Republican National Convention Opening in New York

 

By Deborah Tate
 
The Republican National Convention, which will nominate President Bush for another four-year term opens in New York Monday.
Republicans chose New York, a mostly Democratic Party stronghold to hold their convention not long after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Mr. Bush's decision to launch retaliatory² attacks against the al-Qaida terrorist network and its Taleban allies prompted his popularity to soar.
But as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of this city Sunday to protest Mr. Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq and his stand on other issues, Vice³ President Dick Cheney, campaigning in New York, reminded Americans why the convention is opening here.
"He is a man of his word, as the Taleban were the first to find out. Under the president's leadership, we drove them from power in Afghanistan and closed down the camps, where terrorists trained to kill Americans."
In an effort to woo independent and undecided voters, the convention will feature many politically-moderate Republicans at the podium. Among the speakers Monday will be Senator John McCain of Arizona and former New York City police commissioner⁴ Bernard Kerik, who trained Iraqi police in Baghdad last year.
The Republican Party hopes to underscore broad appeal by allowing a Democrat¹, Senator Zell Miller⁵ of Georgia, to deliver the keynote speech later in the week.
Senator Miller offered a preview of his remarks on Fox News Sunday, praising Mr. Bush. "I think he has a vision for this country, and I think he will lay out that vision on Thursday night. I think he knows where he wants to take this country and I think we have to get behind him and let him lead us to where he wants us to go."
But former President Bill Clinton, who is a New York resident and has an office in this city, says the Republicans' emphasis on moderates at their convention does not reflect what he describes as the ultra conservative views of those who make up the party's base.
He made his comments to congregates⁶ at the Riverside Church in the city. "[Their] values are anti-abortion, anti-gay rights, concentration of wealth and power."
President Bush is not to arrive at the convention site until Wednesday, on the eve of his acceptance of his party's nomination⁷.
Deborah Tate, VOA news, New York.

注释：
Republican National Convention 共和党全国代表大会
Democratic Party 美国民主党
the Pentagon 五角大楼
retaliatory 报复的
soar 剧增
woo 寻求，招揽
moderate 中立的
podium 投票台，演讲台
Arizona 亚利桑那州
Baghdad 巴格达（伊拉克首都）
underscore 强调
keynote speech 政党代表大会上关于施政方针的演说
ultra 过激的，极端的
nomination 任命

1 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

2 retaliatory   

adj.报复的

参考例句：

• The process can take years before the WTO approves retaliatory action. 在WTO通过此行动之前，这个程序恐怕要等上一阵子了。 来自互联网
• Retaliatory tariffs on China are tantamount to taxing ourselves as a punishment. 将惩罚性关税强加于中国相当于对我们自己实施课税惩罚。 来自互联网

3 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。

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

6 congregates   

（使）集合，聚集( congregate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A herd of brachiosaurus congregates on a forested coast in this artist's depiction. 侏罗纪时代图片集。一群腕龙聚集在一个森林海岸在这方面艺术家的描述。

7 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。