"Levey Live: Speaking Freely," hosted by Washington Post columnist Bob Levey, appears every Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern time. 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.

Bob Levey Dan Murano/TWP

"Levey Live: Speaking Freely" differs from Bob's regular Tuesday noon Web show--which features newsmakers and Post writers. The Friday event is what talk radio folks call an "open mike" show, your chance to schmooze with Bob about anything in his Monday through Friday columns , in the news or on your mind.

Here is a transcript of today's show:

Chicago, Il: I grew up in Rockville. The story in the post last week about the music teacher charged with sex abuse has rocked my family and friends. Do you know how hard it is for any student who admires a teacher to later find out that she could have been a sexual predator?

Bob Levey: I can only imagine--and shudder. But I shudder, too, at how easy it would be to "set up" a former teacher with accusations such as this. What if it's the fabrication of a jealous or demented former student? How do you ever restore your reputation?

Hartford, CT: During the course of the past week, momentum seems to have shifted in the Senate impeachment trial from the letter of the law to the spirit. While the house managers can make a logical argument equating perjury to bribery in federal sentencing guidelines, the president's attorneys are almost willing to concede such perjury and claim this fails to justify impeachment and removal from office. Do you believe the constitution should be strictly and literally interpreted, or should we allow the flexibility of extenuating conditions and speculation about the framers' intentions to accompany what is written?

Bob Levey: Since this is a totally political process--and was designed to be--I don't see how there's any alternative to flexibility. You seem to think there's an absolute way of "strictly and literally" defining what the founders had in mind. There is? That's what all the debate is about.

Washington, D.C.: Whatever happened to Jennifer Frey? She used to have a fairly regular column in the sports page, but lately there's been nothing. Has she moved on and I missed it?

Bob Levey: She's on maternity leave, a far more demanding sport than any where you wear a number

Clarksville, MD: Some Metrorail drivers are the epitome of smoothness, while others jerk the train around like it's a yo yo? Why is this?

Bob Levey: The Metrorail "driver" doesn't drive the train. A computer does. When you feel jerks, they're being produced by the jerks down at central computer control. All the "driver" does is to open and close the doors and announce the stops. He can override the computer in case of emergency, but not at any other time.

Washington, DC: Does it look like you came close this year to your goal for Children's? It's a shame we didn't hit the mark. Are you disappointed?

Bob Levey: We're still opening and sorting the final contributions on this, the final day. It does look as if we'll be short--maybe by quite a bit. Final totals will appear Monday. Sure, I'm disappointed. But it looks as if this drive will still be either the third or fourth most lucrative we've ever run, so how disappointed can I really be? The generosity of my readers is astounding--year in and year out.

Washington, DC: Bob,

I was wondering what your take is on today's column announcing Metro expansion into Tyson's Corner. While I understand the growth and congestion issues, I am skeptical of the economic impact were the expansion not to occur. What about the economic viability of SE Washington? Extending the Green line to Branch Ave (currently shown as a 'future' rail extension) should be a higher priority than doling out additional services to an already affluent commercial and residential district. Ward 8 doesn't even have a grocery store! Thanks for your thoughts on the subject.

Bob Levey: Great, great idea for the Tysons Loop--long overdue. Yet you're also right about the Green Line and Branch Avenue. That line should have been finished 15 years ago. It's an almost perfect example of how D.C.'s political impotence produces long-running disastrous consequences. Don't you think there'd be several grocery stores in Ward Eight today if the subway had become part of the woodwork, and people had moved into the area?

Fairfax, VA: In 5this morning's column, you mentioned a way to avoid the change-above-bills from cashiers. Here's an alternative: When the cashier puts the bills in your hand, quickly move it away, place your bills in your pocket or wallet, then hold out your hand for change. It works well for me.

Bob Levey: Amen. Thanks

Arlington, Va: There was mention in today's paper about a fast track exension of Metorail to Tyson's Corner. Isn't a route to Dulles more of a priority?

Bob Levey: Certainly equal priority, although I don't think it's necessarily greater. The issue inside the Tysons Loop is that so many people try to go work there from other jurisdictions. A Tysons Loop gives access to a guy from Southeast, a woman from Bethesda, everybody. The issue on the Dulles corridor is to get people to the main Metro lines, so they can continue on to Tysons, Pentagon, downtown, wherever. A light rail system might work for this. A fully-fledged subway would be incredibly expensive.

Colesville, Md.: What are your opinions of the way PEPCO handled the ice storm last week?

Do you think there will be any further fallout?

