美国国家公共电台 NPR--House Republicans try to hash out a way forward and elect a new speaker

House Republicans try to hash out a way forward and elect a new speaker

Transcript¹

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to GOP Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota about Kevin McCarthy's fight to become the next speaker. The House cannot conduct any business until a speaker is chosen.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Now, the supporters of Kevin McCarthy include our next guest, Representative Dusty Johnson, Republican from South Dakota. Welcome to the program.

DUSTY JOHNSON: Thanks for having me.

INSKEEP: You must have had an interesting evening. What kinds of discussions went on?

JOHNSON: Well, I do think people want to get to yes. Most people want to get to yes. But keep in mind, Steve, that we do have a few - a small number of members who - they like the chaos². People like me, we - I like order. I think we got real work to do in America. I'd like to, you know, find a resolution to this. But you've got a few who are wired differently.

INSKEEP: Well, if that is the case, that would mean that you can't negotiate with them. They're getting what they want right now. So what is your plan?

JOHNSON: Yeah. And I do think those small number of chaos-lovers that I'm talking about, you really cannot negotiate with them. But I'm hopeful there are still 218 members of the Republican conference that understand we can't do a gosh darn thing until we agree on leadership. And more than 90% of us think there's one guy who is uniquely qualified³ to lead the group into a really fractious time.

INSKEEP: But can you talk me through the discussions of the past - I don't know - 12, 18 hours. What are ways that people are exploring to get out of this?

JOHNSON: Well, first off, I would tell you that most of the conversations of the last 12 or 14 hours are just like the conversations the last 12 days - and for that matter, the last eight weeks. They don't bear a ton of ground. But there is incremental⁴ progress inching toward agreement. And I think that should give some people some sense of relief or some comfort that we're not at total impasse⁵. There are people who are giving concessions⁶. This give-and-take is slow. It's messy. But it is happening.

INSKEEP: Do you mean that there are some of the rebels here who you believe are moving over to McCarthy's side?

JOHNSON: I think they're open to doing that. Now, listen, there was not a breakthrough overnight. And there wasn't - you know, there weren't actual concessions offered. The negotiations⁷ are not that formal. But there are people who are in a position to help these deals mature, who have been talking. And things are not blowing up. People are not entirely⁸ walked away. The lines of communication are open.

INSKEEP: I want to talk about another conceivable scenario⁹, because, of course, this is about math. You need your side to get a majority of those voting. It's conceivable the Democrats¹⁰ could help you if they wanted by having some of their members not vote, which would reduce the total that you would need. And McCarthy, in that situation, could conceivably get a majority. Would you like help from the Democrats?

JOHNSON: Well, I know this is a scenario that people bring out from time to time, because, of course, it's exactly what would happen in an Aaron Sorkin movie. But it is a really hard way to govern the house. I mean, when you've got a narrow majority like this, you need a coalition¹¹ that has something that binds¹² them together day to day other than just political convenience. And it is hard right now in an incredibly divided American time to put together in a bipartisan way 218 people who are willing to hang together, whether it's economic policy or border policy or any of the other huge panoply¹³ of issues that we have to face. And in that way, a bipartisan group is just - it's really hard to imagine happening.

INSKEEP: OK. And so that means you'd have to resolve it among Republicans. Would you be willing to consider a compromise candidate?

JOHNSON: Well, listen; there is no one who is even close to being able to do this job like Kevin McCarthy can do it. And I just - no one has brought forth¹⁴ a candidate that they think can do the job like he can. Now, listen; maybe we get to a point where somebody other than Kevin McCarthy gets elected. I don't think that's going to happen, but it's possible. But I'll tell you, the country will be messier. And the House will be more chaotic¹⁵ if that's what happens.

INSKEEP: One other thing - McCarthy supporters have said the critics are just objecting to object. They like chaos, as you said a moment ago. What is the principle at stake for your side?

JOHNSON: I think there's real work to get done. And that work is not going to be done easily in a narrowly divided House. And so you have to have a savvy¹⁶ operator. You have to have somebody who's got a passion to pull this group together so we can accomplish something. For those of us who think conservative principles have to be done, that's what's at stake.

INSKEEP: Congressman¹⁷ Dusty Johnson, Republican from South Dakota, it's a pleasure talking with you, sir. Thank you so much.

JOHNSON: Thanks, Steve. You bet.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

3 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

4 incremental   

adj.增加的

参考例句：

• For logic devices, the incremental current gain is very important. 对于逻辑器件来说，提高电流增益是非常重要的。 来自辞典例句
• By using an incremental approach, the problems involving material or geometric nonlinearity have been solved. 借应用一种增量方法，已经解决了包括材料的或几何的非线性问题。 来自辞典例句

5 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

6 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

7 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

8 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

9 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

10 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》

11 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

12 binds   

v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕

参考例句：

• Frost binds the soil. 霜使土壤凝结。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Stones and cement binds strongly. 石头和水泥凝固得很牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 panoply   

n.全副甲胄，礼服

参考例句：

• But all they had added was the trappings and panoply of applied science.但是他们所增添的一切,不过是实用科学的装饰和甲胄罢了。
• The lakes were surrounded By a panoply of mountains.群湖为壮丽的群山所环抱。

14 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

15 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

16 savvy   

v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的

参考例句：

• She was a pretty savvy woman.她是个见过世面的漂亮女人。
• Where's your savvy?你的常识到哪里去了？

17 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。