WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans unveiled an advertisement on Friday featuring the image and words of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and a warning to voters that “these are the stakes” in the November 7 election.

The Republican National Committee ad, first shown on its Web site and scheduled for airing on cable television early next week, also includes images of al Qaeda fighters in training and other al Qaeda leaders.

“What is yet to come will be even greater,” the ad quotes bin Laden as saying, before concluding with the words: “These are the stakes. Vote November 7.”

President George W. Bush’s Republicans, slipping in the polls from public dissatisfaction with the Iraq war, are fighting to retain control of Congress in the election. Democrats must pick up 15 House seats and six Senate seats to win a majority in each chamber.

Republicans hope to turn the debate in the campaign’s closing stages back to their traditionally strong issues of national security and the war on terrorism, although recent polls show Democrats overtaking them on that turf.

Democratic Senate campaign committee spokesman Phil Singer called the ad a “desperate” effort to spur Republican voter turnout.

The bin Laden ad recalls one of the most famous American political ads, the 1964 “Daisy” ad used by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson in his race against conservative Republican Barry Goldwater.

It featured a small girl picking a daisy and a countdown to nuclear explosion before an announcer says, “These are the stakes.”

Overall, we had a great time. For those that don’t know, I rejoined the team instead of coaching due to a few unforeseen drops. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

CLARK COLLEGE SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM CAPTURES THIRD PLACE AT FIRST TOURNAMENT OF THE SEASON!
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Six members of the Clark College Speech and Debate Team traveled to the campus of Lewis & Clark College in Lake Oswego, Oregon, this past weekend to compete at the “Pioneer Invitational” which was held Friday, October 13 through Sunday, October 16. Thirty-one schools participated in the tournament, including teams from Utah, California, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Competition was held in both individual events and parliamentary debate in three separate divisions: Novice, Junior, and Senior. Highlights of Clark’s accomplishments include a Second Place trophy in Junior Extemporaneous Speaking, a Third Place trophy in Junior Impromptu Speaking, a Fifth Place trophy in Novice Informative Speaking, and a Sixth Place trophy in Senior Communication Analysis. Additionally, the debate team of Ben Cecka and Nik Vaughn advanced to the Octafinal round of Junior Parliamentary Debate from among a field of 32 teams. Though they lost their round on a 3-0 decision, Ben Cecka was named Ninth place in the top debate speaker awards from among a field of 64 speakers. Way to go, Ben! Clark’s awards were enough to earn us Third Place among all Community Colleges in attendance–just behind Mt. Hood Community College and The College of Southern Idaho but ahead of such schools as Lower Columbia College, Clackamas Community College, Lane Community College, among others. Please congratulate all of our team members (and coaches!) on a job well done and wish us luck on our upcoming competition to be held at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington, November 3-4.

Some kids like to make car sounds. Some like to make theme songs.