Gonzaga Debate Institute 2011 2
Mercury Politics
Politics
Notes
– Aff answers can obviously be found in the sections labeled “Aff”, but you should also consult link and internal link sections for additional answers, as those sections are bidirectional.
– Additional arguments can be found in the Pre-Institute Politics File – that file is a supplement to this one.
– The acronym “SKFTA” stands for South Korea Free Trade Agreement
Gonzaga Debate Institute 2011 2
Mercury Politics
Politics 1
1NC Shell – SKFTA Good (1/4) 4
1NC Shell – SKFTA Good (2/4) 5
1NC Shell – SKFTA Good (3/4) 6
1NC Shell – SKFTA Good (4/4) 7
******SKFTA 8
***SKFTA Uniqueness 8
Uniqueness – SKFTA Will Pass Now 9
Uniqueness – SKFTA Will Pass Now – AT – Trade Adjustment Assistance Prevents (1/2) 10
Uniqueness – SKFTA Will Pass Now – AT – Trade Adjustment Assistance Prevents (2/2) 11
***SKFTA Internal Links 12
Internal Link – Obama Political Capital Key to SKFTA 13
Internal Link – Obama Political Capital Key to SKFTA 14
Internal Link – GOP Coop Key to SKFTA 15
Internal Link – Democrats Key to SKFTA 16
***SKFTA Good Impacts 17
Impact Uniqueness – AT – South Korea Won’t Pass (1/2) 18
Impact Uniqueness – AT – South Korea Won’t Pass (2/2) 19
Impact – SKFTA Good – Regional Power Projection 20
Impact – SKFTA Good – Alliance 21
Impact – SKFTA Good – Alliance – Military Doesn’t Solve 22
Impact – Alliance Good – AT – Resiliency (1/2) 23
Impact – Alliance Good – AT – Resiliency (2/2) 24
Impact – SKFTA Good – Alliance – AT – SKFTA Not Key (1/2) 25
Impact – SKFTA Good – Alliance – AT – SKFTA Not Key (1/2) 26
Impact – Alliance Good – Key to Stability 27
Impact – Alliance Good – Warming (1/2) 28
Impact – Alliance Good – Warming (2/2) 29
Brink – Asian Tensions High Now 30
Korea War Impact – Conflict Ensures Escalation 31
Impact – SKFTA Good – Econ & Alliance 32
Impact – SKFTA Good – Econ 33
Impact – SKFTA Good – Econ 34
Impact – SKFTA Good – Econ 35
***AFF - SKFTA Answers 36
Uniqueness – Won’t Pass Now – TAA (1/3) 37
Uniqueness – Won’t Pass Now – TAA (2/3) 38
Uniqueness – Won’t Pass Now – TAA (3/3) 39
Uniqueness – Won’t Pass Now – Political Stalling 40
Uniqueness – Won’t Pass Now – Republican Boycott 41
Impact Uniqueness – South Korea Won’t Pass Now (1/2) 42
Impact Uniqueness – South Korea Won’t Pass Now (2/2) 43
Impact Answer – No Conflict (1/2) 44
Impact Answer – No Conflict (2/2) 45
Impact Answer – AT – SKFTA Key to Econ 46
Impact Answer – AT – SKFTA Key to Alliance 47
SKFTA Bad – Economy (1/2) 48
SKFTA Bad – Economy (2/2) 49
***Links – NASA Generic 50
NASA Policy – Triggers Congressional Debate (1/2) 51
NASA Policy – Triggers Congressional Debate (2/2) 52
NASA Policy – Triggers Debate 53
NASA Policy – Unpopular – Senate – Rockefeller (D-WV) and Hutchinson (R-TX) 54
NASA Funding – Budget Debate (1/2) 55
NASA Funding – Budget Debate (2/2) 56
NASA Funding – Triggers Debate – Public 57
NASA Funding – Unpopular – GOP (1/3) 58
NASA Funding – Unpopular – GOP (2/3) 59
NASA Funding – Unpopular – GOP (3/3) 60
NASA Funding – Unpopular – Congress 61
NASA Funding – Unpopular – House – GOP 62
NASA Funding – Unpopular – Senate – Rockefeller (D-WV) 63
NASA Funding – Unpopular – Tea Party (1/3) 64
NASA Funding – Unpopular – Tea Party (2/3) 65
NASA Funding – Unpopular – Tea Party (3/3) 66
Defense Spending – Unpopular – Tea Party 67
Spending – Unpopular – Tea Party (1/4) 68
Spending – Unpopular – Tea Party (2/4) 69
Spending – Unpopular – Tea Party (3/4) 70
Spending – Unpopular – Tea Party (4/4) 71
NASA Funding – Popular – Congress (1/3) 72
NASA Funding – Popular – Congress (2/3) 73
NASA Funding – Popular – Congress (3/3) 74
NASA Funding – Popular – Senate – Shelby (R-AL) 75
NASA Funding – Popular – House – U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) 76
NASA Funding – Popular – Tea Party 77
NASA – Popular – Public 78
***Links – Space Exploration 79
Space Exploration – Unpopular – Public 80
Space Exploration – Unpopular – Women 81
Space Exploration – Unpopular – Younger Voters 82
