October 20, 2003

This issue defended the Bush administration's case for invading Iraq, with contributors Hayes, Kagan, Kristol, and Lindberg arguing that Saddam Hussein indeed posed a genuine threat. The cover story featured Matt Labash's on-the-ground reporting from Arnold Schwarzenegger's final campaign days in California's gubernatorial recall election, supplemented by analysis from Fred Barnes, Noemie Emery, and Debra J. Saunders on the Republican candidate's triumphant political moment.