美国有线新闻 CNN 2012-11-29

 I’m Wolf Blitzer for Anderson Cooper. Welcome to the podcast. How much progress is being made to diffuse¹ the budget and how much just now make bluster². Let’s get started.

 

We begin with the way Anderson does every night Keeping Them Honest, not just taking sides, not just seeking the truth. That we want all of the above. Tonight, that talks to diffuse the year-end budget bomb and the difference between Washington progress and real progress. Americans say they want real progress and real give and take to get there. Let’s listen to this, 72% in our grand new CNN/ORC poll say they want President Obama to compromise with Republicans on taxes and spending. An identical 72% want Republicans to do the same, compromise with the other side. As for what compromise should entail³, 67% more than two in three, favor a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. That’s what they say real progress would look like. Keeping Them Honest, though, real progress is one thing. Washington progress is another. So far at least we are seeing much more of the second than the first, and we’re getting late new word that any progress might be stalled. More on that shortly. First, a good example of Washington progress. Republican lawmakers standing⁴ up in a limited way to a Beltway power broker⁵ named Grover Norquist over the 1980s era pledge he pressures them to sign promising⁶ not to raise taxes, any taxes ever. 

 

“I’m not obligated on the pledge. I made Tennesseans aware, I was just elected, that the only thing I’m monitoring is the oath that I take when I serve when I’m sworn in this January.”

 

That’s Senator Bob Corker, one of a handful of Republican lawmakers repudiating⁷ the pledge. He will join us shortly. I will ask him to be more specific about whether that means higher tax rates for high incomes are on the table, something President Obama campaign and won reelection on. Senator Lindsey Graham also breaking with Norquist says no on higher tax rates, but is open to more tax revenue by limiting deductions⁸. 

 

“I ‘m willing to generate revenue. It’s fair to ask my party to put revenue on the table. We’re below historian averages. I will not raise tax rates to do it. I will cap deductions.”

Another lawmaker who is breaking with Norquist agrees.

“I think everything should be on the table. I myself am imposed on tax increases. I’m not going to prejudge it, and I’m just saying we should not be taking ironclad positions.”

 

And late today in The Situation Room, Republican Kevin McCarthy, the House majority whip, put a fresh spin on what seems to be the talking points. 

 

“If the goal is to raise more revenue, what is the best way to do that at the same time protecting the economy? So if you’re able to gain more revenue by closing special loopholes and limiting them and keeping the rate down so you have better job growth, isn’t that a better outcome? “

 

Once again, talk of tax deductions and closing loopholes, but a big note of raising tax rates, so a lot of talk but perhaps not much real movement at least for now. As for Grover Norquist, he told CNN’s Soledad O’Brien today that although some Republicans are in his words discussing impure⁹ thoughts on television, they won’t really act on them. 

 

“I have had long conversations with Lindsey Graham. And he says I would raise taxes if and then he lists this incredible list of reforms and entitlements that the Democrats¹⁰ would never give him. And as I suggested to him, I said, Senator you are offering to trade a tax increase for a pink unicorn¹¹ that doesn’t exist.”

 

1 diffuse   

v.扩散；传播；adj.冗长的；四散的，弥漫的

参考例句：

• Direct light is better for reading than diffuse light.直射光比漫射光更有利于阅读。
• His talk was so diffuse that I missed his point.他的谈话漫无边际，我抓不住他的要点。

2 bluster   

v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声

参考例句：

• We could hear the bluster of the wind and rain.我们能听到狂风暴雨的吹打声。
• He was inclined to bluster at first,but he soon dropped.起初他老爱吵闹一阵，可是不久就不做声了。

3 entail   

vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要

参考例句：

• Such a decision would entail a huge political risk.这样的决定势必带来巨大的政治风险。
• This job would entail your learning how to use a computer.这工作将需要你学会怎样用计算机。

4 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。

5 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

6 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

7 repudiating   

v.（正式地）否认( repudiate的现在分词 )；拒绝接受；拒绝与…往来；拒不履行（法律义务）

参考例句：

• Instead of repudiating what he had done, he gloried in it. 他不但没有否定自己做过的事，反而引以为荣。 来自辞典例句
• He accused the government of tearing up(ie repudiating)the negotiated agreement. 他控告政府撕毁（不履行）协议。 来自互联网

8 deductions   

扣除( deduction的名词复数 )； 结论； 扣除的量； 推演

参考例句：

• Many of the older officers trusted agents sightings more than cryptanalysts'deductions. 许多年纪比较大的军官往往相信特务的发现，而不怎么相信密码分析员的推断。
• You know how you rush at things,jump to conclusions without proper deductions. 你知道你处理问题是多么仓促，毫无合适的演绎就仓促下结论。

9 impure   

adj.不纯净的，不洁的；不道德的，下流的

参考例句：

• The air of a big city is often impure.大城市的空气往往是污浊的。
• Impure drinking water is a cause of disease.不洁的饮用水是引发疾病的一个原因。

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 unicorn   

n.(传说中的)独角兽

参考例句：

• The unicorn is an imaginary beast.独角兽是幻想出来的动物。
• I believe unicorn was once living in the world.我相信独角兽曾经生活在这个世界。