Space Exploration – Unpopular – Democrats 83
Space Apathy – Congress & Public (1/2) 84
Space Apathy – Congress & Public (2/2) 85
Space Apathy – Public 86
Space Exploration – Popular – Congress (1/2) 87
Space Exploration – Popular – Congress (2/2) 88
Link – Space Enthusiasm – Public Interested in Space 89
***Links – Privatization 90
Privatization – Unpopular – Conservatives 91
Privatization – Unpopular – Senators (1/2) 92
Privatization – Unpopular – Senators (2/2) 93
Privatization – Public – Divided 94
Government Space Funding – Popular – Public 95
Privatization – Popular – GOP 96
Privatization – Popular – TEA Party 97
Privatization – Popular – Public 98
***Links – Aeronautics 99
Aeronautics – Triggers Debate (1/2) 100
Aeronautics – Triggers Debate (2/2) 101
***Links – Human & Robotic Exploration 102
Human Exploration – Unpopular – No Political Consensus (1/2) 103
Human Exploration – Unpopular – No Political Consensus (2/2) 104
Human Exploration – Unpopular – Women 105
Robotic Exploration – Popular – Public 106
Human Exploration – Popular – Senate – Nelson (D-FL) (1/2) 107
Human Exploration – Popular – Senate – Nelson (D-FL) (2/2) 108
Human Exploration – Popular – Senate – Hutchinson (R-TX) 109
Human Exploration – Popular – Public 110
***Links – Shuttle 111
Shuttle – Extension – Popular – Congress 112
Shuttle Repurposing – Popular – Congress (1/2) 113
Shuttle Repurposing – Popular – Congress (2/2) 114
Shuttle – Popular – Public 115
***Links – Launch Systems 116
Space Launch System – Unpopular - Senators 117
Solving Gap – Popular - Congress 118
Low Earth Orbit Systems – Popular – Congress 119
***Links – Moon 120
Moon Mission – Human – Unpopular – Public 121
Moon Mission – Popular – Congress 122
Moon Mission – Human – Popular – Congress (1/2) 123
Moon Mission – Human – Popular – Congress (2/2) 124
Moon Mission – Commercial Services – Popular – Congress 125
***Links – Mars Mission 126
Mars – One Way Mission – Unpopular 127
Mars Mission – Human – Unpopular – Public 128
Mars Mission – Human – Unpopular – Women 129
Mars Mission – Popular – Political Support 130
Colonization – Popular – TEA Party 131
***Links – Hubble 132
Hubble Telescope – Unpopular – Public 133
Hubble Telescope – Unpopular – Women 134
Hubble – Popular – Senate – Mikulski (D-MD) 135
***Links – Earth Sciences 136
Congress Oversees NASA-NOAA Relationship 137
Earth Sciences – Unpopular – GOP 138
Environmental Programs – Unpopular – GOP (1/2) 139
Environmental Programs – Unpopular – GOP (2/2) 140
Climate Study – Unpopular – GOP 141
Climate Satellites – Unpopular – GOP 142
Tornado Detection – Unpopular – House 143
Tsunami Detection – Unpopular – GOP 144
Earth Sciences – Popular – Congress 145
Weather Satellites – Popular - Senate 146
***Links – EPA Regulation 147
Regulation – Unpopular – GOP (1/2) 148
Regulation – Unpopular – GOP (2/2) 149
***Links – Space Solar Power 150
Solar Sails – Unpopular - Congress 151
Space Solar Power – Political Capital (1/2) 152
Space Solar Power – Political Capital (2/2) 153
Space Solar Power – Unpopular – Lobbies (1/2) 154
Space Solar Power – Unpopular – Lobbies (1/2) 155
Space Solar Power – No Support (1/2) 156
Space Solar Power – No Support (2/2) 157
Green Energy – Unpopular – GOP – House 158
Space Solar Power – Popular 159
***Links – Planetary Defense 160
Planetary Defense – Political Capital (1/3) 161
Planetary Defense – Political Capital (2/3) 162
Planetary Defense – Political Capital (3/3) 163
Asteroid Defense – Popular – Congress 164
***Links – SETI 165
SETI – Unpopular – Politicians & Public 166
SETI – Popular – Public 167
SETI – Contact Aliens – Popular – Public 168
SETI – Belief in Aliens High – Public 169
SETI – Belief in Aliens Low – Republicans 170
SETI – Belief in Aliens – Liberals 171
SETI – Belief in Aliens – Younger Voters 172
SETI – Belief in Aliens – Women 173
***Links – Education 174
Education Popular – Senate – Boozman (R-AR) 175
***Links – Space Treaty 176
Space Treaty – Unpopular 177
