2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Defends Firing of US Prosecutors

By Paula Wolfson
Merida, Mexico
14 March 2007

President Bush has spoken out on an issue that has made headlines in Washington and created tensions between Congress and the White House. The controversy² surrounds a decision by the Justice Department to fire eight federal prosecutors⁴. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports the president discussed the issue in Merida, Mexico, as he wrapped up a week-long tour of Latin America.

 
President Bush makes remarks during a press conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, not shown, in Merida, 14 Mar¹ 2007
President Bush says firing the eight prosecutors was the right decision, but acknowledges the process was not handled well.

"Mistakes were made," he said. "And I am not happy about them."

He says Justice Department officials did not explain their actions fully⁵ to members of Congress.

Mr. Bush said, "And the fact that both Republicans and Democrats⁶ feel like there was not straightforward⁷ communication, troubles me and it troubles the attorney general."

The president was asked about the controversy during a joint⁸ news conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. Mr. Bush seemed annoyed that the issue had followed him to Mexico, where he was trying to keep the focus on mending frayed⁹ ties with America's southern neighbor.

 
Alberto Gonzales
But he left no doubt that the firings will stand, and that he continues to support Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"I do have confidence in Attorney General Al Gonzales," he said. "I talked to him this morning. And we talked about his need to go up to Capitol Hill and make it very clear to members of both political parties why the Justice Department made the decisions it made."

The president said the firings were not politically motivated. But he acknowledged there were complaints about the sacked U.S. attorneys from Republican members of Congress, which he passed on to the attorney general.

"But I never brought up a specific case, nor gave him specific instructions," said Mr. Bush.

These prosecutors represent the U.S. government in cases involving violations¹⁰ of federal law. They are appointed by the president, and can be removed by the administration in power. But they are supposed to be above politics, acting¹¹ as lawyers for the people of the United States.

Some of the sacked prosecutors have said they felt pressure from Republicans to speed up investigations¹² of Democrats prior to last year's congressional midterm elections. The Justice Department maintains they were fired because their overall performance was not up to par³.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

3 par   

n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的

参考例句：

• Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。
• I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。

4 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

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 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

8 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。

9 frayed   

adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His shirt was frayed. 他的衬衫穿破了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The argument frayed their nerves. 争辩使他们不快。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

10 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

11 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

12 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。