VOA常速英语2007年-New Hampshire Republicans Considering President

By Jeff Swicord
Dover, New Hampshire
15 November 2007
 
To New Hampshire Republicans, the state motto "Live Free or Die" speaks directly to their own political philosophy. They see themselves as the conservative guardians¹ of individual liberty, small government and low taxes.

On one recent night, Republicans in Dover, New Hampshire gathered at a restaurant to listen to one of the party's candidates for president.

Kerry Woullette, an elementary school teacher, says she is looking for a candidate with strong conservative credentials². "I am voting for national security. I am voting for conservative values. I am voting for truth in journalism³. I am voting for discretionary spending. I am looking to keep my taxes stable and I don't want government coming into my home and regulating my life."

On this evening, former Tennessee Senator and Hollywood actor Fred Thompson is speaking. Once heralded⁴ as a possible Republican frontrunner, he entered the 2008 presidential race later then others. Thompson now trails the leading Republican candidates in the New Hampshire polls. "I'm going to stay here and have a big steak tonight," he said.

Fred Thompson touts⁵ what he says is a traditionally conservative voting record as a U.S. Senator. He calls himself a proponent⁶ of free market principles, a strong defense⁷, and low taxes -- all issues that play well with New Hampshire Republicans. "I got to go to the United States Senate and develop a strong common sense conservative record. It's based on the value of the rule of law. It is based on market economies. It is based on free people."

Most polls of New Hampshire voters show former Massachusetts Governor Mitt⁸ Romney in the lead, followed by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Senator John McCain respectively. But you would not know that by this crowd's enthusiasm.

Roger Rivers owns a camera store in Dover. He says of Thompson, "I appreciate his opinions on the economy. I appreciate his opinions concerning national security. He seems like he will be extra effective at communicating his ideas. I definitely will vote for him."

Ann Burke, a retired⁹ schoolteacher, says Thompson would bridge the political divide in Washington and move the country forward. "He is honest. He is absolutely what this country needs right now to get us out of the bipartisan mess, the 'do-nothing' mess that we have in Washington. I think he is the man. Oh, you are going to be a great president," she says to Thompson.

Traditionally, New Hampshire is the second state to choose its presidential candidates in an election year –after Iowa. Since other states have moved their primaries earlier, New Hampshire is expected to vote on January 5th to retain its status as the second primary state.

1 guardians   

监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者

参考例句：

• Farmers should be guardians of the countryside. 农民应是乡村的保卫者。
• The police are guardians of law and order. 警察是法律和秩序的护卫者。

2 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

3 journalism   

n.新闻工作，报业

参考例句：

• He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
• He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

4 heralded   

v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要）

参考例句：

• The singing of the birds heralded in the day. 鸟鸣报晓。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King. 嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 touts   

n.招徕( tout的名词复数 )；（音乐会、体育比赛等的）卖高价票的人；侦查者；探听赛马的情报v.兜售( tout的第三人称单数 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• Many vouchers are returned for cash, allowing touts and middle men to make a healthy margin. 许多月饼券都被兑换成现金，这让券贩子和中间商赚取了不蜚的利润。 来自互联网
• Spotting prey, the customary crowd of hustlers and touts swarmed around, jostling for my business. 照例有大群的拉客黄牛在寻觅猎物，他们争相过来抢我的生意。 来自互联网

6 proponent   

n.建议者；支持者；adj.建议的

参考例句：

• Stapp became a strong early proponent of automobile seat belts.斯塔普是力主在汽车上采用座椅安全带的早期倡导者。
• Halsey was identified as a leading proponent of the values of progressive education.哈尔西被认为是进步教育价值观的主要支持者。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

9 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。