him politically?

Bob Levey: Probably a little. Guilt by association is very powerful. But as I said earlier, this would be very unfair, both to him and to Townsend. Neither of them could have done a damn thing to have prevented this tragedy if it had happened on the watch of either.

Washington, D.C.: I didn't think it would take long for someone to use yesterday's multiple shootings as an excuse for more gun control. We don't know enough about the situation to determine whether a gun law would have prevented the tragedy (I have doubts about gun laws in general, but that's another story). We don't know if this was a legally-purchased gun or an illegally-purchased one. We don't know if it was newly legally purchased (and thus covered by MD's ballistic fingerprinting law) or older. We know nothing about the shooter except that he/she is a good shot and used a .22 cal long arm (the most common caliber). We, as a state, should wait for more information before trying to decide what (if any) laws should be enacted to try to prevent this sort of thing.

Bob Levey: Amen to patience. Thank you

Bethesda, Md.: Hello Bobster (the formerly rotund Ro-Bare!)

Will your column on Moday have the neologism winners. I thought I entered some goodies but sinec you haven't called I guess I didn't win. Oh well, here's to trying next time.

Have a great weekend

Bob Levey: Yes, the Monday column will be chock full of neologisms. Sorry, you didn't win, but please keep trying.

Washington, D.C.: Call me dense, but please explain to me exactly what withholding a byline accomplishes? My question doesn't mean I agree or disagre with your union, but I just don't see what this action does.

Bob Levey: As I said earlier, the byline strike calls attention to the bargaining stalemate, and it gives union members a chance to underline how deficient we beliueve the company's most recent offer is.
Do I think that a byline strike will achieve an agreement by itself? Of course not. Do I wish that bargaining would resume this very minute? Of course I do. Do I believe that labor agreements only get settled at the bargaining table, sooenr or later? Of course I do.
But do I believe that pressure often works? Yes, indeed, I do.

Silver Spring, Md.: Bob, re: the supposedly unknown quote, it was a misquote of Rabbi Hillel's famous quote, "“If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?”

Bob Levey: Thanks, SS

Bad pronunciation and pizza delivery in Mont. Co.: This is what the MCPD Chief said of the assassins, according to the Post.

"We're operating under the pretense that they are still in the area," Moose said today.

I think he meant "pretext." What is a reporter's responsibility when a word may be mis-pronounced, to report - to the nearest possible spelling - what was said or to report the intended word?

By the way, many people in Rockville were having lunch delivered yesterday, rather than going out. So it's OK for the delivermen to risk their lives?

Bob Levey: The official policy of The Post is not to clean up quotes. So if the chief doesn't choose the right word, we can't choose it for him.
As for ordering lunch to be delivered, I see your point. But I don't think this was a way of saying that a deliverers life was worth less. It was a way of asking that the process work the way it does on every other day. Any deliverer who feared for his life was free to say, "Thanks for your order, but I don't feel like being out and about today."

Washington, DC: What's your opinion of the Robert Torrecelli Senate race in New Jersey? Do you think he should be forced to stay on the ballot?

Bob Levey: I think any election should pose a serious, constructive choice. To force a name to remain on the ballot when the person attached to that name doesn't want to run produces a farce. How would the voters benefit?

12th Floor Metro Center: Do you think any Post reporters regret that this week of all weeks there was a byline strike. Some great news pieces in today's paper on yesterday's shootings and on Tuesday, some excellent reporting on I'm sorry to say I've already forgotten the subject matter, but I remember when I looked up to see who the reporter was, I was disappointed I didn't know who he/she was.

Bob Levey: No matter when this latest byline strike was scheduled, there would have been great stories without names atop them. Sure, the people who contributed to today's Montgomery covrage are probably a little disappointed. But they are more disappointed by the contract offer that this profitable company has put before them.

Falls Church, Va.: Bob: Could you use your pull at the Post to stop any more of those smarmy "I Ride My Bike To Work, You Should Too" articles that I see with regularity? When I worked in Arlington I'd sometimes take my bike in...but I didn't feel like I was changing the world nor did I try to convince others to do it. Now I work in College Park, and biking the Beltway just ain't possible. Perhaps I'm being oversensitive, but I can't be the only person bugged by these bike crusaders.

Bob Levey: My pull at The Post? Funny, I hadn't noticed that I had any. Your objection is duly posted and duly noted.

Kingstowne, Va.: Bob, I know you see only one movie a year. Well, given you and your son's lust for soccer, I highly recommend the Robert Duvall film "A Shot At Glory," about a fictional Scottish team that tries to scrape its way to the big leagues. Superb (if somewhat predictable) script and wonderful acting by Duvall, Michael Keaton and a former pro soccer star. Once you get used to the brogue accents, it's marvelous.

Bob Levey: They're lobbying me hard for the Greek wedding flick. Is "Glory" better than that?

Washington, D.C.: In light of yesterday's shootings, combined with the fact that her district has been redrawn to have a lot more blacks (read: Democrats), is Connie Morella screwed?

Bob Levey: Anyone who would cast a vote for or against Connie Morella because of the actions of some madman is beyond help.

