ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE

1 complicated indeed

   It's hard enough for any of us to understand this election. Imagine trying to explain it to someone from a foreign country.

   "Hello. Hey Edwardo! Good to hear from you. Yeah, well it's sort of hard to explain our system for electing a president. Of course we get to choose the candidates. Well we don't actually choose them, the two political parties choose them. At least a few of the leaders of the political parties choose them. And then we all vote. True. We don't all vote. That's right, half of us vote. Well if you want to be technical, fewer than half. Yes. Who got the most votes of all? Well, it doesn't really matter. The loser got 328,000 more votes than the man who seems to have won. Well, it's the 1)Electoral College. I'll explain the Electoral College to you so you understand it some other time - just as soon as I understand it. No, your son couldn't get into the electoral college no matter how good his marks are.  It isn't like Harvard. Who are these two candidates? Well, one has been Vice 1 President for eight years. He worked very closely with our President. Yes, the same President but don't be unpleasant, Edwardo.  No reason to bring that up. He made some mistakes when he was young. Yes. OK, OK. So he wasn't young, he was 52. She was young. Yeah, you heard right. The president's wife is going to be the Senator from New York State. No, she isn't. You're right again. She's from Arkansas. Well the Governor of Texas says he's the winner, because the Secretary of State of Florida, which his brother is Governor of, declared that he got several hundred more votes out of 6 million. Yeah, you're right.  The father of both governors was President of theUnited States. But please don't call it a dynasty, Edwardo. Edwardo, I want to watch the news now. Al Gore 2 is coming on television to say that George W. Bush isn't the new President but he is. Now look, that's it, Edwardo. I'm not taking any more of this from you. America is a great republic. I don't ever want to hear the word 2)banana again!¡±

2 every detail counts

     Too close to call? Ladies and gentlemen, let's be serious here. It's not rocket science. All you have to do is take a look at the candidates' teeth or the candidates' height.

    Come on the tallest candidate, with the exception of Jimmy Carter, has always won the White House. Advantage? Gore.

As for teeth, the candidate with the straightest, wins the election. A poll of dentists in California gave Gore the advantage there.

     But wait, the Washington Redskins lost their last home game before tomorrow's election. That means the party in power will lose the White House. Advantage? Bush.

   When the Los Angeles Lakers win an NBA championship, Republicans win the White House. Advantage? Bush.

   At Winchell Donut Shops in California, Gore donuts are 3)outselling Bushes. Advantage? Gore.   

  But Bush Halloween masks apparently 3 outsold Gore's. Advantage? Bush.

     Well, maybe there is a little more science involved in all this predicting stuff than originally thought. So, let's check the 4)BPM factory.

     Here we go, blinks per minute. Since 1960, the candidate who blinked the most during presidential debates lost. A Boston College psychology 4 professor says he counted the blinks in all three Bush-Gore debates. Advantage? Gore.

     But how does that 5)jive with thefact Family Circle Magazine chose Laura Bush's chocolate 6)chip cookies over Tipper Gore's 7)ginger 8)snaps. Advantage? Bush.

     And a poll of kindergarten through 9)12th grade children in Weekly Reader Magazine chose Bush in a 10)landslide over the Vice President. But the stock market is doing well. Advantage? Gore.

     11)Hemlines are down. Advantage? Bush.

     A 12)straw vote, literally 5 a straw vote, at general cinema theaters across the country shows Gore with the advantage.

     OK, listen, there's only one way to settle this issue once and for all. That's right. A 13)psychic 6 will certainly know the 14)outcome. Now, the answer we've been searching for -

Psychic: This is the kind of victory having, well there he is, having the 15)laurel leaf and he's on his horse and he's victorious 7. So, if I had to just put it in a 16)nutshell, it's looking like...

     Wait, on second thought, I don't want to be the one to ruin it for you.

3 dividend 8 we stand

(Nov. 15, 2000)

Gore: There is a simple reason that Florida law and the law in many other states calls for a careful check by real people of the machine results in elections like this one. The reason? Machines can sometimes 17)misread or fail to detect the way 18)ballots are cast. And when there are serious doubts, checking the machine count with a careful hand count is accepted 19)far and wide as the best way to know the true intentions of the voters.

(Nov. 15, 2000)

Bush: Each time these voting cards are handled, the potential for errors 20)multiplies. Additional 21)manual counts of votes that have been counted and recounted will make the process less accurate, not more so.

(Nov. 26, 2000)

22)Katherine Harris: On behalf of the state election's canvassing 9 commission, and 23)in accordance with the laws of the state of Florida, I hereby declare Governor George W. Bush the winner of Florida's 25 electoral votes for the President of the United States.

