John LeBoutillier
Monday, July 16, 2001

Let's quickly review:

1) The most significant news of the weekend was the successful test of the missile defense system. This test proved that we will eventually be able to intercept incoming ICBMs – something the system's critics have said we would not be able to do. This test was a huge success for the Missile Shield's future funding on Capitol Hill. And it was a major blow to all the leftists here and abroad who oppose the Shield.

2) It is no coincidence that Chinese President Jiang rolled into Russia this weekend. He and Putin are worried sick over the Missile Shield. Too bad, boys, because we are going to build it and deploy it whether you like it or not!

3) What's up with McCain? Now he's playing all nicey nice on TV about G.W. Bush. He says he's not going to run in 2004 against Bush and, in fact, believes he will support him. Could the recall petitions in Arizona be spooking the arrogant senator?

4) I have dealt with McCain for many years. I have one message for the Bush forces: Do not trust one word McCain says. If he says he is not running in 2004, that probably means he is.

5) By the way, kudos to NewsMax and to NBC's Tim Russert for his use yesterday on "Meet The Press" of the NewsMax magazine cover story on McCain possibly teaming up with Hillary for a 2004 ticket. A great success for NewsMax.

6) On Thursday the House defeated Campaign Finance Reform (which it is not, by the way. It isn't reform – it's simply more government regulation at the expense of the voter learning more about the candidates and the records they often don't want the voter to know about). Hopefully Speaker Hastert will keep this issue from rising from the ashes. The threat of the Shays 19 – a new Shays Rebellion? – to stop the business of the House needs to be squashed like a mosquito impacting on your car windshield when you're going 65 miles per hour. Let us hope the speaker doesn't buckle under to Shays. The people couldn't care less about soft or hard money. There are more important things for the House to focus on.

7) Condit: unlike Clinton, who had the Democrats firmly behind him, Condit appears to have no such public support from his side of the aisle. Trent Lott has now called for Condit's resignation; others on the GOP side are sure to follow. One day this week a major Democratic leader may also join this bandwagon.

8) Behind the scenes the media are working on several major Condit blockbusters. The Washington Post, among others, is digging deep into Condit's "dark secret life." So, too, are others. The always-in-the-lead National Enquirer is also onto this so-far-unreported aspect of the case.

9) In an echo of the Monica story, Newsweek's Michael Isikoff had another article on Condit's lifestyle apparently spiked over the weekend. We will see if someone else picks it up and reports it - like Drudge did with the whole Monica Mess, the dress, the cigar, etc.

10) Finally, I have been inundated by so many e-mails on the Condit case that I simply cannot answer them all. As you readers know, I always answer every single e-mail to me. My view normally is that if you take the time to write a comment to me, then I can take the time to e-mail you back. But right now I simply cannot do it! I am so sorry. I have hundreds of unanswered e-mails in my in-box – and will just not be able to get to them all.

Hopefully, when things calm down, I can then answer subsequent e-mailed comments. Thank you all for your patience – and, as always, for reading NewsMax and for writing to me.