Silver Spring, Md.: I just heard some refreshing news: both the Republican and Democrat parties in New Jersey have admitted that, in the name of honesty, they admit that they just want to do whatever will help win the election. No pontificating on either side. They said the same thing was true in the 2000 presidential election. Yeah, right.

Bob Levey: Thanks for the cynicism.
By the way, it's "Democratic" party, not "Democrat."
Your Rush is showing

N.Y.: It seems like you're only hurting yourselves by w/holding your byline. Why would the paper care if a writer's name is there?

All throughout journalism school at American U., every guest speaker (including you) mentioned that one of the reasons you went into it is to see your name in the paper. Seems like you're shooting yourself in the foot without doing much good at all.

Bob Levey: The paper cares very much. Just a few minutes ago, the executive editor sent a blizzard e-mail to the staff, thanking and congratulating those who produced today's Montgomery coverage--and noting that they should have had their names attached to their work. So you bet your sweet bippy that the paper cares if our names are there.
As for names-attached, I'm way, way beyond the ego rush that bylines and credit lines produce, and so are my colleagues. This business isn't about our egos, or the fatness of our scrapbooks. It's about being a professional, day in and day out--and being paid like one.

University Park, Md.: The Greek Wedding flick is fun, but slight and highly overrated. It's proof that people are so desparate for a nice, inoffensive movie in which no one dies or swears that a fluffy thing like this gets raves.

Bob Levey: I've got to say that any movie that lacks blood, lacks nudity, lacks a stupid car chase through the hills of San Francisco and lacks the F word (uttered 4,356 times) is going to be high on the Bob Levey hit parade.

Washington, D.C.: If you (or someone at the WP) writes a Pullitzer Prize winning article, can they still win it if there is no byline?

Bob Levey: I can't see why not. Although I have to say that I have never read the Pulitzer bylaws and have never seen a case of a no-byline news story winning a PP.

Arlington, Va.: Bob, why don't the reporters strike in a more conventional way, such as by not writing? Is it a point of professional pride, like "the news must go on?" While I don't mean to undermine their strike by purchasing the Post, I refuse to buy "that other paper" which is so slanted I can't stand it! I enjoy the Post writers' work and hope everything all works out for all involved.

Bob Levey: The union lacks the numbers to strike. Only a little more than half the eligible people belong. So the leadership has made the tactical judgment that a covnentional strike would hurt more than it would help.

Washington, DC: Re: NJ Election. It might produce a farce, as it did in Missouri when a dead man beat John Ashcroft. But Robert Torricelli knows the law, and he could have dropped out prior to 51 days before the election. The NJ Court's ruling simply allows politicians like Mr. Torricelli who are running behind in a race to drop out whenever they want (what's to stop them from dropping out a day before the race?) and have the party put someone else in. Do we want that unintended consequence?

Bob Levey: If Torricelli was so concerned about not tipping the Senate to the Republicans, why didn't he drop out four months ago? Like his buddy Clinton, he's all about himself, and not at all about the party he claims to love so much

Laurel, Md.: Could you explain how baseball could pass over Washington, DC, for San Juan, Puerto Rico? Are they begging for major league baseball over there in Puerto Rico? Does baseball really think that the Expos will make more money in San Juan than in Washington? Can they?

Is there anything, we, the baseball-paying fan can do to overthrow Bud Selig and put in a REAL commissioner?

Bob Levey: Please see the Levey column of Monday, Oct. 14, wherein The Bobster offers his prescription for what it'll really take for baseball to return here. Warning: My take may surprise you.

Washington, D.C.: Hi, Bob...

The Washington Baseball Club and the city had a public meeting this week to present the "5 finalists" for a possible new ballpark in town.

They are: RFK/Armory site, Mount Vernon Square, New York Avenue NE (near the new METRO), Noth Cap and I Street (near the GPO), and M Street SE/Navy Yard.

How about your quick ranking in order, 1-5, on what you'd like to see?

Bob Levey: Mount Vernon is a clear Number One. Baseball within walking distance of the new Convention Center, the new city museum and the burgeoning 7th Street corridor is a stone-cold winner.
New York Avenue is 2. The Metro stop and the relatively unbuilt-up area would give architcts a freer hand.
RFK/Armory is 3. I hate the idea of a new stadium going up alongside one that's still perfectly usable (as long as you renovate). Wasteful! Especially since not a cent of the public debt that built RFK has been retired.
North Capitol and Eye is 4. It's just too cluttered there. A baseball stadium shouldn't be shoehorned into a tiny sliver between large buildings.
Navy Yard is a runaway 5. Too far from downtown, too dank, too dreary

In Defense of Greek Wedding: It's not over-rated, Bob. Trust me, go see this one. Hey, I'm an Eva Cassidy fan. I wouldn't steer ya wrong!

Bob Levey: I'm leaning heavily this way..... Thanks for the nudge

N.Y.: So, if the paper (and .com) wants your name so badly, why isn't this forum being hosted by "A Washington Post Columnist?" Why is it acceptable to have your name posted here?

