28 November 2000

Reading:  Woodrow Wilson, Constitutional Government

 

A New Case: Boies v. American Economy

It only struck me today (my mind has been everywhere, but I've been slow on this one) that one man in the past year has had more of an influence on the American economy than even the revered Alan Greenspan.  That would be one David Boies.  Think about it:  first, David Boies prevailed (for the time being at least) in the U.S. crusade against Microsoft, which sent NASDAQ and other markets reeling.  Now, David Boies has taken up the Gore Crusade to Become President at Any Cost, and again NASDAQ and other markets have tanked.  In fact, virtually every time Gore and/or Boies gives a big talk, markets respond negatively.  

I am becoming persuaded by the growing chorus that a slight recession is on the horizon.  No, Mr. Boies alone won't have caused it.  But the damage his efforts in the past year or so have wreaked largely on the tech sector (the force driving America's economy), combined with Alan Greenspan's tightening of the money supply due to wrongly perceived fears of inflation due to high oil costs (rising oil costs, as my friend Tom Hanna explained some time ago on the message boards, tend actually to have a deflationary effect -- and tightening only worsens the problem), could result in a nasty little recession early in the next term.  We see signs of a slowdown already:  Xmas sales are off, markets have yet really to recover from Mr. Boies' first assault, and saving has dropped.  Not good.  

Meanwhile, Mr. Boies will be off to pursue his next target before long. 

* * * *

That being said, watching Mr. Boies in action has been fascinating.  He has an amazing legal mind (common enough) and he also has an incredible trial presence (far less common), which in part comes from the fact that he thinks rapidly on his feet and seems several steps ahead of both the bench and the opposing counsel at all times.  He is also forceful -- a powerful speaker who uses words quite carefully.  In fact, I rarely hear him use more words than absolutely necessary to convey his point.  

I came to the strange conclusion yesterday that he reminds me of Andrew.  Not in appearance, and certainly not in the causes he advances -- but in his ability to argue, project, and convince, with great force.  Indeed, the similarity has become absolutely striking in my mind.

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