On Tuesday, President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address to the U.S. Congress. Obama provided a preview of the speech he will deliver in one of the most difficult economic and political environments any president has faced in decades.
The economy will be front and center as the president makes the trip to Capitol Hill to address a joint session of Congress.
星期二，奥巴马抵达国会山，对国会参众两院发表国情咨文之际，估计经济问题将是他演讲的中心和重点。
Unemployment is falling, but not as quickly as Obama hoped. This threatens his re-election chances.
在美国，失业率已经开始下降，但是并不像奥巴马总统所希望的那么快。这很有可能对他的连任前景不利。
But Congress has historically low approval ratings - polls show that more than 80 percent of Americans disapprove of the job it is doing.
不过，美国国会目前面临的是历史上最低的民调支持率。民意调查显示，80%以上的美国人都对国会的工作不满。
In speeches across the country, Obama has targeted what he calls congressional dysfunction.
奥巴马总统最近在全国各地发表的讲话中，也都瞄准了国会运作不利这一点。
On Saturday, the president issued a video message previewing broad themes of what he calls his blueprint for America's economy. He said it will be based on a speech he gave in Osawatomie, Kansas, last year in which he spoke about the importance of the middle class and fair play.
星期六，奥巴马总统向外界公布了一份视频，透露了他对美国经济下一步的蓝图是什么样的看法。奥巴马表示，他在星期二的国情咨文中所要讲的，将和他去年在堪萨斯州发表的演讲的内容大致相同。在那次演讲中，奥巴马强调了美国中产阶级对整个国家的重要性，他同时还阐述了公平的重要性。
"I talked in Osawatomie about - this is a make-or-break moment for the middle class and folks trying to work their way into the middle class," he said. "Because we can go in two directions. One is toward less opportunity and less fairness. Or we can fight for where I think we need to go: building an economy that works for everyone, not just a wealthy few."
奥巴马总统说：“我在那次演讲中谈了中产阶级、以及那些想要进入中产阶层的人，目前所面临的是一个关键的转折点。下一步，我们面临着两个选择，一个是机会减少、更加不公平；但是我们也可以选择另外一条路、并且为这个选择而奋斗，那就是，将经济建设成为让大家都受益，而不只是让少数人受益。”
His preview did not contain the kind of fiery remarks he made last week about the political environment.
从目前已经透露出来的信息来看，奥巴马总统星期二的国情咨文中，大概不会包含他上个星期所发表的有关美国政治局势的可以说是比较激烈的言辞。
"It is going to take more than a few years to meet the challenges that were decades in the making," said the president. "The American people understand that. What they don't understand is leaders who refuse to take action. They are sick and tired of watching people who are supposed to represent them [but] put party ahead of country, or the next election before the next generation."
奥巴马总统说：“要解决过去几十年来积攒下来的问题，恐怕要用好多年的时间。美国民众深知这一点。但是，让他们难以明白的是，政坛领袖为什么会拒不采取行动，努力着手解决问题。美国民众实在是不愿意再看下去那些本来应该代表他们的人将政党利益放在国家利益之上，将下一届选举放在下一代人之上。”
Obama said he will offer proposals to help U.S. manufacturing, boost the energy sector through alternative sources, and provide Americans with more education and training.
奥巴马总统说，他将提出一系列方案，协助美国制造业的发展，振兴能源产业，并且让美国民众能够有更多的接受教育和培训的机会。
Obama is likely to use the State of the Union address to list key accomplishments: health-care reform, tightening controls on Wall Street, withdrawing troops from Iraq, setting the course toward a U.S. departure from Afghanistan, the killing of Osama bin Laden.
奥巴马总统很有可能会藉着发表国情咨文这一机会，列举出他任内的一系列成绩：即医疗保健系统的改革、对华尔街、也就是金融业加强管理、从伊拉克撤军、制订出从阿富汗撤军的方案、以及将基地组织头目本·拉登成功击毙。 |