***Links – Space Weapons 178
Weapons – Unpopular – Politicians and Public 179
Weapons – Funding - Unpopular 180
Weapons – Funding – Unpopular - Democrats 181
Weapons – Unpopular – Public 182
Weapons – Popular – Congress (1/2) 183
Weapons – Popular – Congress (2/2) 184
***Links – International Space Station 185
Space Station – Unpopular – Politicians 186
Space Station – Unpopular – AT – Space Research Popular 187
Space Station Extension – Popular - Congress 188
***Links – Cooperation 189
Coop – China – Unpopular – House 190
Coop – China – Unpopular – House – GOP 191
Coop – China – Unpopular – House – GOP 192
Coop – China – Unpopular – House – Wolf (R-VA) (1/3) 193
Coop – China – Unpopular – House – Wolf (R-VA) (2/3) 194
Coop – China – Unpopular – House – Wolf (R-VA) (3/3) 195
Internal Link – House – GOP – Wolf Has Clout 196
Coop – Russia – Triggers Congressional Debate 197
Coop – Allies – Popular – Congress 198
***Internal Links & Link Boosters 199
Uniqueness – AT – Obama Political Capital Low Now 200
Uniqueness – AT – Obama Political Capital Low Now (2/3) 201
Uniqueness – AT – Obama Political Capital Low Now (3/3) 202
Internal Link – Political Capital (1/4) 203
Internal Link – Political Capital (2/4) 204
Internal Link – Political Capital (3/4) 205
Internal Link – Political Capital (4/4) 206
Internal Link – AT – Winners Win 207
Internal Link – Public Popularity Key to Agenda 208
Spending Uniqueness – GOP Holding the Line Now 209
Uniqueness – Tea Party – Unity Now 210
Internal Link – Tea Party – Clout 211
Internal Link – Tea Party – Clout – AT - Inexperience 212
Link – Generic – AT – Plan Is Popular/Win (1/2) 213
Link – Generic – AT – Plan Is Popular/Win (2/2) 214
Link Booster – AT – Plan Not Perceived 215
Link Booster – Generic – AT – No Blame 216
Link Booster – Generic – Controversial Policies Spend Political Capital 217
Link Booster – Senate Commerce Committee 218
Link Booster – Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice & Science & Related Agencies 219
Link Booster – House Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics 220
Link Turns the Case (1/2) 221
Link Turns the Case (2/2) 222
***Aff 223
Uniqueness Answer – No Obama Political Capital Now 224
Link Answer – Obama Won’t Spend Political Capital on NASA 225
Link Answer – Space Not Key 226
Link Turn – Winners Win (1/3) 227
Link Turn – Winners Win (2/3) 228
Link Turn – Winners Win (3/3) 229
Link Turn – Winners Win – Lobby Version 230
Internal Link Answer – Political Capital and Popularity Not Key to Agenda 231
Internal Link Turn – Political Capital Backfires 232
Uniqueness Answer – Tea Party – Not Unified with GOP – Bashing Boehner 233
Uniqueness Answer – Tea Party – Not Unified with GOP – Bashing McConnell 234
Internal Link Answer – Tea Party – AT – Tea Party Has Clout (1/2) 235
Internal Link Answer – Tea Party – AT – Tea Party Has Clout (2/2) 236
Gonzaga Debate Institute 2011 2
Mercury Politics
1NC Shell – SKFTA Good (1/4)
A. Uniqueness and internal link – South Korean Free Trade Agreement will pass now, political capital key
Kim, Joongang Daily Columnist, 7/6/11
(Sukhan, senior partner at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Washington, D.C., 30 June 2011, “[Viwepoint] Endgame for Korus”, http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2938477, 7.6.11, SWolff)
Four years after striking an initial deal with Korea, and after a number of significant revisions to that deal, President Barack Obama has finally announced a plan for Congressional consideration of the Korea-U.S. FTA (Korus), and he hopes for ratification prior to the Congressional recess in August. Under his plan, the Senate, controlled by Obama’s Democratic Party, will soon begin consideration of the legislation, with subsequent review by the Republican-controlled House. Prospects for the passage of Korus have never been so good, and there are grounds for optimism. Obama’s plan for Korus’ ratification, however, is a high-stakes political gamble in an enormously complicated