Wisconsin Forensics Daily

Monday Meditation: More Extemp Questions

Below the break are the extemp questions used at last weekend’s Sandy Theobald Memorial Forensics Invitational at James Madison Memorial High School. During preliminary rounds extempers were given the choice to chose from a Domestic or Foreign envelope from which to draw their questions. During the final round, this was not the case. Enjoy.

Domestic Round 1: Policy Issues
1.) Should President Bush veto the minimum wage increase?
2.) Is Universal health care a possibility?
3.) Will the Democratic Congress destroy the Bush legacy?
4.) Can Congress do anything about the Iraq War?
5.) Can the United States reduce its dependence on foreign oil?
6.) Does ethanol provide an alternative energy solution?
7.) Are prescription drug prices too high?
8.) Will New Orleans ever recover from Hurricane Katrina?
9.) Can state centered approach be the United States’ solution to Global Warming?

Foreign Round 1: Middle East
1.) Will sanctions be effective in curtailing Iran’s nuclear program?
2.) Is Syria a threat to world security?
3.) Can increased U.S. troops in Iraq stabilize the country?
4.) Will the Indio-Pakistan peace talks be productive?
5.) Can Fatah and Hamas end their factional fighting?
6.) Will Britain’s withdrawal from Iraq affect the region?
7.) Is Pakistan cooperating with efforts to destroy the Taliban?
8.) Is Saudi Arabia a new force for peace in the region?
9.) Can the Afghan Opium trade be curtailed?

Domestic Round 2: National Politics
1.) Are David Geffen’s comments meaningful to the Democratic Primary?
2.) Who will be the Democratic Presidential Nominee in 2008?
3.) Who will be the Republican Presidential Nominee in 2008?
4.) What will be President Bush’s Legacy?
5.) What does the future hold for Al Gore?
6.) What does Tom Vilsack’s withdrawal say about the primary process?
7.) Can the Democrats retain control of Congress through 2008?
8.) What is Dennis Kucinich’s role in the Democratic Primary?
9.) What is Sam Brownback role in the Republican Primary?

Foreign Round 2: Europe
1.) Can the European Union lead the way on climate controls?
2.) Do Putin’s recent comments reflect a strained relationship with the United States?
3.) What does the future hold for Ramzan Kadyrov, the new President of Chechnya?
4.) Will the International Court of Justice’s recent Serbian ruling bring relief to Bosnia?
5.) How will troop withdrawal from Bosnia affect the region?
6.) Is Italy’s refusal to turn over C.I.A. operatives indicative of a marred U.S.-image?
7.) Can Italy’s Prodi overcome the no-confidence votes?
8.) What does the EU-Microsoft case say about international computing?
9.) Does the United States’ planned missile defense shield pose difficulties with Europe?

Domestic Round 3: Potpourri
1.) Can the Nation of Islam endure without Louis Farrakhan?
2.) Should the United States’ re-institute a military draft?
3.) Will the removed juror prevent the prosecution from reaching justice in the Scooter Libby trial?
4.) Is the American media fulfilling its role as the fourth branch of government?
5.) Will the Supreme Court Strike down the Military Commission Act of 2006?
6.) Will the Supreme Court overturn Racial-Desegregation orders?
7.) Will New Jeresy’s civil unions make the nation address gay marriage?
8.) Is a state-centered approach to health care the United States’ solution to health care?
9.) Is the United States prepared to deal with a large-scale natural disaster?

Foreign Round 3: Potpourri
1.) Are the crimes in Darfur acts of genocide?
2.) Will nationalization work in Bolivia?
3.) How successful was Stephen Harper’s first year in office?
4.) Can the Doha Round of trade negotiations be revived?
5.) Can the North Korean deal endure?
6.) Are China and the United States entering into a new space race?
7.) Should circumcision be considered a form of birth control for sub-Saharan African?
8.) Will Ban Ki Moon be an effective Secretary General?
9.) Can Senegal stabilize West Africa?

Final Round:
1.) George W. Bush – great President or greatest President?
2.) Should President Bush be held accountable for his pre-war lies?
3.) Should the United States go to war with Iran?
4.) Does Tony Blair’s withdrawal from Iraq create his legacy?
5.) Should the United States significantly crack down on illegal immigration?
6.) Has the federal government failed to give hope to the citizens of New Orleans?
7.) Does China have too much control over the American economy?
8.) Has the Bush Administration tarnished US-Russian relations?
9.) Are comedy news shows hurting American’s political discourse?
10.) Should the United States end the Cuban embargo?
11.) Should the United States expand stem cell research?
12.) Are Syria and Iran enemies or allies toward a long-term peace in Iraq?

Posted in Monday Meditation |