奥巴马连任——任重而道远(2/2)

英语自学网

概述：新一任国防部长候选人，众口难调。国会政治立场僵持、效率低下，新决议能否带来改变也仍然有待观察。
Hints:
Obama
Secretary of Defense
Republican
Chuck Hagel
Lindsey Graham
Ben Cardin
机构和职位名称大写 五处“-”
校对：金多虾01
翻译&注解：初雲漪薇
组长：liuczhi
答疑：candy0228
点评：Sylar1
口语节目地址：http://bulo.hujiang.com/menu/11921/item/727484/
And the Senate will begin formal consideration of a more controversial Cabinet pick: President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense, former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel.
"Chuck Hagel is the leader that our troops deserve. He is an American patriot."
Hagel's nomination has been criticized by Republican lawmakers who question his commitment to Israel's security.
Senator Lindsey Graham: "This is an 'in-your-face' nomination by the president to all of us who are supportive of Israel."
An eventual Senate vote to confirm or reject Hagel's nomination could test new Senate rules designed to reduce political gridlock in the chamber.
"The resolution is agreed to." Last week, the Senate voted to limit the ability of members to filibuster - a procedural maneuver to block consideration of a bill or presidential nominee.
Senator Ben Cardin expressed hope for a more functional and harmonious chamber. "It gives us the opportunity to work together in more confidence of beyond just the rules, but also dealing with the difficult issues that this country faces."
Those issues include America's runaway national debt and looming across-the-board federal spending cuts that will automatically take effect absent a deficit reduction agreement.同时参议院将正式开始考虑一个更有争议的内阁问题：奥巴马总统提名前共和党参议员查克•哈格尔为国防部长候选人。
“查克•哈格尔是我军部队不可多得的领袖，他是个爱国者。”
哈格尔的提名受到共和党国会议员们的指责，他们质疑其对以色列安全问题的立场。
参议员林赛•格雷厄姆说：“这项总统提名是对支持以色列一方的‘公然挑衅’。”
最终哈格尔的提名能否在参议院通过，将是对参议院旨在减少内阁政治僵局而制定的新规则的一次考验。
“决议通过。” 上周参议院投票决定限制成员阻挠议事的能力，即通过立法流程阻止议案或是总统提名通过。
参议员本•卡丁称他希望看到一个运作更为和谐的参议院。“这项决议让我们更加有信心从制度以外的层面携手解决美国面临的众多难题。”
这些问题包括美国失控的国债问题以及全面削减联邦政府开支的问题，这些在削减赤字协议不能达成的情况下会自动生效。