 (Nov. 26, 2000)

Joe Lieberman: This evening, the Secretary of State of Florida has decided 10 to certify 11 what by any reasonable standard is an incomplete and inaccurate 12 count of the votes cast in the state of Florida.

(Dec. 13, 2000)

Bush: The election was close, but tonight after a count, a recount and yet another manual recount, Secretary Chency and I are honored and humbled 13 to have won the state of Florida, which gives us the needed electoral votes to win the election. We will therefore undertake the responsibility of preparing to serve as America's next President and Vice President.

(Dec. 13, 2000)

Gore: Now the US Supreme 14 Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept the 24)finality of this outcome, which will be 25)ratified next Monday in the electoral college. And tonight for the sake of our unity 15 as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my 26)concession.

4 a lost soul

Gore: On January 20th, if the person standing 16 up before the Capitol taking the 27)oath of office is George Bush and not me, he will be sworn in as my President too. And I will spare no efforts in saying to people who supported me, let's not have any talk about stealing the election. Let's not question the 28)legitimacy of the election.

Interviewer: No matter how that comes about?

Gore: That is correct.

Interviewer: No but you didn't get your count?

Gore: That is correct. And for one simple reason - the nation's interest has to come first. And I hope that Governor Bush will make the same pledge.

Interviewer: You're sitting here. They call this house where we are the 29)bunker.

Gore: Who, who, who does?

Interviewer: Oh, everybody.

Gore: Oh, come on.

Interviewer: Come on, everybody. You're 30)wrapped up in this. That you want to present this picture to the public that everything is OK and it's a great 31)civics lesson. I mean, you're, you have to be angry. You have to be angry at what's happening. I mean you do think you've won the election, don't you?

Gore: Uh, I think I do. I think that a majority of the people in Florida who went to the polls intended to support Joe Lieberman and me. And I think there...

Interviewer: Well, what, is there no emotion here?

Gore: Well you see, anger is not... What point would there be to feelingthat? I'm concentrating...

Interviewer: That's one of those emotions. Come on, what about Katherine Harris? Weren't you angry at her?

Gore: Look, I don't think that it, that it serves any purpose.

Interviewer: Have you given any thought, any thought to what would happen if it doesn't work out for you?

Gore: Very little because, you know, coming up to the election, I was pretty well prepared to win, little somewhat prepared if it didn't work out. What I was not prepared for was neither outcome.

Interviewer: Yes, Yes. I want to read you something in today's New York Times. It says, ¡°Whichever man ends up having to concede, is going to feel - ready? - 32)tormented, 33)rejected, 34)humiliated, victimized, angry, cheated, ashamed, lonely, and bone tired.¡± Oh, my!

Gore: Oh, if it... I've been getting...

Interviewer: Now I know why you're fighting so hard.

Gore: I've been getting 7, 8 hours of sleep at night. And I don't feel bone tired.

Interviewer: Yeah, but you don'tthink you're going to concede at this point, but they're saying if you end up having to.

Gore: If you want me to anticipate a situation that I don't think is going to happen and then project my feelings into it, I'll do my best by telling you that of course I would be 35)vulnerable to such feelings. But I do believe that with my  family and with my faith, I would find a way to come out on top of that and not to surrender to those feelings. We can choose.

Interviewer: You've been described by people who see you as a lost soul in deep denial racked by what ifs. Now...

Gore: Is that the person you see before you?

Interviewer: Well, that's not the person I'm seeing, but I don't see you behind the scenes. And, are you in deep denial?

Gore: No. No. I deny that.

Interviewer: OK.

5 george w.s victory speech

     Thank you. Thank you very much!

     Good evening, my fellow Americans! I appreciate so very much the opportunity to speak with you tonight.

     Mr. Speaker, Lieutenant 17 Governor, friends, distinguished 18 guests, our country has been through a long and 36)trying period with the outcome of the Presidential election not 37)finalized for longer than any of us could ever imagine. Vice President Gore and I put our hearts and hopes into our campaigns. We both gave it our all. We shared similar emotions. So I understand how difficult this moment must be for Vice President Gore and his family. He has a distinguished record of serviceto our country as a congressman 19, a senator, and a Vice President. This evening I received a gracious call from the Vice President. We agreed to meet early next week in Washington and we agreed to do our best to heal our country after this hard fought contest.

