2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Meets Senate Democrats

By Scott Stearns
White House
10 November 2006

U.S. President George Bush continues to meet with opposition¹ Democrats² who won control of Congress this week. Mr. Bush invited top Democrats in the Senate to coffee at the White House.

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Harry3 Reid of Nev. looks on" src="/upimg/allimg/070508/1505530.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> President Bush, right, shakes hands with Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., left, as Democratic Senate leader Sen. Harry Reid of Nev. looks on

President Bush says there is now a great opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to show Americans that both political parties are equally concerned about the future and can work together.

He said, "The elections are over. The problems haven't gone away. And I assured the senators that we will cooperate as closely as we can to solve common problems."

Mr. Bush and Vice⁴ President Dick Cheney had coffee in the Oval Office with Democratic Senators Harry Reid and Dick Durbin. Reid, who is expected to be the next Senate Majority Leader, said it was an excellent discussion.

"The election is over. The only way to move forward is with bipartisanship and openness and to get some results. And we made a commitment, the four of us here today, that's what we are going to do," he said.

Before Democrats take charge of Congress in January, President Bush says there is much work to be done in the existing Congress including action on spending bills, terrorist surveillance, and alternative energy.

He also wants lawmakers to complete work on the Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and a deal sharing civilian⁵ nuclear technology with India.

But two of the president's major goals in the Senate appear unlikely. Democrats continue to threaten a legislative⁶ maneuver⁷ of extended debate to block a measure approving warrant-less wiretapping for terrorist surveillance.

Mr. Bush also wants U.N. Ambassador John Bolton formally approved by the Senate before the end of the year. While many Senate Democrats oppose Bolton, it is Republican Senator Lincoln Chaffee who will likely block the nomination⁸.

As a member of the committee responsible for bringing Bolton's nomination before the full Senate, Chafee's opposition would likely prevent a vote on the U.N. Ambassador, who currently has a temporary appointment.

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 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 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。

4 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。

5 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

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 maneuver   

n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略

参考例句：

• All the fighters landed safely on the airport after the military maneuver.在军事演习后，所有战斗机都安全降落在机场上。
• I did get her attention with this maneuver.我用这个策略确实引起了她的注意。

8 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。