political environment. After trying for months to forge a bipartisan consensus on the ratification, Obama has changed course and opted to try to push Korus through Congress in tandem with other controversial trade legislation. To succeed in this gamble, Obama must overcome a number of immediate challenges under great time pressure. The principle challenge is the renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), a program that provides benefits to U.S. industrial workers laid off due to competition from imports. The renewal of the TAA is a must for Democrats, and Obama is attempting to link its renewal with the Korus bill. This linkage will complicate Congressional consideration of Korus, as many Republicans are opposed to the TAA, particularly in the current climate of fiscal austerity. Indeed, Senate Republicans boycotted a hearing organized by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus to discuss an initial draft of the combined TAA-Korus bill. Key Republicans in both chambers, including House Speaker John Boehner, are now seeking any means to separate the TAA renewal from Korus in the hope that they can vote down the former while passing the latter. The White House, however, has declared it will not present Korus legislation to Congress without the TAA renewal. A second challenge is the linkage of Korus to pending FTAs with Colombia and Panama. Under Obama’s plan, and as a concession to the demands of Congressional Republicans, ratification of the three FTAs will move through Congress at the same time. However, many Democrats, including Sander Levin, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Ways & Means, which oversees trade matters, oppose the Colombia FTA because of concerns about Colombia’s treatment of trade union leaders. Levin’s opposition to the Colombia deal should not derail, but may well complicate, consideration of Korus in the House. Additional challenges relate to the so-called fast-track rules governing the submission of the trade deals to Congress. These rules provide, first, for informal reviews of draft legislation by both houses of Congress and permit members of Congress to propose amendments. While the president does not need to accept the amendments in the final version of the bill presented to Congress for passage, amendments proposed during the informal process signal Congressional concerns. The many amendments proposed for Korus, or at least those made public to date, indicate a high level of controversy and are previews of the heated debates to be expected in Congress about the legislation. They will also be used by opponents of the president’s strategy as drags on the process. Furthermore, Republicans insist that the pairing of the TAA renewal with the Korus legislation is inconsistent with fast-track rules. Timing is also a key concern for the White House. The November 2012 presidential election is coming fast, and the democratic base - already wary of trade deals and disappointed with Obama’s inability to revive the U.S. economy - may hold passage of three trade deals against him. The political cost to Obama of attempting to pass new trade deals will increase rapidly after the summer recess and at some point become unbearable. Hence, the Obama administration is now waging an all-out effort to secure passage under the expedited fast-track process before then. There is little that Korea can do to influence the outcome of the U.S. ratification process at this point. The Obama administration has decided it has obtained the best deal with Korea that it can get, and has launched a high-stakes domestic process to get the deal passed. Obama is personally invested in the success of this process, and we can expect that he will do his utmost to secure passage quickly. Indeed, Obama has repeatedly lauded Korus as a vital part of America’s exports promotion - and job growth from exports - strategy. The weeks ahead will show whether he can succeed in his audacious gamble.