Wisconsin Forensics Daily

Practice Extemp Questions

I went a little over board in writing extemp questions last, and I wanted to share them with everyone. Here are the extemp questions from the JMM Tournament:

Domestic Round 1 – Election, Democrats

1.) Will the Presidential Election hinder the Democrats’ chances to retain Congress?
2.) Will the prolonged primary battle hinder the Democrats’ chances of winning the White House?
3.) Which is more important to voters: Rhetoric or Policy?
4.) Does a Brokered Convention help or hurt the Democrats?
5.) Will the Democrats be able to rally behind their eventual nominee?
6.) Do the democrats need to change their nominating process?
7.) Should Michigan and Florida’s delegations be seated at Democratic Convention?
8.) What does the future hold for John Edwards?
9.) What does the future hold for Richardson?
10.) Was Wisconsin a rejection of Hillary Clinton or an endorsement of Barack Obama?
11.) Does the state of the economy favor the Democrats in November?
12.) Has Change to Win become more influential than the AFL-CIO?
13.) Can the Democrats implement their 50-state strategy in 2008?
14.) Is Barack Obama this generation’s JFK?
15.) Can the democrats capture a filibuster proof majority in the Senate?

Domestic Round 2 – The Economy

1.) Is the United States in a recession?
2.) Is a moratorium on mortgage foreclosures necessary?
3.) Is Inflation out of control in the United States?
4.) Does China have too much control over the United States’ economy?
5.) Will the Stimulus Package be able to improve the United States’ economy?
6.) Has the deficit caused the United States’ economic woes?
7.) Is there too much credit available in the United States?
8.) Are Auto-Maker buyouts a warning sign for the economy?
9.) What needs to be done in order to reduce the Federal deficit?
10.) Are high oil prices at fault for the shape of the United States’ economy?
11.) Is the Middle Class an endangered species?
12.) Should the Bush Tax cuts be made permanent?
13.) Are changes necessary in the North American Free Trade Agreement?
14.) Has consumer debt gotten out of control?
15.) Can America subsist on a service economy?

Domestic Round 3 – Election, Republicans

1.) Will McCain be able to unify the Republican Party?
2.) What is Mike Huckabee’s objective in remaining in the Republican Presidential Race?
3.) Does McCain’s nomination represent a fundamental shift for the Republican Party?
4.) Can the Republicans over come their fundraising deficit?
5.) Will the 2008 election be a referendum on George W. Bush?
6.) Who will be McCain’s running mate?
7.) Does McCain’s alienation with social conservatives help him in the General Election?
8.) Does either Bush 41 or Bush 43 help McCain towards potential voters?
9.) What does the future hold for Mitt Romney?
10.) What does the future hold for Giuliani?
11.) Why are so many republicans in congress retiring?
12.) What do republicans need to do to recapture Congress?
13.) Why are some evangelicals abandoning the GOP?
14.) Why are traditionally GOP voters supporting Barack Obama?
15.) Can Hillary Clinton unify the Republican Party?

Domestic Final: Law, Policy, and Big Election Themes (15)
1.) Has the economy replaced Iraq as the central issue of the 2008 campaign?
2.) Is age a factor in the Presidential election?
3.) Are the potential first-spouses an asset or a liability to the remaining Presidential Candidates?
4.) Seven years later, have we moved beyond 9/11?
5.) Do senators have the necessary experience to be President?
6.) What effect has momentum played on the 2008 election?
7.) Six years later, has McCain-Feingold achieved its goal?
8.) Is health care reform finally coming in 2008?
9.) What will it take to implement Immigration Reform?
10.) Has Justice Kennedy become the new swing vote on the Supreme Court?
11.) Should the Foreign Intelligence Service Act be renewed?
12.) In light of recent violence, does the United States need tougher gun-control laws?
13.) Should enemy combatants be allowed access to Federal Courts?
14.) Are reforms necessary in the United States’ food safety system?
15.) What will be President George W. Bush’s legacy?

Foreign Round 1 – Europe:
1.) How will history judge Putin’s presidency?
2.) How much influence will Putin have over Russia as former present?
3.) Has Russia regressed on individual rights?
4.) Is an independent Kosovo a powder keg towards other independence movements?
5.) Should the European Union admit Turkey?
6.) Is the Euro the global currency of the future?
7.) Can the European Union lead the fight against global warming?
8.) Can Russia effectively pressure Iran?
9.) Do the recent terrorist convictions in Britain offer a model for the United States?
10.) What will be the outcome of the upcoming Italian elections?
11.) What will be the outcome of the upcoming Spanish elections?
12.) Is Turkey headed towards a long-term conflict with Iraq?
13.) Is a United State’s missile defense radar in the Czech Republic an aggression against Russia?
14.) Is Europe experiencing a significant tax evasion problem?
15.) Can French President Nicolas Sarkozy be a force for international peace?

Foreign Round 2 – The Middle East
1.) Is the election of an anti-Musharraf Parliament a concern for the United States?
2.) Is the surge in Iraq effective?
3.) What needs to be done to stabilize Iraq?
4.) What needs to be done for the United States to withdraw from Iraq?
5.) As we approach Israel’s 60th birthday, can there be peace in the region?
6.) Has the conflict in Iraq shifted towards Turkey?
7.) Can Pakistan be effective in fighting the Taliban?
8.) Will Iran give up its nuclear ambitions?
9.) Where are US troops needed more: Iraq or Afghanistan?
10.) What needs to be done to solve the situation in the Gaza strip?
11.) Is a two-state proposal the solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine?
12.) Does YouTube’s recent introduction represent a “westernization” of Pakistan’s culture?
13.) What needs to be done to prevent an Indian-Pakistani Arms race?
14.) Is Jordan a force for peace in the region?
15.) Should Israel hold talks with Hamas?

Foreign Round 3 – Africa

1.) China or the United States: Which is more likely to solve Africa’s problems?
2.) Can Kenya’s electoral dispute be resolved without escalating violence?
3.) Is there a solution to the crisis in Darfur?
4.) Did the Nigerian courts overstep their bounds in upholding last year’s elections?
5.) Can China bring peace to Darfur?
6.) Is inflation out of control in South Africa?
7.) Is there a potential for Zimbabwe’s upcoming elections to create violence over the results?
8.) Will Zimbabwe President Mugabe be able to hold off his challengers in the upcoming election?
9.) Has South Africa regressed on Animal rights protections?
10.) Will the United State’s be able to help heal Liberia’s past?
11.) Has Chad become the next Darfur?
12.) What needs to be done to prevent Central African Republic troops from slaughtering their own citizens?
13.) What needs to be done to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa?
14.) Are the United States and China competing for spheres of influence in Africa?
15.) Is South Africa strong enough to be a continental leader?

Foreign Final – The Rest of the World
1.) Can Raul Castro reform Cuba for the better?
2.) Is Music the new weapon in diplomacy?
3.) Is China making progress on Human Rights?
4.) Is pollution a threat to the Beijing Olympic Games?
5.) Will the United Nations place sanctions against Iran?
6.) Should the United States enter into a free-trade agreement with Colombia?
7.) Is hope for democracy in Burma dead?
8.) Is India or China greater threat to US economic superiority?
9.) Can Afghanistan control its narcotics economy?
10.) What is the legacy of Fidel Castro?
11.) Are conservative leaders becoming scarce in democratic countries?
12.) Is the United States at risk of losing Venezuelan oil?
13.) Can Chavez lead South America to prosperity?
14.) Has Ban Ki-moon been an ally to the developing world?
15.) How can the United States restore its image in the world?

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