voa标准英语2008年-Obama Reportedly Considering Former Rival for S

Senator Hillary Clinton of New York has reportedly emerged as a candidate to be secretary of state in the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama. Meanwhile, Mr. Obama has a meeting Monday with his former Republican opponent for the White House, Senator John McCain. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.
　

Hillary Clinton (file photo)

Senator Clinton reportedly met with Mr. Obama in Chicago on Thursday.

But prior to a speech in New York on Friday, Clinton declined to say whether she was in the running to be the next secretary of state.

"Let me just say that I am not going to speculate or address anything about the president-elect's incoming administration, and I am going to respect his process and any inquiries¹ should be directed to his transition team," she said.

Clinton and Obama were bitter rivals during the Democratic presidential primaries earlier this year. Some Clinton supporters were disappointed that Obama did not pick her as his vice² presidential running mate, choosing Senator Joe Biden of Delaware instead.

Some Clinton associates like the idea of her becoming secretary of state. "She is an exceptional person, a great listener, someone who can look at the world through other people's perspectives," said former Clinton White House aide Lanny Davis on the Early Show on CBS television. "I think she has made a great U.S. senator for that reason, and I'm sure would make a great secretary of state for that reason."

Clinton's name has now been added to a speculative³ list of names for secretary of state that includes Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, both Democrats⁴.

Republican Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana has also been mentioned, as has former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.

Political experts note that, so far, few details have leaked out about which individuals are being considered for various jobs in the new administration.

William Galston worked in the Clinton administration and is now at the Brookings Institution in Washington. He's also a guest on VOA's Encounter program.

"We know very little because the transition team has been very discreet⁵, and what was said of the [former President Ronald] Reagan transition, I think, is true of this one - those who know aren't talking, and those who are talking don't know," said Galston.

Meanwhile, the Obama transition team said the president-elect will meet Monday with his former Republican opponent, Senator John McCain of Arizona.

Experts do not expect Obama to offer McCain a job in the new administration, but they could talk over various areas of potential cooperation, once the new administration takes over in January.

"They will probably talk about the future, how Barack Obama can incorporate John McCain into his plans for governing," said Marc Ambinder, a political consultant⁶ for CBS News and an editor at the Atlantic magazine. "Remember, John McCain's core identity is that of a maverick⁷ and a reformer, someone who crosses party lines."

The Obama transition team is expected to announce more White House staff and Cabinet nominees⁸ in the coming weeks.

Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building on January 20.

1 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 speculative   

adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的

参考例句：

• Much of our information is speculative.我们的许多信息是带推测性的。
• The report is highly speculative and should be ignored.那个报道推测的成分很大，不应理会。

4 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》

5 discreet   

adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的

参考例句：

• He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。
• It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。

6 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

7 maverick   

adj.特立独行的；不遵守传统的；n.持异议者，自行其是者

参考例句：

• He's a maverick.He has his own way of thinking about things.他是个特异独行的人。对事情有自己的看法。
• You're a maverick and you'll try anything.你是个爱自行其是的人，样样事情都要尝试一下。

8 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网