NBC晚间新闻 参议院的谈判可能是结束政府关门最好的机会

Senate negotiations¹ could be best chance to end shutdown

参议院的谈判可能是结束政府关门最好的机会

Senators tried hammering out a compromise to end the weeks-long government shutdown. Meanwhile, protesters picketed² outside the White House. NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reports.

参议院试图通过妥协结束政府长达数周的关张。同时抗议者们聚集在白宫门外。NBC的Kelly O’Donnell报道。

Good evening, it has been another day of lots of talk and no action. What we have sadly come to expect from our leaders 13 days after they allowed much of the US government to run aground. And it is the pain the government shut down has inflicted⁴ on average Americans isn't enough, in just over 72 hours this will go from bad to worse. It's when the debt ceiling expires. Almost 80 times since 1960 the congress has raised the limit without drama. Contrary to what some may think, raising the debt ceiling doesn't give the government authority to take on new spending, only to pay the bills it already has. Things like social security, military pay and veterans, benefits. Paying those bills is expected to burn through the country's cash on hand and by the end of the month leaving the US for the first time ever in default. So exactly what are the White House and congress doing to avoid it? We all cover on both ends of Washington and start with Kelly O'Donnell on Capitol Hill where frustration⁵ spilled in to the streets for a time today. Kelly ?

reporter: Sure did, Lester. With the dire⁶ consequences just days away, tonight the senate and Republican top officials responsible for finding a solution had just one phone call and made no progress. Senators are divide over how much federal spending should be permitted in a budget extension that would reopen the government and how long any new borrowing limits should last. Today, this impasse⁷ brought out anger and emotion. Voices from across the political divide brought their frustrations⁸ to Washington's landmarks⁹ today, both Liberal and Conservative can servetive protests. The far larger turnout, tea party inspired demonstrators toppled and stacked barricades¹⁰ in front of the White House. Today, barricades became a symbol of anger over closed monuments and were cut apart and carried from the closed world war II memorial.

All of these people are here because things are broken. The memorial is becoming a flash point for Conservatives. Tea party stars Sarah Palin and senator Ted³ Cruz were there.

Our veterans should be above politics. Enough games.

reporter: Inside the Capitol, senators were on the job today. The senate's top party leaders are talking.

It's a breakthrough. Hard to imagine but it's a breakthrough.

reporter: The senator negotiations are not considered the best chance to reopen government and renew the government's ability to borrow known as the debt ceiling which runs out this week.

I think it is not a good idea to go through the debt ceiling deadline.

reporter: But house of Republicans are suspicious about a senate compromise and maintain that a deal that reduces government debt will make the pain of this gridlock worthwhile.

In the short-term sacrifice of a shutdown is inconsequential if you change spending patterns in the United States of America and get us on a path of growth and prosperity.

reporter: Today many who came out to be heard say they are out of patience.

My own personal opinion is I blame actually the congress, not the president.

What do we want.

To end the shut down.

When do we want it?

Now.

reporter: And tonight they say even with no progress today they still believe within a day or so the senate could come up with an agreement. But what remains¹¹ unclear is how house republicans will react.

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 picketed   

用尖桩围住（picket的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• They picketed the restaurant. 他们在饭馆外设置纠察。
• Humboldt riotously picketed Von Trenk but the play was a hit. 尽管洪堡肆意破坏《冯·特伦克》的上演，然而这个剧还是轰动一时。

3 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

4 inflicted   

把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team. 他们使主队吃了一场很没面子的败仗。
• Zoya heroically bore the torture that the Fascists inflicted upon her. 卓娅英勇地承受法西斯匪徒加在她身上的酷刑。

5 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。

6 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

7 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

8 frustrations   

挫折( frustration的名词复数 )； 失败； 挫败； 失意

参考例句：

• The temptation would grow to take out our frustrations on Saigon. 由于我们遭到挫折而要同西贡算帐的引诱力会增加。
• Aspirations will be raised, but so will frustrations. 人们会产生种种憧憬，但是种种挫折也会随之而来。

9 landmarks   

n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址）

参考例句：

• The book stands out as one of the notable landmarks in the progress of modern science. 这部著作是现代科学发展史上著名的里程碑之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The baby was one of the big landmarks in our relationship. 孩子的出世是我们俩关系中的一个重要转折点。 来自辞典例句

10 barricades   

路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The police stormed the barricades the demonstrators had put up. 警察冲破了示威者筑起的街垒。
• Others died young, in prison or on the barricades. 另一些人年轻时就死在监牢里或街垒旁。

11 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。