VOA常速英语2007年-US Senate Confirms Michael Mukasey as Attorney

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
09 November 2007

The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Bush's nomination¹ of retired² federal judge Michael Mukasey to the post of attorney general. The Senate approved Mukasey by a vote of 53-40 during a late-night session Thursday. The vote came despite concern among some Democrats³ that the retired federal judge would not say whether the interrogation technique known as waterboarding amounts to torture. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

President Bush immediately welcomed Senate confirmation⁴ of Michael Mukasey.

In a written statement, Mr. Bush called Mukasey a man of strong character and integrity, with exceptional legal judgment⁵. He said Mukasey will be an outstanding attorney general.

Mukasey succeeds Alberto Gonzales, who resigned amid criticism of his handling of a controversial wiretapping program and the firing of federal prosecutors⁶.

Mukasey's confirmation came after an emotional debate over his refusal during Senate hearings to call the interrogation technique that simulates drowning 'torture'. Key Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry⁷ Reid of Nevada, argued that was enough reason to oppose the nomination.

"In light of his responses in confirmation hearings, I cannot stand by him today," he said.

Thirty-nine Democrats voted against Mukasey. But six others joined Republicans in supporting him.

Senator Joe Leiberman, an independent from Connecticut, was also among those who supported Mukasey.

"I can't think of a nominee⁸ for Attorney General who has been more independent of the president nominating him than Michael Mukasey in a long, long time," he said.

Waterboarding has been condemned⁹ as torture by human rights groups. The U.S. military has banned the practice, but human rights groups say the Central Intelligence Agency has used it on terrorism suspects in recent years.

1 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。

2 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。

3 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》

4 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。

5 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。

6 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

7 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

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。

9 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。