Bob Levey: I'm a huge defender of Pepco's performance. What didn't the company do? It was faced with the worst storm in its history. The storm was NOT accurately predicted by those always-bat-1.000 weather forecasters. Even so, Pepco was quick off the mark to add crews. They said on Friday that they'd be done on Tuesday--and lookee, lookee, they were done on Tuesday. They didn't lie or overpromise. They worked like dogs. And yet spoiled brat customers think it's all easy, that all you do is flip a switch. Besides, why did these disgruntled people keep calling after they were told a million times that Pepco did not know when power on specific blocks would be back up? They had gotten the truth, but they didn't like the truth, so somehow this makes Pepco's performance "bad." Nonsense.

Fairfax, VA: Bob, Long time fan here. I am a huge fan of the comics, and will buy the paper only to read them (and your column) and have always wondered if you are a comics fan also. And how did your column end up in it's place on the comics page?

Bob Levey: I hope this won't take me down five pegs in your estimation, but I don't read the comics. Don't have time. As for how I landed there, it was by my (very strong) choice. Who wouldn't want to be where the young and the old turn first? As a pal here puts it, when you're on the comics page, you always get "drive-by readers." Nice phrase!

Tysons Corner, VA: Metro/Tysons issue:

Any who doubt the need for this, please have your parents sign a field-trip permission form and join me on my commute to & from Centreville everyday. Or at least join me one Thursday eve on the 1/8 of a mile trip from my building to Route 123 through the light at Tysons Blvd and Galleria Dr.

Oh, by the way a new 15 story building is occupying in the Spring, three more of 7 or more stories just opened for occupancy, and another 3 are currently being constructed... AND the Lerner corp has plans for around 7 more!

Help!!!!!!!!

Bob Levey: It's on the way. Incidentally, I want to propose a free mental health screening for anyone who thinks the money being devoted to the Tysons Loop ought to go to more roads instead

loveland, colorado: metro has extended bus
service from gaithersburg
to bethesda and bethesda
to tysons corner. are there
any other projects with
the bus and rail system
like the blue line
extension? I saw on a map
at the glenmont station
that two stations were
penciled in as if they
are being planned

bw

Bob Levey: None that I'm aware of. However, private bus companies from the Annapolis area now serve Addison Road and New Carrollton. I'd expect to see more of same at Shady Grove, Vienna, Huntington and (eventually) Branch Avenue

Washington,DC: Several years ago you used to write comments about bicycle couriers -- most, if not all, "anti-courier". I must say, being an ex-courier (but also observer of the courier culture and environment for reseach on a documentary that never got off the ground), these comments often appeared one-sided. I haven't seen any recent comments. Just wondering your present day opinion.

Bob Levey: They're as horrible as ever. Come on downtown any day you choose and see what I mean. I haven't written about them as much lately for fear of sounding like a broken record. But at last once a week, I hear of an atrocity--guy smacks into pedestrian, doesn't even stop-- guy curses cabbie and smashes his mirror with his five-pound-lock, etc. Nothing will ever change until the city licenses them, so the cops can efficiently chase them.

Vienna, VA: It seems to me that the Supreme Court made a boo boo when they declared the Prez had to submit to a deposition in a civil trial since he wouldn't be distracted from his job too much. (Of course, they didn't know he would lie. ) However, I cannot imagine Congress creating a law overturning this decision. What do you think?

Bob Levey: I agree that the Court made a big boo-boo. They should have foreseen it. Of course the Prez would be preoccupied. So would you be. So would I be. So would anyone be. As for a law coming out of Congress once impeachment is over, I'd greatly doubt it.

Boston MA: With all the hoopla (no pun intended) surrounding the retirement of Michael Jordan, am I wrong to fault the man for not now turning his talent, drive and recognition to more public or charitable pursuits, instead of a life of leisure? It just bothers me that this individual, who could probably raise a billion dollars in a day and is uniquely situated to take on a variety of worthy causes, is apparently going to just kick back and indulge himself. Am I wrong to feel this way?

Bob Levey: I suspect you'll get your wish, although slowly. Jordan simply cannot hit golf balls the rest of his life. He isn't geared that way. He'd be bored to the point of insanity within hours. He has gotten some criticism in Chicago for not "getting his hands dirty" with local people and local causes. I think he might now do it, as long as he isn't exploited. The man is very smart, very canny, very aware of his power. He'd be open to ideas from his circle of "running mates." One area to watch, I'm told: adult literacy. Apparently some of Jordan's adult relatives cannot read. And nothing moves a celebrity into the world of doing good like a personal reason.

Centreville, VA: Bob, I hate to judge a man by his silver mane, but... you do not appear to have a readily available email address!

In his chat today, Leonard Downie said that some reporters "...have not yet moved so fully into the digital age; be nice to them, they are a bit older."

Uh oh, Bob... maybe it's time to get that email address (or that red Corvette)!!

Just kiddin'!

