2006年VOA标准英语-Democrats Applaud Decision to Replace Rumsfeld

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
08 November 2006
 
A day after Democrats² took control of the U.S. House of Representatives in key midterm elections, they came a step closer to doing so in the Senate, with television networks projecting a Democratic victory in Montana. Democrats, whose victories were fueled in large part by public opposition³ to the war in Iraq, welcomed President Bush's decision to replace Defense⁴ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

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Donald H. Rumsfeld
  
Congressional Democrats have long called for Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation, saying he had bungled⁵ the war in Iraq. As public opposition to the war increased, even some Republicans joined the calls for the defense secretary to step down.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who will become speaker when the new Democratic-controlled House convenes⁶ in January, welcomed word of Rumsfeld's pending⁷ resignation.

"I think it will give a fresh start to finding a solution to Iraq, rather than staying the course," she said.
 

John McCain  
  
Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has also been a strong critic of the defense secretary. He said President Bush made the right decision in nominating former Central Intelligence Agency Robert Gates to succeed Rumsfeld.

"This important change offers the administration and Congress an opportunity to examine all aspects of our strategy and tactics in Iraq, and make whatever changes are necessary to succeed there," he said.

The chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia, is vowing⁸ to hold confirmation⁹ hearings for Robert Gates in the coming weeks.

The war in Iraq was a key issue in the midterm elections. House Democratic leader Pelosi says voters sent a clear signal they want a change of course in Iraq.

"We know that stay the course is not working, has not made our country safer," she said.

Democrats captured a clear majority in the House in Tuesday's elections. But control of the Senate remains¹⁰ in the balance, even after Democrat¹ Jon Tester Wednesday declared victory over the Republican incumbent¹¹, Senator Conrad Burns, in Montana, in one of this year's tightest races.

"It is the time to roll up our sleeves and get some things done," he said. "It is absolutely critically important that we change the direction of this country, and empower the middle class, empower working families and small businesses."

A recount would be allowed in the state if official results show that the margin¹² of victory is half a percent or less of the votes cast.

A recount is also possible in Virginia, the only state yet to be decided¹³, and the one that will determine which party controls the Senate. Democrat James Webb, a former secretary of the Navy, has a razor-thin lead over incumbent Republican Senator George Allen. The final vote counting could take a week, with a winner certified¹⁴ on November 27.

1 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。

2 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》

3 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。

4 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。

5 bungled   

v.搞糟，完不成( bungle的过去式和过去分词 )；笨手笨脚地做；失败；完不成

参考例句：

• They bungled the job. 他们把活儿搞糟了。
• John bungled the job. 约翰把事情搞糟了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 convenes   

召开( convene的第三人称单数 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The Premier convenes and presides over the executive meetings and plenary meetings of the State Council. 总理召集和主持国务院常务会议和国务院全体会议。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法
• Chinese woman tenth the National People Congress convenes grandly today in Beijing. 中国妇女第十次全国代表大会今天在北京隆重召开。

7 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

8 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

9 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

12 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

13 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

14 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。