CNN 2011-07-01

 All right, checking top stories, the Los Angeles Dodgers¹ have filed for bankruptcy² and the team will continue to operate during reorganization but will probably be sold.

 

Three days after that tractor trailer truck slammed into an Amtrak train in Nevada. At least 20 people are still unaccounted for. Six people were killed in that crash.

 

As you just saw on CNN, Michele Bachmann officially running for president, and the congresswoman actually just made that announcement from Waterloo, Iowa, her birth place.

 

Political buzz now, your rapid fire look at the hottest political topics of the day. Three questions, 20 seconds on the clock. And playing today, Democratic pollster, Cornell Belcher, Sirius XM political talk show host and comedian³ Pete Dominick and conservative talk show host, Dana Loesch.

 

First question guys, Andrew Cuomo legalizes same-sex marriage in New York, gay activists⁴ already talking about 2016 now and the presidential run. 

 

Well, I guess that solves the 9.1% unemployment rate and high energy prices. I mean, I look at those who talking about running Cuomo as a serious presidential contender and I have to think it's a little bit political naive⁵ because we all forget, maybe - well, I don't - maybe some of us do, this is the same Andrew Cuomo that was secretary of HUD and convinced Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to get all of these low-interest loans to people who couldn't afford them and boom we had the housing crisis. We had the economy crash, all of this. No, no, no, we can't have this guy. We cannot have this guy.

 

Cornell?

 

Look, I think 2016 is a long ways away. However, I mean if you look at what he's been doing in New York, bringing Democrats⁶ together and Republicans together not only sort to move contentious⁷ legislation through in this manner. I think it speaks well. I mean, the American people like that idea of bringing people together and move legislation through. He's done that. He's been successful at that. I think he's a contender in 2016, although it's a long ways away.

 

All right. Pete?

 

Kyra, you've asked me to speculate on who's appealing in 2016. I will not play this game, Kyra. I think the names we are thinking in 2016 might as well be Mr. Spacely and George Jetson.

 

Come on, you have an opinion, Pete.

 

They should be Dionne Warwick and the Psychic⁸ Friends Network. We don't know who's running next month, Kyra. Maybe you will be president! President Phillips. That's what I speculate.

 

Oh, that's a scary thought. All the skeletons out of the closet, I don't think so. Be like you running for president, Pete. All right. Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann.

 

I can do the negative attack ads now.

 

Yes, exactly. You and I against each other, who would be worse? Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann said in the recent weeks President Obama hasn't done enough for African-Americans. Exit polls show Obama took 95% of the black vote in 2008. So could their support really be up for grabs in 2012? Dana.

 

I don't know. I think it's - it would be very difficult to say it wouldn't be considering that when this president took office, black unemployment was at - I think, what 11% and now it's at 16%, over 16%? I mean you have to look at the fundamentals here. There is a huge amount of job loss in the black community from a president who was going to bring hope and change. Jesse Jackson is even saying, "I don't see it happening." The guy with that National Black Chamber⁹ of Commerce even said this guy is against business.

 

Dana, you kept the extra five seconds! Look at her! I have to give you a little bit more then, Cornell. 

 

I'm talkative today.

 

That's kind of hilarious¹⁰ to me.

 

I mean, look, our economy was in a nose dive when the president came in. But the campaign is not going to take any vote for granted. They're going to work hard for the African-American vote like they're going to work hard for every vote. But I want to veer¹¹ off for a second. You tell me Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann are the ones bringing this charge because Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann have such credibility in the minority community. I mean, really? Really? Come on!

 

Pete? Really?

 

Well, the truth is this president hasn't done enough. They're right, Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann, for African-Americans. This Congressional Black Caucus¹² would be the first to say so. But I mean, Michele Bachmann and Newt Gingrich pointing this out? Cornell is right. That'd be like Reverend Al Sharpton advocating for higher salaries for CEOs, It's ridiculous and no, they're not going to get any black support, Newt Gingrich or Michele Bachmann.

 

All right, Buzzer¹³ Beater, guys. Ten seconds to answer this one. Fox News anchor Chris Wallace asked Michele Bachmann if she's a flake¹⁴. Then he quickly apologizes. So does Bachmann benefit by being under estimated? Cornell? 

 

Yes, she does. And by the way, she is a bit of a flake, but that doesn't disqualify her for being a nomination¹⁵. She's been underestimated; it's going to benefit her a lot. She's going to be one of the last two or three people standing¹⁶ in the Republican primary. 

 

Dana? 

 

I sort of agree with Cornell. God help me, I agree with Cornell a little bit in that she is underestimated. But if we're going to judge what people say in terms of flubs as a measurement as to whether or not they're a flake, then we need to look at what the president says because he has a lot of gas as well.

 

Pete? 

 

I mean, this is hilarious. It gets her base riled up. She's probably underestimated. But Kyra and everybody America, listen. If you're Rick Santorum or Michele Bachmann or any other candidate for president that doesn't believe in science, you should absolutely be disqualified. Disqualified. That buzzer should go to you.

 

Cornell.

 

Sorry.

 

Dana, Pete. Don't ever be sorry, Pete. Thanks, guys.

1 dodgers   

n.躲闪者，欺瞒者( dodger的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a crackdown on fare dodgers on trains 对火车逃票者的严厉打击
• But Twain, Howells, and James were jeeringly described by Mencken as "draft-dodgers". 不过吐温、豪威尔斯和詹姆斯都是被门肯讥诮地叫做“逃避兵役的人。” 来自辞典例句

2 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

3 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

4 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》

5 naive   

adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的

参考例句：

• It's naive of you to believe he'll do what he says.相信他会言行一致，你未免太单纯了。
• Don't be naive.The matter is not so simple.你别傻乎乎的。事情没有那么简单。

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 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

8 psychic   

n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的

参考例句：

• Some people are said to have psychic powers.据说有些人有通灵的能力。
• She claims to be psychic and to be able to foretell the future.她自称有特异功能，能预知未来。

9 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

10 hilarious   

adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed

参考例句：

• The party got quite hilarious after they brought more wine.在他们又拿来更多的酒之后，派对变得更加热闹起来。
• We stop laughing because the show was so hilarious.我们笑个不停，因为那个节目太搞笑了。

11 veer   

vt.转向，顺时针转，改变；n.转向

参考例句：

• He is unlikely to veer from his boss's strongly held views.他不可能背离他老板的强硬立场。
• If you fall asleep while driving,you'll probably veer off the road.假如你开车时打瞌睡，可能会驶离道路。

12 caucus   

n.秘密会议；干部会议；v.（参加）干部开会议

参考例句：

• This multi-staged caucus takes several months.这个多级会议常常历时好几个月。
• It kept the Democratic caucus from fragmenting.它也使得民主党的核心小组避免了土崩瓦解的危险。

13 buzzer   

n.蜂鸣器；汽笛

参考例句：

• The buzzer went off at eight o'clock.蜂鸣器在8点钟时响了。
• Press the buzzer when you want to talk.你想讲话的时候就按蜂鸣器。

14 flake   

v.使成薄片；雪片般落下；n.薄片

参考例句：

• Drain the salmon,discard the skin,crush the bones and flake the salmon with a fork.将鲑鱼沥干，去表皮，粉碎鱼骨并用餐叉子将鱼肉切成小薄片状。
• The paint's beginning to flake.油漆开始剥落了。

15 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

16 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。