Bob Levey: My e-mail address today, tomorrow and yesterday: leveyb@washpost.com. The e-mail address for anyone at The Post works off the same code: last name, first initial@washpost.com. Never let worry and doubt furrow your brow again.
Red Corvette? Strictly for young bucks. I'm holding out for a two-tone 1954 Buick Roadmaster!

barnesville, md: Hello Mr. Levey! My name is Abigail, I've been doing dinner theatre with your kids for the last two summers, and my question is about the Bernadette Peters production of Annie Get Your Gun. I would really like to knwo why the Post trashed that show. They sung praises about Petes, and she was absolutly fantastic, but I think they should've give the rest of the cast more credit(including Tom Wopat who has an incredible stage presence and a very full and gorgeous voice.. and excellent romantic foil for Peters..). Sorry. I just really neded to get that off my chest, I hope you agree!

Bob Levey: Hi, Abigail, and thanks for writing. Our family saw "Annie" last weekend, and my take was: good performances for the most part, but very weak show. The continuity is flimsy, the dancing is lame, the songs go on FOREVER, there's no flow. Both of our kids felt the same way, by the way. The Post trashed the show because that's the role of a critic--and the prerogative of a critic. Disagreement is fine, and expected.

Germantown, MD: Bob: Any idea why Metro conrtinues to reserve spaces in the parking lots for people to "purchase" when it is apparent that not all of them have been "sold?" For instance, at the Shady Grove Metro, the parking by permit signs have been in place (covering approx 30 spots) for more than two months. To this day, I only see about 3-4 cars. I do not understand why Metro can't reserve the spaces as they're "sold." ANy thoughts?

Bob Levey: Metro still believes the "held" spaces will be sold soon. They're just waiting for the market to build

Arlington, VA: In your defense of the Metro, you neglected to consider one important fact -- you live in Maryland, which has far more Metro lines than Virginia. I live in Arlington, one block from the Ballston Metro, and I work in Old Town, about a 10 minutes' walk from the Braddock Road stop. Sounds ideal for commuting? It's not. I tried it for two months. Door-to-door usually took more than an hour, and I had to contend with the hordes of people jamming the trains between Ballston and Rosslyn (I don't think you'd get any work done on that route, Bob). I also paid more monthly than I do to drive the seven-mile route (yes -- I included wear and tear on my car, gas and parking).

Essentially, Metro is ignoring the huge population that lives in the area between the Orange line going out to Vienna and the Blue line going down to Old Town and beyond. Maryland has Metro stops everywhere you turn.

So take pity on us poor Virginians (although we do have better restaurants) -- we try to take public transportation, but the powers that be make it very difficult.

Bob Levey: But there isn't a "huge population" commuting between Arlington and Old Town. Most trips of any kind still go from outer suburb to outer suburb (often to Tysons), or from suburb to city.

springfield, va: What's your take on the new DC slogan?

Bob Levey: Take it. Lame. Unspecific. Needs a ring job and a quart of oil.

Fairfax, VA: Can you explain how a vanpool works?

Bob Levey: A group of commuters gets together. At least one of them owns a van. They devise a schedule. On the designated day, a driver picks up his passengers. He drives. They do whatever they want (many pools ban political discussions and attempted sexual "moves"). The crew reverses the process at the end of the day. They split expenses. Everyone saves big bucks. By the way, I'm told that there are Bob Levey van pools, where the first order of business is to read (and then discuss) my column. I'd just hate to hear the driver telling the police: "Well, see, Bill was calling Levey a moron, and Tracy took a swing at him, and I just lost control."

Northern VA: This is much talk (again) about the Redskins changing their name. There seems to be numerous resources that "prove" the name is offensive, complimentary, or neutral to the native-american peoples.

I've grown up cheering for and attending these games and it would be sad to lose that tie to childhood and some GREAT memories. But I'm sympathetic to the argument that a label of skin color has it's origins in racism.

Your thoughts? Any inside sources share with you the Milstein's thoughts?

P.S., the "washington clout" is a horrible name.

Bob Levey: Clearly time to at least consider a name change. Milstein has said he's open to the idea. You'll never see a better moment, politically. I don't have any inside skinny, just the sense that a new group of owners won't want to read and hear about how racist they are if they preserve the nickname.

Alexandria, VA: Hello. I hope life is good and all is well with you.

My question is this: A few years ago, you did a series of articles on a girl that went to Virginia Tech. I'm sure she's graduated by now, and I was wondering if you'd ever done any follow-ups on post-college/early-real-world life? Also, stories of that genre are interesting. Do you plan to do anymore? Maybe a few days in the life of a young journalist-wannabe? Or a few days in the life of Bob Ryan, weather man/minor deity? Or maybe something on radical young life (~30) career changes? Thanks for your time.

