VOA标准英语2011--Bill Clinton Sells His Economic Prescriptions in New Book

Bill Clinton Sells His Economic Prescriptions¹ in New Book

With U.S. unemployment stuck at nine percent, former President Bill Clinton is offering his own prescriptions for fixing the economy in a new book, Back to Work.

Selling the former president's answers to the struggling economy, Back to Work is front and center at this bookstore in Washington.

Customer Ron Collins is a Democrat² disappointed in President Barack Obama. He calls Mr. Clinton a "breath of fresh air."

“He got that right," said Collins. "He brought us economic prosperity, so given that, and particularly given the times, of course we’re going to be interested in reading Bill Clinton."

Back to Work largely promotes policies aligned³ with President Obama, such as stimulus⁴ spending and investing in green technology.

But Mr. Clinton faults the president and other Democrats⁵ for failing to form a central message to counter Republicans' low tax, small government stance.

Matt Dallek teaches history and politics at the University of California Washington Center.

"Bill Clinton in this book is expressing the frustration⁶ that a lot of Democrats feel," said Dallek. "They believe that this White House hasn't delivered its economic message to the country as well as it could. They're frustrated⁷ that Republicans are resurgent, that the Tea Party has been such a powerful voice in our economic debates."

Mr. Clinton's book says political wrangling⁸ over raising the debt ceiling made the nation look "weak and confused." But he now says he was wrong to think Mr. Obama could have pushed the move through sooner.

The White House also downplays suggestions of tension.

“I would say that the book is very helpful, and that it reinforces the positive steps that President Obama has taken," said Carney.

And with the election a year away, the views of Mr. Clinton, who one decade ago, left office with a budget surplus and unemployment under 4.5 percent, may bring new fuel to the economic debate.

1 prescriptions   

药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划

参考例句：

• The hospital of traditional Chinese medicine installed a computer to fill prescriptions. 中医医院装上了电子计算机来抓药。
• Her main job was filling the doctor's prescriptions. 她的主要工作就是给大夫开的药方配药。

2 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

3 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。

4 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。

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

7 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 wrangling   

v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. 双方大部分时间都在围绕程序问题争论不休。 来自辞典例句
• The children were wrangling (with each other) over the new toy. 孩子为新玩具（互相）争吵。 来自辞典例句