voa标准英语2008年-President Bush Congratulates Obama, Promises Sm

President Bush has paid tribute to the historic nature of President-elect Barack Obama's victory at the polls, and promised to stay in close contact with him in the final months of his administration to ensure a smooth transition of power. From the White House, VOA's Michael Bowman reports.

President Bush said he had telephone conversations late Tuesday with the president-elect as well as his Republican rival, Senator John McCain.
　

President Bush congratulates President-elect Barack Obama in the Rose Garden of the White House, 5 Nov. 2008

Speaking from the Rose Garden less than 24 hours after Mr. Obama's overwhelming victory, Mr. Bush, who is no stranger to partisan¹ battles, struck a distinctly non-partisan tone.

"No matter how they cast their ballots², all Americans can be proud of the history that was made yesterday," he said. "Across the country, citizens voted in large numbers. They showed a watching world the vitality³ of America's democracy and the strides we have made towards a more perfect union. They chose a president whose journey represents a triumph of the American story, a testament⁴ to hard work, optimism, and faith in the enduring promise of our nation," said President Bush.

Mr. Bush said the moment is particularly uplifting for those who lived through America's turbulent civil rights era in the 1950s and 60s, when the vestiges⁵ of government-sponsored racial discrimination were overcome.

Now, the president said, it is time for Americans to move forward as one nation.

"We are embarking⁶ on a period of change in Washington, yet there are some things that will not change," Mr. Bush said. "The United States government will stay vigilant⁷ in meeting its most important responsibility: protecting the American people. And the world can be certain this commitment will remain steadfast⁸ under our next commander-in-chief," he said.
　

President-elect Barack Obama on stage with his wife Michelle and daughters during election night gathering9 in Grant Park, Chicago, 04 Nov 2008

Mr. Bush said he will inform his successor of all important decisions made in the waning¹⁰ months of his administration, and that he has invited Mr. Obama and the president-elect's wife, Michelle, to the White House at their earliest convenience.

He predicted it will be a stirring sight to watch the Obama family enter the White House, and that he and First Lady Laura Bush will return to Texas with many treasured memories of their time in Washington.

During the just-completed campaign, Mr. Obama often criticized President Bush's policies, and sought to link Senator McCain to them. Mr. Bush also paid tribute to Senator McCain, saying the American people will always be grateful for his lifetime of service to the nation.

1 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

2 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 vitality   

n.活力，生命力，效力

参考例句：

• He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。
• He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

4 testament   

n.遗嘱；证明

参考例句：

• This is his last will and testament.这是他的遗愿和遗嘱。
• It is a testament to the power of political mythology.这说明，编造政治神话可以产生多大的威力。

5 vestiges   

残余部分( vestige的名词复数 )； 遗迹； 痕迹； 毫不

参考例句：

• the last vestiges of the old colonial regime 旧殖民制度最后的残余
• These upright stones are the vestiges of some ancient religion. 这些竖立的石头是某种古代宗教的遗迹。

6 embarking   

乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• He's embarking on a new career as a writer. 他即将开始新的职业生涯——当一名作家。
• The campaign on which were embarking was backed up by such intricate and detailed maintenance arrangemets. 我们实施的战争，须要如此复杂及详细的维护准备。

7 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

8 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

9 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

10 waning   

adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly. 她对整个想法的热情迅速冷淡了下来。
• The day is waning and the road is ending. 日暮途穷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》