Monthly Archives: April 2008

Extemp Questions for the Week of April 23rd-29th, 2008

1. What was the impact of the Pennsylvania primary on the Democratic presidential race? 2. Who should be the first permanent European Council president? 3. What should be the future of Kirkuk? 4. Why is the U.S. budget deficit at … Continue reading

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Topic Brief: Pope Benedict XVI’s Visit to America

Overview The Pope was touring America past week.  In his first visit to the US, Pope Benedict XVI went on a five day tour of New York City and Washington D.C.  During the tour he met with President Bush, held … Continue reading

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Extemp Questions for the Week of April 30th-May 6th, 2008

1. Is Felipe Calderon doing too little to resolve the illegal immigration issue with the U.S.? 2. Should the U.S. government suspend gas taxes? 3. Has Indiana become the tiebreaker state in the Democratic primary? 4. Is it time for … Continue reading

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Extemp Questions for the Week of April 16th-22nd, 2008

1. Can the Libertarian Party get five percent of the vote in the presidential election this November 2. Is Jimmy Carter’s planned meeting with Kaled Meshaal appropriate? 3. Why are food costs rising? 4. Should the U.S. sign a free … Continue reading

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Topic Brief: Columbian Free Trade Agreement

Overview This week President Bush tried to fast track a free trade agreement (FTA) with Columbia through Congress.  However, the House has already undone the mechanism that would have forced them to vote on it today and has promised to … Continue reading

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Extemp Questions for the Week of April 9th-15th, 2008

1. Should the Federal Reserve be given more power over the U.S. economy? 2. Is Israel’s political system dysfunctional? 3. Why are John McCain’s poll numbers rising? 4. Why are North Korea-South Korea relations worsening? 5. Should the DNC force … Continue reading

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Topic Brief: Turkey Banning the AK Party

Overview Seeking EU membership, Turkey has been trying to keep its politics on the up and up for quite a few years now.  As things start to smooth out on Cyprus and human rights abuses against the Kurds seem less … Continue reading

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Extemp Questions for the Week of April 2nd-8th, 2008

1. What does the rising number of Americans on food stamps signal about the state of the U.S. economy? 2. How can Australia resolve its water problem? 3. Will its refusal to accept an independent Kosovo doom Serbia’s chances at … Continue reading

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Topic Brief: 2008 Zimbabwean Elections

Overview Because the big news of the weekend was the elections in Zimbabwe, and the fact that they could bring an end to the twenty-eight-year-rule of Robert Mugabe, we thought it would be a good subject for a briefing.  However, … Continue reading

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