November 2, 2009

This issue examined the state of the Republican Party heading into the 2010 midterms, with coverage by Fred Barnes, Jonathan V. Last, and John McCormack assessing the GOP's readiness for upcoming political battles. The magazine also featured substantial analysis of President Obama's decision-making process on Afghanistan strategy, with contributions from Boot, Hayes, Gerecht, and Lindsey. The issue reflected The Weekly Standard's focus on both domestic political dynamics and the administration's foreign policy challenges.