2007年VOA标准英语-Winds of Political Change Blow in Washington

By Jim Malone
Washington
04 January 2007

The winds of change blew through Washington Thursday as Democrats¹ took control of Congress for the first time in 12 years.  The congressional shift in power following last November's elections brings new opportunities and challenges for Democrats, Republicans and President Bush.  VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington. 

 
House Minority Leader John Boehner (r) hands the gavel to newly elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi 
As Democrats assumed power after a 12-year stretch as the minority party in Congress, they also made history by selecting California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi as the first woman speaker of the House.

"Let us stand together to move our country forward, seeking common ground for the common good," she said.  "We have made history. Now, let us make progress for the American people."

Democrats intend to use their majority status to quickly set a new congressional agenda and shift the legislative² focus to enacting³ ethics⁴ reform, raising the minimum wage and lowering the cost of prescription⁵ drugs.

Will Marshall of the Progressive Policy Institute spoke⁶ to VOA's Focus program.

"It is a perch⁷ from which to begin to introduce the themes and ideas that they want to govern on in the next two years, and also that the Democratic candidates for president will want to run on in 2008," he said.  "And, of course, they are in a position to completely block whatever is left of the Bush agenda."

 
110th Congress is sworn in at US Capitol in Washington, 4 Jan 2007
President Bush says he is open to working with the new Congress, but also cautions Democrats that he will oppose any efforts to undo⁸ some of his key domestic policies, especially any attempt to raise taxes.

"We have all been entrusted⁹ with public office at a momentous¹⁰ time in our nation's history, and, together, we have important things to do," he said.  "It is time to set aside politics and focus on the future."

Mr. Bush had grown accustomed to Republican control of Congress during his first six years in office.  Now, he faces an energized¹¹ Democratic majority at a time when his own public approval ratings remain low, in large part because of the war in Iraq.

But Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report says President Bush will still wield¹² influence in the final two years of his presidency¹³.

"The president is saying to Democrats, you're not the only ones who control the agenda here," she explained.  "I am the president.  I am the bully¹⁴ pulpit.  I am going to put my agenda forward."

Democrats also face pressures from their own ranks, especially from liberal anti-war activists¹⁵ like Cindy Sheehan, who demand that Congress force the Bush administration to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

"We elected them to bring the troops home, stop funding the war and for accountability," she said.

Democrats rode public unhappiness over Iraq to election victories in November.  But now, some analysts¹⁶ contend, they will have to take some responsibility for finding a bipartisan solution to the country's top foreign policy challenge, even though the issue divides Democrats.

"The problem that the Democrats now have is that, to some degree, their base really turned out, and was really motivated, because they wanted to send them out and end this war," said David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, and a recent guest on VOA's Focus program.  "And, as a result, they have bought a part of the war, and they have some joint¹⁷ responsibility, but they do not have a [unified] position and they do not know really what to do about it."

The politics of the 2008 presidential election are also likely to intrude¹⁸ in the debate over what to do next in Iraq.

"This is where all these presidential candidates that are in the United States Senate that are Democrats are going to drive this debate for the Democratic Party," said Chuck Todd, editor of the Hotline political newsletter based in Washington.  "I have no idea whether that is going to be a positive or a negative for a party, but they are going to drive the debate, as far as Congress is concerned, because, I think, they are going to use their bully pulpit in the Senate."

As for Republicans, they have vowed¹⁹ to work with Democrats where they can, and oppose them where they must.

University of Virginia political expert Larry Sabato says it may take a while for Republicans to adjust to their new minority status.

"The Republicans are going to have some time in the wilderness²⁰, and that is not just because of Iraq.  It is also because of the multitude of scandals that disgusted even many conservative Republicans," he noted²¹.

Republicans may have their best chance to influence or block bills in the Senate, where Democrats have a narrow margin²² of control, and where the rules give the minority party a greater ability to shape legislation.

 

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 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。

3 enacting   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Generally these statutes apply only to wastes from reactors outside the enacting state. 总之，这些法令只适宜用在对付那些来自外州的核废料。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• In addition, the complexion of enacting standards for live working is described. 另外，介绍了带电作业标准的制订情况。

4 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

5 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。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 perch   

n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于

参考例句：

• The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。
• Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。

8 undo   

vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销

参考例句：

• His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
• I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。

9 entrusted   

v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He entrusted the task to his nephew. 他把这任务托付给了他的侄儿。
• She was entrusted with the direction of the project. 她受委托负责这项计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 momentous   

adj.重要的，重大的

参考例句：

• I am deeply honoured to be invited to this momentous occasion.能应邀出席如此重要的场合，我深感荣幸。
• The momentous news was that war had begun.重大的新闻是战争已经开始。

11 energized   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving. 如果我们付出能量去表现爱意，爱就会使我们充满活力。 来自辞典例句
• I am completely energized and feeling terrific. 我充满了活力，感觉非常好。 来自辞典例句

12 wield   

vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等)

参考例句：

• They wield enormous political power.他们行使巨大的政治权力。
• People may wield the power in a democracy.在民主国家里，人民可以行使权力。

13 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

14 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

15 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

17 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。

18 intrude   

vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰

参考例句：

• I do not want to intrude if you are busy.如果你忙我就不打扰你了。
• I don't want to intrude on your meeting.我不想打扰你们的会议。

19 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

20 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

21 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

22 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。