2006年VOA标准英语-Democrats Criticize Bush on Eve of State o

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
30 January 2006
 

President Bush delivering the 2005 State of the Union address  
  
On the eve of his State of the Union Address to
Congress and the American people, Democrats¹ are criticizing President Bush on a range of domestic and foreign policy issues. 

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Democrats picked up where they left off last week, hammering away at the president on Iraq, the war on terrorism, homeland security, the economy, and corruption².

They say President Bush must strike what they call a more conciliatory tone when he addresses the joint³ session of Congress.

In an interview with radio correspondents on Capitol Hill, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says the president needs to reach out across the political aisle⁴.
 

Nancy Pelosi  
  
"I think it is very important for the president to unite the American people," said Ms. Pelosi.  "I wish he would extend a hand of cooperation to the other side of the aisle, to work in a positive way, to keep the American people safe, and to keep us number one."

In remarks Monday after a meeting with his cabinet, President Bush said that is exactly what he intends to do.

"I'll do my best to elevate the tone here in Washington, DC, so we can work together to achieve big things for the American people," said Mr. Bush.

President Bush came to office in 2000 with a pledge to be a "uniter rather than a divider" in working with Congress.

With an eye on helping⁵ Republicans maintain control of Congress in November mid-term legislative⁶ elections, Mr. Bush faces pressure to send more signals of cooperation, while working to improve poor public approval ratings of recent months.

Speaking Monday on the floor of the Senate, Senate Minority Leader Harry⁷ Reid said Americans hope to hear more than just rhetoric⁸ in the State of the Union Address.

"The president's State of the Union message is really a credibility test," said Mr. Reid.  "Will he acknowledge the real state of our union, and offer to take our country down a path that unites us and makes us stronger.  Or will he gave us more of the same empty promises and partisanship⁹ that have weakened our country and divided Americans for the last five years."

The president's State of the Union Address marks the beginning of what promises to be a hectic¹⁰ schedule for both houses of Congress.

Immigration reform and renewal¹¹ of the Patriot¹² Act anti-terror law are high on the agenda as the House of Representatives resumes work after a long break.

One of the big tests of bipartisan cooperation will be legislation aimed at revising and strengthening laws on dealings between lawmakers and lobbyists, sparked by the scandal involving Jack¹³ Abramoff. 

This Thursday, House Republicans make the most important leadership decision they have had in eight years, as they elect a replacement¹⁴ for former Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

1 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》

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

7 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。

8 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

9 Partisanship   

n. 党派性, 党派偏见

参考例句：

• Her violent partisanship was fighting Soames's battle. 她的激烈偏袒等于替索米斯卖气力。
• There was a link of understanding between them, more important than affection or partisanship. ' 比起人间的感情，比起相同的政见，这一点都来得格外重要。 来自英汉文学

10 hectic   

adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的

参考例句：

• I spent a very hectic Sunday.我度过了一个忙乱的星期天。
• The two days we spent there were enjoyable but hectic.我们在那里度过的两天愉快但闹哄哄的。

11 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

12 patriot   

n.爱国者，爱国主义者

参考例句：

• He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
• He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。

13 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

14 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。