VOA常速英语2007年-Bush Seeks Mukasey Confirmation for Attorney Ge

By Scott Stearns
White House
03 November 2007

President Bush wants opposition¹ legislators to approve his choice for the nation's next top law enforcement official. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, Democrats² say the president is not spending enough to care for military veterans.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a Tuesday vote for the president's choice to be America's next Attorney General, retired³ federal judge Michael Mukasey.

But some Democrats on that committee say they will vote against him because of concern about his testimony⁴ regarding an interrogation technique that could be considered torture.

That technique, known as waterboarding, simulates drowning. Mukasey told the committee that he personally considers waterboarding repugnant but could not say whether it constitutes torture because he has not been briefed on classified information as he is still a private citizen.

In his weekly radio address, President Bush says Mukasey does not want interrogators in the field to take an uninformed opinion he has given at a confirmation⁵ hearing as meaning that they could be in legal jeopardy⁶.

"Congressional leaders should not make Judge Mukasey's confirmation dependent on his willingness to make a public judgment⁷ about a classified program he has not been briefed on," he said.  "If the Senate Judiciary Committee were to block Judge Mukasey on these grounds, it would set a new standard for confirmation that could not be met by any responsible nominee⁸ for Attorney General. And that would guarantee that America would have no confirmed Attorney General during this time of war."

The president is urging the Judiciary Committee to approve Mukasey as he says the Attorney General has critical responsibilities for protecting the nation from terrorist attack.

In the Democratic radio address, Senator Patty Murray says the president need not remind Americans that the nation is still at war.

"In fact, if it were up to us, we would already be bringing an end to the war that this president started," she said.

Murray says the president is wrong to threaten to veto spending on veterans benefits because the Democratic bill exceeds his budget request.

"The priorities that we fund are ones that he has neglected for far too long," she added.  "It is wrong to ignore these needs and neglect our veterans. Our troops have sacrificed so much. They deserve better than to have a president block this bill to make a political point."

Murray says Democrats will send a bill to the president in the coming week that provides for thousands of new Veterans' Administration case workers, better prosthetics for troops who have lost limbs in battle, and increased spending on treatment of post-traumatic stress.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 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》

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

5 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

6 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

7 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

8 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。