     After a difficult election we must put politics behind us and work together to make the promise of America available for everyone of our citizens. I'm optimistic that we can change the tone in Washington D.C.. I believe things happen for a reason. And I hope the long wait of the last 5 weeks will heighten a desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship 20 of the recent past. Our nation must rise above a house divided. Americans share hopes and goals and values far more important than any political disagreements. Republicans want the best for our nation and so do Democrats 21. Our votes may differ but not our hopes.

  I know America wants 38)reconciliation and unity. I know Americans want progress. And we must seize this moment and deliver. Together guided by a spirit of common sense, common 39)courtesy, and common goals, we can unite and inspire theAmerican citizens. I have faith that with God's help, we as a nation will move forward together as one nation indivisible.

    And together we will create an America that is open so every citizen has access to the American Dream. An America that is educated so every child has the keys to realize that dream. An America that is united in our diversity and our shared American values that are larger than race or party. I was not elected to serve one party but to serve one nation. The President of the United States is the President of every single American of every race and every background. Whether you voted for me or not, I will do my best to serve your interests.  And I will work to earn your respect. I will be guided by President Jefferson's sense of purpose to stand for principle, to be reasonable in manner and above all to do great good for the cause of freedom and harmony. The presidency 22 is more than an honor. It is more than an office. It is a charge to keep and I will give it my all.

     Thank you very much. And God bless America.

　纷纷扰扰白宫路上

1 一言难尽的总统选举

   对这场大选，我们美国人自己理解起来都很困难。想想同一个外国人解释该是怎样的情景吧。

   “你好。嗨，阿德瓦多！很高兴听到你的声音。是的，这个，要解释我们选举总统的体系有点难。我们当然要挑选出候选人了。实际上他们不是我们选的，是两个政党选的。至少是政党中的一些领导人选的。接着我们进行全民投票。对。不是全民投票。对，是半数人去投。如果你要知道得很详细的话，是少于半数人去投票。是的。谁取得了大多数选票？这个，那无关紧要。落选的那个人比似乎胜选的人多得了三十二万八千张选票。唔，是选举团。我会跟你解释什么是选举团的，这样你总有一天会明白过来的--如果我能明白的话。不行，无论你儿子的成绩多好，他也进不了选举团。那和哈佛可不一样。这两名候选人是谁？唔，一名当副总统当了八年。他在总统身边工作。是的，是同一个总统，不过别不高兴，阿德瓦多。没必要再提起那事。他年轻的时候犯过一些错。是的。好了，好了。他不年轻，那时他有52岁。不过她很年轻。是的，你的听闻是正确的。总统的妻子会当纽约州参议员。不，她不是纽约人。你又对了。她来自阿肯色州。德克萨斯州州长说他胜选了，因为在他弟弟任州长的佛罗里达州，州务卿宣布他在六百万张选票中以多数票赢出。是的，你说得对。这两位州长的父亲曾当过美国总统。不过请别把这称为“朝代”，阿德瓦多。阿德瓦多，现在我想去看新闻了。阿尔。戈尔要到电视上声明小布什不是新总统，他自己才是。好了，就这样吧。，阿德瓦我。我不想再听你说这些了。美国是个孙起的共和国。我可不想再听到“香蕉”这个字眼了！

2 细微之处见分小晓

   选举难解难分？女士们先生们，现在我们来真格的。这又不是火箭学。你只要看看候选人的牙齿或者身高就行了。

   看，除了吉米·卡特，身材最高大的候选人总能赢得白宫之位。谁占优势？戈尔。

   在牙齿方面，牙齿最整齐的候选人赢出大选。加州牙医的民意测验表明优势归戈尔得。

   不过等等，在明天大选前华盛顿红人队在最后一场主场比赛中最终失势。那意味着执政党会失去白宫。谁占优势？布什。

   洛杉矶湖人队在NBA锦标赛夺胜，意味着共和党可以赢得白宫。谁占优势？布什。

   在加州的温歇尔甜甜圈店，戈尔甜甜圈卖得比布什甜甜圈好。谁占优势？戈尔。

   但是，布什万圣节面具明显好卖过戈尔面具。谁占优势？布什。

唔，或许除了猜测以外，预测此类事件该多添进些科学成分。所以，我们来试试BPM吧。

   好了，每秒钟眨眼的次数。自1960年以来，在总统辩论当中眨眼次数最多的候选人会落败。波士顿大学的一位心理学教授说，他数过布什和戈尔三场辩论中的所有眨眼次数。谁占优势？戈尔。

