voa标准英语2008年-Election Victories Give Democrats Expanded Majo

Victories in congressional races across the United States have given Democrats², and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, an expanded majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. VOA congressional correspondent Dan Robinson reports on some key races, and remarks by the Democratic leadership.

Riding the wave that elected Senator Barack Obama president, Democrats were on track for a 260 or more seat majority in the House of Representatives.

Combined with a pick-up of seats in the Senate, moving them closer to a 60 seat majority there, Democrats will begin a new 111th Congress in January with their strongest hold on power since the early 1990s, while Republicans would hold 175 or fewer seats.

For President-elect Obama, who urged a new era of unity³ in his speech in Chicago Tuesday night, the new political reality offers the possibility of an easier time getting his agenda through Congress.
　

Nancy Pelosi

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats are ready to work with Obama, and work on new bipartisan cooperation.

"We must take a very deliberate, steady course for America," she said. "That is exactly what Barack Obama is prepared to do as the next president of the United States."

Senator Chuck Schumer spoke⁴ bluntly about what the strengthened majority means for Democrats.

"The days of [Republican] obstruction⁵ are over, and in a bipartisan way, we in the Senate and my colleagues in the house will work together to turn America in the right direction after eight long years," Schumer said.

Among key races: in a closely-watched contest in Colorado, Democratic candidate Betsey Markey defeated a noted⁶ conservative Republican incumbent⁷.

In the East, Democrat¹ Carol Shea-Porter won a tough campaign in New Hampshire. Moderate Connecticut Republican Christopher Shays, who gained respect for his tough questioning of witnesses at congressional hearings, lost his race.

Among several closely-watched races in Pennsylvania, Republican Phil English, outspoken⁸ on U.S. and global trade policy, lost. Democrat and Iraq war veteran Patrick Murphy won easily, as did John Murtha, known for his opposition⁹ in recent years to President Bush's Iraq war policies.

In Florida, Democrats defeated Republican incumbents¹⁰ in two closely-watched races. Three Cuban-American lawmakers, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, as well as Mario Diaz Balart and his brother Lincoln fought off Democratic challenges.

Virginia Republican Frank Wolf, outspoken on global human rights issues, won easily in his contest.

Reverberations have already been seen in the Republican House leadership, as the party's congressional conference chairman Florida Representative Adam Putnam, who won re-election, announced he would step down from his leadership position.

In coming weeks and months it remains¹¹ to be seen what further impacts the results of the 2008 election will have on Republicans in the House.

1 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

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 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。

4 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。

5 obstruction   

n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物

参考例句：

• She was charged with obstruction of a police officer in the execution of his duty.她被指控妨碍警察执行任务。
• The road was cleared from obstruction.那条路已被清除了障碍。

6 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。

7 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

8 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

9 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。

10 incumbents   

教区牧师( incumbent的名词复数 )； 教会中的任职者

参考例句：

• In general, incumbents have a 94 percent chance of being reelected. 通常现任官员有94%的几率会再次当选。
• This arangement yields a wonderful gain to incumbents. 这种安排为在职人员提供了意外的得益。

11 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。