2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Taps Former Judge for US Attorney General

By Michael Bowman
Washington
17 September 2007

President Bush has nominated a former federal judge to be U.S. Attorney General in what the White House hopes will be a first step towards ending months of turmoil¹ and partisan² rancor³ surrounding the Justice Department. From the White House, VOA's Michael Bowman reports.

President Bush, right, announces his choice for attorney general, Michael Mukasey, left, in the Rose Garden of the White House, 17 Sept 2007

The president's nominee⁴, Michael Mukasey, served for 18 years as a U.S. District Court judge in New York, where he presided over the 1995 trial of Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, whom he sentenced to life in prison for involvement in the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993.

Introducing the judge in the Rose Garden, President Bush praised Mukasey as a judge well-versed in national security matters.

"Judge Mukasey is clear-eyed about the threat our nation faces," he said. "As a judge and a lawyer, he has written on matters of constitutional law and national security. He knows what it takes to fight this war [on terrorism] effectively, and he knows how to do it in a manner that is consistent with our laws."

Mr. Bush urged swift Senate confirmation⁵ for the 66-year-old Mukasey, a one-time federal prosecutor⁶ nominated to the federal bench by former President Ronald Reagan in 1987.

Taking the podium after the president, Mukasey noted⁷ the new challenges facing America in the post 9/11 era.

"Less than a week ago, we marked a solemn anniversary that reminds us, if we need reminding, of how different those challenges are," he said. "But the task of helping⁸ to protect our security, which the Justice Department shares with the rest of our government, is not the only task before us. The Justice Department must also protect the safety of our children, the commerce that ensures our prosperity, and the rights and liberties that define us as a nation."

In his remarks, President Bush paid tribute to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, seen by some as having injected partisan interests into the workings of the Justice Department. Gonzales resigned last month after weathering criticism from Democrats⁹ and some prominent Republicans for his opinions granting the president sweeping¹⁰ authority in legal matters pertaining¹¹ to the war on terror, as well as for the controversial mass-firing of federal prosecutors¹².

The new nominee has some early backers among Democrats, including New York Senator Charles Schumer, who praised Mukasey's commitment to the rule of law. White House officials say they expect Mukasey will be a good leader who will boost morale¹³ at the Justice Department.

1 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

2 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

3 rancor   

n.深仇，积怨

参考例句：

• I have no rancor against him.我对他无怨无仇。
• Their rancor dated from a political dogfight between them.他们的积怨来自于他们之间在政治上的狗咬狗。

4 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

5 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

6 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

7 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。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 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》

10 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

11 pertaining   

与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to)

参考例句：

• Living conditions are vastly different from those pertaining in their country of origin. 生活条件与他们祖国大不相同。
• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school. 视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。

12 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。

13 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。