voa标准英语2008年-Bush, Obama Discuss Plans for Transition

Both U.S. President George Bush and his successor, Barack Obama, are emphasizing the importance of a smooth transition, so Mr. Obama can tackle the country's economic problems as soon as he takes office on January 20. VOA's Kent Klein reports from Washington.
　

President-elect Obama makes an opening statement on the economy during a press conference in Chicago, 07 Nov 2008

President-elect Obama says his administration will start working to restore the U.S. economy from his first day in office. In the weekly Democratic Party radio address Saturday, Mr. Obama called on Congress to approve an economic stimulus¹ package as soon as possible. He also laid out his priorities for fixing the economy.

"First, we need a rescue plan for the middle class, that invests in immediate² efforts to create jobs and provides relief to families that are watching their paychecks shrink and their life savings³ disappear," said Mr. Obama.

"Then, we will address the spreading impact of the financial crisis on other sectors⁴ of our economy, and ensure that the rescue plan that passed Congress is working to stabilize⁵ financial markets, while protecting taxpayers⁶, helping⁷ homeowners and not unduly⁸ rewarding the management of financial firms that are receiving government assistance," he continued.

Mr. Obama said a report this week that the U.S. economy has lost 1.2 million jobs this year underscores the importance of immediate action when he takes office.

"In the wake of these disturbing reports, I met with members of my transition economic advisory⁹ board, who will help guide the work of my transition team in developing a strong set of policies to respond to this crisis," he said. "While we must recognize that we only have one president at a time, and that President Bush is the leader of our government, I want to ensure that we hit the ground running on January 20, because we do not have a moment to lose."
　

President Bush assembled members of his Cabinet to make remarks on the transition at the White House, 06 Nov 2008

President Bush, in his weekly radio address, said he would do everything in his power to help Mr. Obama succeed.

"When I called President-elect Obama to congratulate him on his historic victory, I told him that he can count on my complete cooperation as he makes his transition to the White House," he said. "Ensuring that this transition is seamless is a top priority for the rest of my time in office."

Mr. Bush will meet with Mr. Obama at the White House on Monday, to discuss the transition. Mr. Obama says he looks forward to the meeting, and he appreciates his predecessor's cooperation.

"This speaks to a fundamental recognition that here in America, we can compete vigorously in elections and challenge each other's ideas, yet come together in service of a common purpose once the voting is done," he said. "And that is particularly important at a moment when we face the most serious challenges of our lifetime."

President Bush says ensuring a smooth transition is a matter of national security. "This will also be America's first wartime presidential transition in four decades," he said.

"We are in a struggle against violent extremists determined¹⁰ to attack us, and they would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people. So my administration will work hard to ensure that the next president and his team can hit the ground running," he added.

Mr. Bush says the White House and federal agencies have been working for more than a year to make sure the next president can get off to a quick start.

Until then, the president says he will continue to address the nation's economic problems, and he urges Congress to approve free trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. He will also host an economic summit in Washington on November 15.

Meanwhile, an aide to President-elect Obama says the future U.S. leader did not give Poland any commitment on a missile defense¹¹ shield. Polish President Lech Kaczynski claims Mr. Obama would go ahead with plans to install the system in eastern Europe. Mr. Obama's aide Denis McDonough confirms the two men spoke¹² by telephone Friday, but says the president-elect only supports a missile defense shield when "the technology is proved to be workable."

1 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

4 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

6 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 unduly   

adv.过度地，不适当地

参考例句：

• He did not sound unduly worried at the prospect.他的口气听上去对前景并不十分担忧。
• He argued that the law was unduly restrictive.他辩称法律的约束性有些过分了。

9 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

10 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

11 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。

12 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。