Bob Levey: All good ideas, and I thank you for them. By the way, that Virginia Tech student I "followed," Kim Schindel, graduated in 1993. She now lives in West Virginia, is married and has two children.

Washington, DC: Do you think Jheri curls will ever come back? If so are you going to get one?

Bob Levey: They say anything is possible.
This isn't.

Fairfax, VA: Bob, not reading the comics does not take you down a peg. I used to have the columns sent to me @ school!

Question: Where do you stand on the Salt Lake City Olympic bid fiasco? What should be done about the problem long term?

Bob Levey: Obviously, every prosecutor in the world is ready to land on the Salt Lake mess. That should take care of past sins. To prevent future ones, perhaps a truth-in-bargaining clause for IOC committees?

Vienna, VA: Do you see with the large tax-surplus the government is enjoying presently, a future break in taxes for us. With the raising of taxes on such products like gas, cigarettes, and femine products do you feel this is opening the door for the legalization of marijuana. With careful regulation, much like we have seen with Viagra, we could finance many of the educational systems throughout the country. Please comment, and don't worry ladies I was joking about the femine products.

Bob Levey: The problem with tax cuts is that they always sound great until two realities descend. One: No cut will ever be that large, even with the surplus we see now. So what if Uncle Sam returns $800 a year to you? Will that really change your life? Second, what happens when the ball bounces the other way and tax cuts need to be restored (or even raised)? Which politician wants to hear all the squawking? So it makes sense to use surpluses as Clinton has proposed. It would also make sense for a politician to point out that big solutions to big problems cost big bucks, and that tax money buys such solutions, and that solutions are getting more expensive, not less, so let's leave taxes where they are. But no politician will ever have that much courage.

Washington, DC: Bob...what is polite "book-signing" etiquette when a person in line ahead of you "celebrity hogs" the author so no one else can ask him any questions? This just happened to me at the Al Franken book signing today..."Denita" yammered with Al for what seemed like an eternity. Everyone behind her got their books signed during Denita's conversation (the store didn't want to hold the line up) but didn't get to meet Al or say anything. To make matters worse, Denita didn't even by a book.

Bob Levey: I'm surprised Franken didn't nudge your dream girl aside. He knows that the name of the game is to sell as many books to as many people as possible.

McLean, VA: RE: your WTOP commentary.

When the Lewinsky story became a factual matter, you were very very stern about the President. I seem to recall you calling for resignation (or where you just so stern I thought that you said that?).

But lately you seem to be taking the impeachment-is-bad-for-the-country view.

I respect someone who changes their mind as they learn more. Is that what happened? Or can you recocile these seemingly contrasting opinions? Or am I so focused on not having the guy in the Beemer hit me while he's talking on his cell phone that I'm mis-interpreting you?

Bob Levey: I still think resignation is the proper and honorable answer. I continue to be shocked that Clinton sees the issue as being just about him. A true public servant would know it isn't.

I haven't turned anti-impeachment at all, expect to say (as I have for a solid year) that impeachment isn't the best answer. I'm disgusted at some of the posturing going on during the trial (on many sides), so in that sense, I'd love to see this circus end as soon as possible. But I don't think an extended trial, with witnesses, would be horrible at all. As I said on WTOP just this week, how can you presume to hold a trial and not be as thorough as possible?

Wash, DC: Hi Bob, Happy Friday to ya.

Can you recommend some good read? I'm in my early twenties and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. I'd really appreciate books that accelerate the soul-searching process. Thanky

Bob Levey: In no particular order: Saul Bellow novels, any good history of World War Two, Robert McNamara's book about Vietnam (still makes my blood boil), Laurie Colwin's short stories and novels (she was INCREDIBLY wry and talented). Last but not least, the Federalist Papers. Tight logic

Arlington, VA: How do you think the NBA lockout will affect fan attendance now that the season is back on?

Bob Levey: Said it before and I'll say it again: Don't assume that there'll be a scorched earth period between fans, players and owners. The NBA "product" is so wonderful, so different, so entertaining, so athletic, that I think the fannies will be back in the seats after two weeks.

Washington, DC: Hey Bob...just wanted to say this "Levey Live" thing is so cool. I had never tuned in before today but I'll be back next week!

Bob Levey: Hey, thanks. So will I. Which reminds me to say.....
That's it for this week. Be sure to check out the Tuesday version of "Levey Live." It "airs" from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern time. This coming Tuesday, I'll be on the road, so Washington Post defense correspondent Dana Priest will pinch-hit. Next Friday, from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern time, the gray-headed wonder will be back, to take on all questions from all comers during "Levey Live: Speaking Freely."

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