英伦广角 Issue 132 奥巴马如何改变美国

The moment of triumph and truth, the moment when Barack Obama watching television with his family and friends, realized he was about to become the most powerful person in the world.
 
These still photographs just released show a man who appears as ever to be cool under pressure, but these are the moments when the Obama family's life's changed, not just for the next few years, but forever.
 
The trappings of the presidency¹ are already taking over Barack Obama's life, in his first radio address to the nation today, he once again warned  Americans not to expect too much from him, because there is no quick cure for the ailing² economy.
 
Tens of millions of families are struggling to figure out how to pay the bills and stay in their homes. Their stories are an urgent reminder³ that we are facing the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime, and we must act swiftly to resolve them.
 
President-elect Obama's insistence⁴ at his first news conference that George W. Bush is still in the driving seat, may have as much to do with  pragmatism as protocol⁵, between now and the January 20th when he takes over, things can only get worse.
 
It's not gonna be quick, and it's not gonna be easy for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we are in, but America is a strong and resilient country, and I know we will succeed.
 
Even as he was damping down expectations that he has no miracle cure, the hole got deeper, 240 thousand jobs lost last month, unemployment at a 14-year high, industrial giants GM and Ford⁶ bleeding cash and talking of going broke. All of which makes his appointment of a treasury⁷ secretary crucial, and there're some very heavy hitters on the shortlist.
 
Timothy Gelthner is a highly respected head of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, already playing a crucial role in tackling the banking⁸ crisis. He's calling for the current financial systems to be overhauled⁹. Lawrence Summers could make a comeback, he was treasury secretary during the last two years of Bill Cliton's presidency. He believes in more government regulation in the economy, especially in banking. Paul Volcker is a real Washington insider, and one of Mr.Obama's  most trusted economic advisors¹⁰, he served as chairman of the federal reserve under president Carter a democrat¹¹, and president Regan a Republican,and has plans to tackle inflation and high unemployment.
 
The economy then will be Mr. Obama's first priority, but other major problems will be in his entry from the moment he walks into the oval office, not the least of which will be foreign affaires.

The economy is going to occupy him too much and he will not have any time to devote to foreign policy issues, which in my mind are just as pressing ....
 
He wants out of Iraq but more engagement in Afganistan, where America and her allies including Britain appear to be fighting a losing battle, and the likelihood of Iran achieving its nuclear ambitions are problems that demand immediate¹² attention. This weekend Mr. Obama is spending out of the spotlight¹³ with his family, he should enjoy it while he can.
 
Keith Graves Sky News,Washington.

 
 

1 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

2 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

3 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

4 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。

5 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

6 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

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 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

9 overhauled   

v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越

参考例句：

• Within a year the party had drastically overhauled its structure. 一年内这个政党已大刀阔斧地整顿了结构。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A mechanic overhauled the car's motor with some new parts. 一个修理工对那辆汽车的发动机进行了彻底的检修，换了一些新部件。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

11 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。

12 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

13 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。