2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Prepares for State of the Union Addre

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
29 January 2006
 

President Bush walks out of St. John's Church in Washington with his mother and former first lady Barbara Bush, 29 January 2006   
  
President Bush is putting the finishing touches on his 2006 State of the Union Address. He will deliver the speech Tuesday night to Congress and the nation.

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U.S. presidents usually use the State of the Union to spell out their agenda for the year, and present a long, detailed¹ list of programs and priorities.

But White House officials say this year's address will be more thematic in tone, and will provide an optimistic vision of the future.

President Bush is expected to focus on two broad areas: increasing prosperity at home, and promoting freedom abroad. In an interview broadcast Sunday on the CBS television program Face the Nation, he said many Americans still do not understand, for example, that progress is being made in Iraq. He said it is his job to be not just the commander-in-chief, but as he put it, the educator-in-chief.

"I think that people saw death on the TV screens without a sense that we are making progress," said Mr. Bush.

During the interview, Mr. Bush also hinted that he would talk about Iran's nuclear ambitions Tuesday night. And he said he would speak at some length about reducing America's dependence² on foreign oil.

All indications are he will put forward some limited new domestic proposals that could help his Republican Party regain³ lost ground before November's congressional election, but will stop well short of any dramatic new initiatives.

On the Fox News Sunday program, Republican Congressman⁴ Mike Pence of Indiana said he expects the president to emphasize core conservative priorities.

"It's limited government, fiscal⁵ discipline, a strong defense⁶ and traditional values," said Congressman Pence.

Appearing on the same program, the head of the Democratic Party, Howard Dean, urged President Bush to level with the American people in the State of the Union. He said the president has some explaining to do in areas ranging from job creation to military strategy.

"We all want the president to succeed," said Dean. "But the president hasn't succeeded. I think that is because he has a lack of vision and, frankly⁷, he hasn't been truthful⁸ with the American people."

The official Democratic Party response to the State of the Union will be delivered immediately after the presidential address by the new governor of the state of Virginia, Tim Kaine.

1 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

2 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

3 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

4 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

5 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

8 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。