   不过那怎么解释此事实？《家庭生活》杂志评劳拉·布什的巧克力饼干比梯普·戈尔的姜汁饼好吃。谁占优势？布什。

   《每周读者》杂志对从幼儿园至十二年级的学生进行民意测验，布什以绝对优势压倒戈尔。但股市的走势畅旺。谁占优势？戈尔。

裙线低下去了。谁占优势？布什。

   从民意测验看，全美国的电影院表明戈尔占有优势。

   好，听着了，只有一个方法能一次性解决这问题。对了。灵媒肯定会知道结果。现在我们拭目以待的答案就要出来了--

灵媒：这场胜利中有，唔，他出来了，他戴着桂冠，骑着马，他得胜了。他骑着马，得胜了。所以，如果从坚果的情况看来，可能是……

   且慢，转念一想，我可不想破坏了你的悬念。

3 立场有别

戈尔：有一个简单的原因，即佛罗里达州的法律和其他各州法律均有要求在选举中，譬如在这一次选举中，由真人对机器检票结果进行仔细核查。原因是什么呢？机器有时会误读或检测不出选举记票的方式。当出现重大疑惑时，人工仔细地核对机器检票是了解选民真实意图的最能被广泛接受的办法。

布什：每处理这些选票卡一次，出错的可能性就会增大一些。对数过的和重数过的选票再进行人工点数只能造成该步骤的精确度降低，而不是增加。

凯瑟琳·哈里斯：根据佛罗里达州法律，我谨代表本州选举计票委员会宣布，乔治·W·布什州长赢得了当选美国总统所需的佛州25张选举人票。

乔·利伯曼：今天晚上，佛州州务卿决意根据一个不知是否合理的标准，宣布出一个既不完整也不准确的佛州选票票数。

布什：选举已经结束，不过今天晚上在经过点票、重点，以及另一次人工重点之后，切尼秘书与我很荣幸也很谦卑地赢得了佛州的选票，这些选票对我们赢得大选起了关键的作用。因此我们将担负起此责任，预备担任美国下一任总统和副总统来为人民服务。

戈尔：现在美国最高法院已经做出决定。请不要对此心怀疑惑，尽管我对法院的结论持有强烈异议，我还是接受了。我接受下周一选举团将批准的这个决定。今天晚上，为了我们民族的团结，也为了巩固我们的民主，我要做出让步。

4“败者的姿态”

戈尔：1月20号，如果站在国会大厦前做就职宣誓的人是乔治·布什，不是我，他也会宣誓为我的总统。我会不遗余力地告诉那些支持我的人们，不要再谈什么偷来的选举。不要质疑选举结果是否合理。

记者：不论结果怎样吗？

戈尔：对。

记者：即使你没得到票数？

戈尔：对。这是一个简单的原因--国家利益要放在第一。我希望布什州长也会做出相同的保证。

记者：你坐在这里。他们把我们在的这座房子称为燃料舱。

戈尔：谁？谁？是谁这么说？

记者：噢，人人都这么说。

戈尔：噢，不是吧。

记者：是的，人人都说。你已经给牵扯进来了。说你想给公众留下一个从容乐观的印象，上一场公民学课。我是说，你是，你是应该愤怒的啊。对发生的事你应该感到愤怒才对啊。我是说，你确实认为是你赢了大选，是不是？

戈尔：唔，我是这么认为的。我认为佛州大多数人投的票是为了支持我和乔·利伯曼。我认为……

记者：唔，什么，这里面没有感情在吗？

戈尔：你知道，气愤不是……气愤能起什么作用呢？我注重……

记者：那是情感之一。好了，凯瑟琳·哈里斯呢？你生她的气吗？

戈尔：瞧，我不认为那有什么用。

记者：你有没有想过，如果不行的话你会怎样？

戈尔：我很少想，因为，你知道在大选上，我对胜利做了充足的准备，而没准备什么如果不行了怎么办。而结局是我不曾准备到的。

记者：是的，是的。我想给你读读今天《纽约时报》上的话。上面说：”无论最后是哪个人退出，他都会感到--准备好了吗？--痛苦、被抛弃、羞辱、牺牲、愤怒、受骗、惭愧、孤独、还有极度疲倦。噢，我的天！

戈尔：噢，如果……我一直都……

记者：现在我明白你为什么奋斗得那么努力了。

戈尔：我晚上一直都睡七、八个小时。我不觉得怎么累。

记者：是的，不过就算他们说你最后将被迫退让，你也不会在这一点上退让的吧。

戈尔：如果你希望我往自己认为不会发生境况而投入感情的话，我要尽量告诉你，这些情感当然会让我脆弱。但我的确相信，我和家人一起，心怀信念，是可以有办法超越这些情感，不向它们投降的。我们可以做出选择。

