美国国家公共电台 NPR--Feinstein dilemma: California voters consider whether the senator should retire

Feinstein dilemma¹: California voters consider whether the senator should retire

Transcript²

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

For decades, 89-year-old Dianne Feinstein has been one of the most popular politicians in California. Now she's facing calls to resign after missing key Senate votes. Scott Shafer of member station KQED asked California voters about her absence.

SCOTT SHAFER, BYLINE³: At a children's playground in San Francisco's Mission District, music teacher Thomas Denish takes a break from eating a sandwich to consider Dianne Feinstein's career.

THOMAS DENISH: You know, she's been in the game forever. You have to respect the woman for what she's done.

SHAFER: And what about people who are saying, you know what, you need to resign because you can't go back there and vote right now?

DENISH: I think that decision is up to her and her people and her team.

SHAFER: On 24th Street, in the heart of the city's Latin cultural district, Edith Reyes notes the high stakes in Washington right now. She's voted for Feinstein before and thinks she's done an adequate job. But...

EDITH REYES: There's a time for a change, and this may be it, for Dianne Feinstein to step down and allow somebody else to take her place.

SHAFER: Down the street, Andre Barnes says he's lived in the city a long time, but it's been years since he's even thought about Dianne Feinstein.

ANDRE BARNES: Like, when Willie Brown was, like, a state legislator, you kind of understood what he was doing. He raised money. He got things done. Feinstein - I just don't have a clue. She should go enjoy her life. She's old.

SHAFER: Barnes likes Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who could fit the bill if Governor Gavin Newsom fulfills⁴ his pledge to name a Black woman to the seat. But if you're a Republican in deep blue California, like Gloria Ludtke of La Quinta near Palm Springs, the problem is much bigger than Feinstein's age.

GLORIA LUDTKE: The politics that they have in California suck.

SHAFER: While Feinstein fell out of favor with many progressive Democrats⁵ for being too moderate, to Ludtke, she's too liberal.

LUDTKE: I really don't think much of her. She doesn't do her job. She's just one-sided.

SHAFER: Republican Jeff Lao says he thinks there are good reasons for Feinstein to retire.

JEFF LAO: Harder to make decisions when you're getting older. And it's good to move on to another position (laughter).

SHAFER: On a recent morning at the Rossmoor retirement⁶ community in Walnut⁷ Creek⁸ east of Oakland, seniors were playing a vigorous game of pickleball.

(SOUNDBITE OF PICKLEBALL BOUNCING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Whoa. Wow.

SHAFER: Inside a nearby clubhouse, three members of the Rossmoor Democratic club mulled over the Feinstein dilemma. At 91, Joyce Brock is older than Feinstein, but she rejects the idea that Feinstein is being treated unfairly or that there's a double standard for older women.

JOYCE BROCK: I don't think this has to do with gender⁹. Because of my age, I know myself that I'm not as good as I was when I was 85.

SHAFER: Her friend Alice Claire King, a relatively¹⁰ young 79, notes that the nearly 40 million people in California need a reliable voice in Washington.

ALICE CLAIRE KING: As the biggest state in the country with only two senators, we need her vote. We need a senator who is at full speed and can give his or her all.

AMAL MOULIK: It's a balance between the agility¹¹ of youth and the experience of age.

SHAFER: That's Amal Moulik. Calling on his Indian heritage, he has a nuanced take on Feinstein's age.

MOULIK: In the Asian culture, age is regarded as a very great value.

SHAFER: Moulik seems resigned to the fact that ultimately, Feinstein may have to step down, giving Governor Newsom an opportunity to name the next senator. But...

MOULIK: Let's just be clear on this. There will be no voice like Dianne Feinstein. Whoever he appoints will have very large shoes to fill.

SHAFER: Meanwhile, Feinstein's staff says she'll be back in Washington once her health allows her to travel.

For NPR News, I'm Scott Shafer in San Francisco.

1 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

2 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。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 fulfills   

v.履行（诺言等）( fulfill的第三人称单数 )；执行（命令等）；达到（目的）；使结束

参考例句：

• He always fulfills his promises. 他总是履行自己的诺言。 来自辞典例句
• His own work amply fulfills this robust claim. 他自己的作品在很大程度上实现了这一正确主张。 来自辞典例句

5 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》

6 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

7 walnut   

n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色

参考例句：

• Walnut is a local specialty here.核桃是此地的土特产。
• The stool comes in several sizes in walnut or mahogany.凳子有几种尺寸，材质分胡桃木和红木两种。

8 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

9 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

11 agility   

n.敏捷，活泼

参考例句：

• The boy came upstairs with agility.那男孩敏捷地走上楼来。
• His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.他的才智和机敏从未受到怀疑。