2006年VOA标准英语-Democrats Question Bush Leadership

By Scott Stearns
Washington
01 April 2006

Opposition¹ Democrats² are trying to strengthen their national security credentials³ ahead of this year's U.S. Congressional elections. President Bush has been giving a series of speeches meant to reassure⁴ Americans that his strategy for success in Iraq is vital to security at home.

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America's opposition party launched a new national security strategy this past week, in hopes of making gains on an issue President Bush has dominated since the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Retired⁵ General Wesley Clark   
  

In the Democratic Party's weekly radio address, retired General Wesley Clark -- who was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination⁶ in 2004, and may run again in 2008 -- said the nation is endangered by what he calls the president's mistaken policies and priorities.

"This administration has taken us on a path to nowhere, replete⁷ with hyped intelligence, macho slogans and an incredible failure to see the obvious. It started with a fight we didn't finish against Osama bin⁸ Laden⁹ in Afghanistan, and included a war we didn't have to fight in Iraq," said General Clark.

President Bush says he was right to invade Iraq, because the world is a better place without Saddam Hussein in power. He continued a series of speeches this past week to show that his strategy for success in Iraq is making progress. 

George Bush  
  
"I wish I could tell you the violence in Iraq is waning¹⁰, and that all the tough days in the struggle are behind us," said Mr. Bush.  "They are not. There will be more tough fighting ahead, with difficult days that test the patience and resolve of our country. Yet, we can have faith in the final outcome."

President Bush says he knows the work in Iraq is difficult, but he feels strongly that success there is vital to U.S. security.

Democrats are trying to capitalize on falling public support for the war in Iraq and for the president's leadership. A new Time magazine poll shows the president's approval rating at 37 percent, the lowest that survey has recorded.

Republicans say there is little new in the Democrats' new security strategy, that U.S. troops in Iraq are making progress, and politicians there understand the urgency of forming a government of national unity¹¹.

In his own weekly radio address Saturday, President Bush turned to domestic issues, defending his record tax cuts, saying they have helped stimulate¹² the U.S. economy. President Bush wants all his tax cuts made permanent to maintain productivity and consumer confidence.

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 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

4 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

5 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

6 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。

7 replete   

adj.饱满的，塞满的；n.贮蜜蚁

参考例句：

• He was replete with food and drink.他吃喝得饱饱的。
• This immense space may be replete with happiness and glory.这巨大的空间可能充满了幸福和光荣。

8 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

9 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

10 waning   

adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly. 她对整个想法的热情迅速冷淡了下来。
• The day is waning and the road is ending. 日暮途穷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

12 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。