Friday 'Important Moment' In Debt Talks

 　　White House officials say they will assess Friday whether they can reach a deal with opposition¹ Republicans on raising the U.S. government’s legal borrowing limit. President Barack Obama negotiated with top lawmakers from both parties Thursday, with a deadline fast approaching.

　　Less than three weeks before the deadline to avoid a government debt default, top Democrats³ and Republicans ended a fifth straight day of talks Thursday without an agreement.

　　No discussions are scheduled for Friday, and President Obama has scheduled a news conference at the White House.

　　The president’s press secretary, Jay Carney, said top administration officials will discuss Friday whether a deal is possible, and what to do if it is not.

　　“The president views Friday as an important moment where we can make an assessment⁴ about whether we are moving toward a significant bipartisan agreement on deficit⁶ reduction or not,” Carney said.

　　Sources say Mr. Obama Thursday asked the eight top Democratic and Republican lawmakers to agree on the outlines of a deal within 36 hours.

　　The Treasury⁷ Department has said the U.S. will no longer be able to pay all of its bills on August 2 if the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling is not increased.  Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned that the country is “running out of time” to raise the limit.

　　Presidential spokesman Jay Carney expressed optimism that a deal could be achieved, but he suggested that Republicans are more focused on political concerns.

　　"That agreement is right here, within reach.  It is on the table.  Just have to reach for it and grasp it and be willing to compromise to do it.  And you know what?  That requires thinking about the broad American public and not the narrow bands or the narrow constituencies within your own party," Carney said.

　　Democratic lawmakers have rejected Republican deficit-reduction plans that include cuts to social programs.  Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, object to Democrats’ insistence⁸ on increasing tax revenue.

　　“Republicans will not be reduced to being the tax collectors for the Obama economy.  We will not be seduced⁹ into calling a bad deal a good deal.  If he and the Democratic Senate would rather borrow and spend us into oblivion, they can certainly do that.  But do not expect any more cover from Republicans.  None,” McConnell said.

　　The partisan⁵ rancor¹⁰ extended to the Senate floor Thursday.  The top Senate Democrat², Harry¹¹ Reid, called the second-ranking House Republican, Representative Eric Cantor, “childish” and said he should be excluded from further talks.

　　“Even Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader McConnell seem to understand the seriousness of this situation.  They are willing to negotiate, which I appreciate and the country appreciates.  Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has shown that he should not even be at the table,” Reid said.

　　Cantor Wednesday accused President Obama of storming out of a negotiating session.  Cantor himself had walked out of earlier talks with Vice¹² President Joe Biden.

　　Meanwhile, the leader of one of America’s biggest financial firms implored¹³ officials to reach an agreement on the debt limit.  Chief Executive Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase said it would be irresponsible for the U.S. to default on its debt because the result could be catastrophic.

　　And a Chinese credit rating agency, Dagong Global Credit Rating Company, has threatened to downgrade U.S. government debt if the borrowing limit is not raised.  China is the largest buyer of U.S. sovereign debt.

　　Several top U.S. credit agencies have issued similar warnings.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

3 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

5 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

6 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

7 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

8 insistence   

n.坚持；强调；坚决主张

参考例句：

• They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。
• His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。

9 seduced   

诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷

参考例句：

• The promise of huge profits seduced him into parting with his money. 高额利润的许诺诱使他把钱出了手。
• His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。

10 rancor   

n.深仇，积怨

参考例句：

• I have no rancor against him.我对他无怨无仇。
• Their rancor dated from a political dogfight between them.他们的积怨来自于他们之间在政治上的狗咬狗。

11 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

12 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

13 implored   

恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
• She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。