记者：人们把你看成、描绘成一个竭力否认失败的、在侥幸中苦苦挣扎的人。现在……

戈尔：你眼前见到的人是这样的吗？

记者：这个，我眼前见到的人不是这样，但我可不知道你幕后是什么样。还有，你是在竭力否认失败吗？

戈尔：不。不。我否认。

记者：好吧。

   谢谢，非常感谢！

   同胞们，晚上好！我非常高兴今晚有机会对你们做这次讲话。

   州议会会长先生、副州长先生、朋友们、贵宾们，我们的国家刚刚经历过一个漫长而艰难的时期，在这段时间里，总统大选的结果比我们任何人想象得更久才最后确定下来。副总统戈尔与我将全心全意放在竞选上。我们俩都为此竭尽全力。我们分享着相似的情感。因此我了解对副总统戈尔和他的家人来说，这一刻有多难过。他曾经身为国会议员、参议员和副总统为国家服务，创下了非凡的成就。今晚我接到副总统的一个亲切的电话。我们双方达成一致，下周早期时间在华盛顿会见，尽力帮助我们国家在这次激烈的竞选后复员。

   在艰难的大选结束后，我们必须把政治分歧放置一旁，共同合作，使全美国的公民都能够受惠于一个美国富强的承诺。我们能够改变华盛顿特区的调子，对此我感到十分乐观。我相信凡事所出皆有原因。我也希望过去五个星期的漫长等待会让我们更期待着去除近来的不愉快和党派分歧。我们的国家必须从一个分立的地方站起来。美国人民分享着共同的希望、目标和价值观，这比政治分歧更重要。共和党人希望国家发展得最好，民主党人也是如此。我们的投票虽然不同，愿望却是相同的。

   我知道美国希望和解与统一。我知道美国人民希望进步。我们必须抓紧时机为此做出自己的贡献。让我们在共同认识、共同礼仪以及共同目标的指引下团结起来，激励美国的国民们。我坚信在上帝的帮助下，我们国家会团结一致，共同向前。

   团结起来，我们将创建起一个开放的美国，让每一个公民都可能实现他们的美国之梦。创建起一个高教育水准的美国，让每一个孩子的都能一圆上学之梦。创建起一个团结的美国，其所包含的多样性与我们共同分享的美国价值观比种族与党派更加重要。我当选不是只为一个党派服务，而是为了整个国家服务。美国总统是每一个种族、文化，每一个美国人的总统。无论你们是否投票给我，我都会尽我最大的努力为你们服务。我将以工作换来你们的尊敬。杰弗逊总统的责任感将带引着我去代表法纪，行为合理，最重要的是为自由与和睦的事业创造成就。总统职位不仅是荣誉，也不仅是一个职位。它是一项要履行的职责，我将为此鞠躬尽瘁。

   非常感谢。愿上帝保佑美国。

1) Electoral College 美国总统或副总统选举委员会，由各州选出的选举人组成。文中的噱头取自college常见意思为”大学”。

2) banana n. 这里指的是banana republic，香蕉国，即因单一经济作物受到外资控制的拉丁美洲国家。

3)outsell v卖得多                4) BPM 即Blink Per Minute，每秒钟眨眼次数 

5) jive  v. 跳摇摆舞，哄骗

6)chip n. 碎片，筹码             7)ginger n. 姜    

8 snap  n.猛咬或抓抢之物

9)12th grade 相当于我国的高三       10) landslide  n. 竞选中压倒性多数票

11) hemline  n. 衣裙的下边  

12) straw  n. 民意测验投票 

13) psychic  n. 灵媒，巫师     

14) outcome  n. 结果    

15) laurel  n. 月桂树

16) nutshell  n. 坚果注释：

17) misread  v. 读错     

18) ballot  n. 选举票    

19) far and wide 四面八方，广泛地

20) multiply   v. 乘以，增加             21) manual  adj. 手动的，手工的

22) Katherine Harris即美国佛罗里达州的州务卿

23) in accordance with 按照，根据

24) finality  n. 定局，结尾  

25) ratify  v. 批准  

26) concession  n. 让步

27) the oath of office 就职宣言        28) legitimacy  n. 合法性，正确性

29) bunker  n. 船上的煤仓  

30) wrap up in sth 受牵连，与……有关 

31) civics n. 公民学，市政学，公民课

32) tormented  a. 痛苦的，折磨的      33) rejected  a. 被排斥的，被抛弃的

34) humiliated  a. 羞辱的注释：

35) vulnerable  a. 易受伤的，脆弱的

36) trying  a. 难受的，费劲的         37) finalize  v. 定案

38) reconciliation  n. 调和，和解        39) courtesy  n. 谦恭，礼貌