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Saddam Hussein and the U.S. Elections
November 6, 2006






Newspapers across the country are reporting on Saddam Hussein's
conviction and death sentence. Considering the United States holds a
major mid-term election tomorrow, many pundits are asking what kind
of an effect Hussein’s conviction will have on the election. A
Washington Post article entitled "Bush Applauds Hussein Verdict,"
states:

The timing of the verdict, which had been scheduled weeks ago,
stirred anxiety among Democrats who worried it could be a
"November surprise" that would persuade Republicans to turn out,
much as the release of an Osama bin Laden tape just before the 2004
election was credited with helping to put Bush over the top. Some
voiced suspicions that the Bush administration had orchestrated the
court schedule to influence the vote, a contention the White House
rejected.

Many knowledgeable election observers claimed, however, that the
conviction and verdict would have little effect.

Read the Article!!


Discussion-Starters:

  • Ask what the following words mean: "conviction," "election"
    and "effect." Challenge your child(ren) to give an example of
    something that has an effect on something else.

  • Pose the following scenario: If somebody has badly hurt or
    even killed somebody else is it right that they should be badly
    hurt or even killed, for punishment? Encourage your child(ren)
    to support their opinions. When might it be right to badly hurt
    or even kill somebody who has hurt or killed another person?
    Why? When might it be wrong to do so? Why? What do you
    think?

  • Remind your child(ren) that President Bush is a Republican and
    the Republican party strongly supported the war in Iraq. One of
    the goals of this war was to remove Saddam Hussein from
    power. Now an Iraqi court has convicted him and sentenced
    him to death. Over the past year(s), many Americans have
    grown disgruntled with the war in Iraq. Many dissatisfied
    Americans claim that little is being accomplished and many
    Americans are being killed. How might Hussein’s conviction
    and sentence help the Republicans in tomorrow’s election? Do
    your child(ren) think that it will help? Should it help? Why/why
    not? What do you think?

  • It might be interesting to compare the Democratic party’s
    agenda http://www.democrats.org/ to the Republican party’s
    agenda http://www.gop.com/. What is highlighted on one party’
    s website that is not highlighted on the other? Why might this
    be the case? How do the different websites treat the same
    policy issues differently? Why do they do this?

  • Knowledgeable sources agree that tomorrow’s elections are
    incredibly important to the future of the United States. Ask,
    why are elections important? Encourage your child(ren) to
    select a current law in the United States. Ask how the law
    could change if the composition of the United States
    government changes? Why would the law change?
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