2006年VOA标准英语-Terrorism and Midterm US Elections Linked

By Peter Fedynsky
Washington, DC
08 September 2006
 
watch report Bush Speeches

President Bush delivers a speech on the global war on terror at a Georgia Public Policy Foundation event at the Cobb Galleria Center in suburban¹ Atlanta, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006  
  
Public opinion surveys in the United States suggest the Republican Party could lose control of one or both houses of Congress in the upcoming midterm election on November seventh.  The poll numbers are driven in part by voter perceptions of President Bush's handling of security issues.   Mr. Bush is making a series of major speeches on terror and the war in Iraq.  VOA's Peter Fedynsky reports these issues are expected to play an important role in the upcoming vote.

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President Bush told an audience in suburban Atlanta, Georgia Thursday that the September 11th,  2001 terror attacks revealed gaps in America's national defense².  Mr. Bush said the country is safer today because of his administration's policies.

"We are safer because we've taken action to protect the homeland. We are safer because we are on offense³ against our enemies overseas. We're safer because of the skill and sacrifice of the brave Americans who defend our people."

On August 30th, the day before he began the current round of speeches, President Bush was asked if they would impact the midterm election.  "They're speeches about the future of this country,” he said. “And they're speeches to make it clear that, if we retreat before the job is done, this nation will become even more in jeopardy⁴. These are important times, and I seriously hope people wouldn't politicize these issues that I'm going to talk about.

Opposition⁵ Democrats⁶ say the president does just that when he suggests that critics of his terror and Iraq policies are weak on national security.  They also reject the president's claim that Iraq is central to winning the war on terror.  

 
Retired⁷ General Wesley Clark
  
Retired general Wesley Clark competed for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination⁸. He says Iraq is a major strategic blunder.  "It's for America to face the facts.  Invading Iraq was an unnecessary war.  It distracted us from what we were trying to accomplish in Afghanistan.  And it's been counterproductive in winning the war on terror."

Public opinion polls support the general's statement.  Surveys indicate more than 60 percent of Americans questioned disapprove⁹ of the president's handling of the war in Iraq.  His anti-terrorism policies fare better, with support hovering¹⁰ at about 50 percent. 

But Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute says domestic economic and social concerns make security a pivotal issue for the Republicans. "They don't have [success on reducing] gas prices. They can't do much with Medicare prescription¹¹ drugs.  All they've got going for them is the slight, very slight edge in dealing¹² with terrorism."

Democrats need a gain of 15 seats to take control of the House of Representatives and six in the Senate.  Chuck Todd is the editor of "The Hotline," a political weblog. He says the political fortunes of both parties depend on the voters' mood on Election Day.

"If the voter goes into the polls thinking about Iraq then Democrats will have a big night.  If voters are going to the polls and thinking about terrorism then Republicans have a fighting chance," he says.

Republicans are expected to highlight terrorism in the fall campaign.  The pro-Republican grassroots organization Progress for America has already launched a national cable television advertising¹³ campaign to focus on the issue.

1 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

2 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。

3 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

4 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

5 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。

6 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》

7 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。

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。

9 disapprove   

v.不赞成，不同意，不批准

参考例句：

• I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
• She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。

10 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。

11 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

12 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

13 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。