Bush Outlines Foreign and Domestic Policies for Second Term

By Paula Wolfson

President Bush says he will push hard for his domestic and foreign priorities in his second term in office. Mr. Bush is offering to work with his political opponents but at the same time makes clear he will fight for the programs and policies he believes in.

Mr. Bush's tone following his election victory is one of determination and exhilaration.

At a post-election news conference, he said he is going into his second term with the firm support of the American electorate¹.

"This week the voters of America set the direction for the next four years. I am honored by the support of my fellow citizens and I am ready for the job," he said.

His agenda for the new term is familiar. Fighting terrorism tops the list, as does revising the tax code and tackling problems with the massive government programs that provide pensions and health care to the elderly.

"When you win, there is a feeling that the people have spoken and embraced your point of view. And that is what I intend to tell the congress: that I made it clear what I intend to do as president, and the people made it clear what they wanted, now let's work together," he said.

Mr. Bush never used the word mandate², but he left no doubt he believes he has strong political momentum³ as a result of the election. "Let me put it to you this way: I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it," he said.

The president did not go into specifics about his foreign policy goals. He emphasized he would stay the course in Iraq, despite criticism from some old allies, such as France and Germany. And he vowed⁴ to do all he can, in concert with other countries, to win the war on terrorism.

"Every civilized⁵ country also has a stake in the outcome of this war," he said. "Whatever our past disagreements, we share a common enemy. And we have common duties: to protect our peoples, to confront disease and hunger and poverty in troubled regions of the world."

Mr. Bush would not talk about the possibility his foreign policy advisors⁷ might change in his second term. He said he has made no decisions about his cabinet, but added he is well aware that these are very demanding jobs that take a high toll⁸ on individuals and their families.

"There will be some changes. I don't know who they will be. It is inevitable⁹ there will be changes. It happens in every administration," he said.

Among those who have indicated they may want to leave their current high level positions are National Security Advisor⁶ Condoleezza Rice, and Attorney General John Ashcroft.

注释：
push 推动
believe in 信仰
agenda 议程
terrorism 恐怖主义
revise 修改
tackle 解决
pension 养老金
embrace 信奉
momentum 动力
civilized 文明的
inevitable 不可避免的

1 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。

2 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

3 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

4 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

5 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

6 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

7 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

8 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

9 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。