Bob Levey: Because I'm not an employee of washingtonpost.com, and I have no contract (and no contract beef) with that wholly separate organization. I'm a freelancer, doing a freelance job.
Yes, I'm VERY well aware that the same people own both businesses. Yes, I'm VERY well aware that you might call this a distinction without a difference. But it works for me.

Movies: C'mon Bob. You're a grown man - do your movie tastes run to only clean flicks or don't you like a little blud and guts every now and then?

Bob Levey: You'd really post this after what happened in Montgomery County yesterday? For shame....

Greenbelt, Md.: This is from the story on the shootings (in The Post),

"Heather Hurley, 28, of Wheaton, thinks the shooting spree is over but she's not taking any chances. Her elementary-school son, recently suspended from school, was coming to work with her. 'I'm not leaving him at home alone, not after yesterday,' Hurley said."

Since when is it okay to leave an elementary school child alone?

Bob Levey: If the kid is less than 9 (and it sounds as if he is), it's against the law to leave him alone anywhere. Good catch!

Va.: Laurel is right, to a point - but inter-burb rail won't fix it. The problem is larger - the burbs have been built in fundamentally dysfunctional ways.

Look at Tysons Corner. It's the size of a downtown, but it can't be served by rail because it's spread out. Buildings are separated by enormous parking lots and eight-lane roads. It's pedestrian unfriendly - not only is it dangerous, but everything's far apart. When you walk, you basically are walking through a dead zone with a parking lot on one side and high speed traffic on the other. People just won't do that.

Add to that the way that the planners through out years of basic common-sense road design and built a ton of cul de sacs that trap workers from multiple offer parks at a single light to get onto route 7, with no alternative - and you have something that's built to be congested, impossible to serve by rail, and which grinds to halt if one accident or problem blocks a chokepoint.

Now imagine if Tysons had been compressed into a smaller area, with taller buildings and underground parking. One of two rail stations could have been within an easy stroll of most of the workers and shoppers, there would be vibrant street life - in other words, it would be a nice place.

Maybe I'm a pessimist, but I believe DC's suburbs - particularly NoVA - are doomed to the next Los Angeles, choking to death on their traffic, impossible to fix, polluted, and ultimately places no one will want to be.

Bob Levey: The county officials who gave the green light to developers in the 1960s and 1970s have a lot to answer for, don't they? Thanks for a very solid take on this issue

Forest Glen, Md.: The answer to get the Expos is to go to the Orioles - night in and night out. By boycotting, all DC fans are doing is proving Angelos right that the Orioles are heavily dependant on us for revenue. And that argument means Selig will never give DC a team.

I, however, cannot abide to give that man any of my money and have, thus, resigned myself to have no live baseball in my life - unless I drive to Philly to see my Dbax.

Bob Levey: The trouble is that if you boycott the Orioles, and the gate continues to drop, the Orioles will be worth less, which makes it less likely that Angelos would sell.
However, I certainly agree that any and all pressure on Mr. Oriole is warranted. How about boycotss of those $6 hot dogs? That's a major piece of Angelos' profit. Hit him where it really will hurt him.

Washington, D.C.: Actually, the best movie of the year, hands down, is Miyazaki's "Spirited Away." Beautiful - no, stunning - animation, an intelligent and courageous girl heroine, full of fascinating and bizarre mythical characters, a lively story...and not an F-word, car chase or nude scene in there. A touch of violence, in a fairy-tale sort of way, but nothing awful or icky-gory.
Anything by Miyazaki, anywhere, anyhow, is worth seeing. Trust me.

Bob Levey: I'll coast this past the Jury Of Leveys to see whether Mr. Jaded might enjoy it. Thanks

Washington, D.C.: Given the preponderance of SUVs now, I have some modest (but logical, I think) proposals.

1. Since SUVs consume large amounts of gas and emit more emissions that normal cars, and increase the danger of damage, injury, and death to others because of their size and weight, it seems reasonable that they should pay an extra tax or registration fee, or have a different registration category than passenger cars, with accompanying fees. SUV drivers will complain - but I think this is a good example of the conservative principle of paying your own way rather than expecting others to subsidize you.

2. If you drive a lot (I do) it's obvious that many SUV drivers don't really know how to operate an SUV. Half don't seem to understand that it behaves differently then a car and seem to be on the verge of toppling over, while the other half have heard this and are so scared that they slow to 2mph to make a right turn. Many can't seem to turn from a right lane into a right lane - I am always seeing them shoot out across 2 or 3 lanes of traffic and then come back over into the lane they meant to be in.

If motorcyclists need a special license, and commercial drivers need a special license for their vehicles, we should require an SUV endorsement (and a special road and written test) before someone can legally get behind the wheel of the beasts.

Finally, if people buy them because they need to lug so many people and so many things around, why do I mostly see them being driven by one person, alone?

Bob Levey: So many SUV owners and drivers just want to be trendy, and to drive a cute vehicle. They don't THINK about what they're doing. Thanks for doing their thinking for them.

Bob Levey: Thank you, gang, for an excellent hour. We'll aim for more of same one week from today, same time.

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