奥巴马赦免感恩节火鸡

时间：2010-11-27 05:59:13

（单词翻译:单击）

He couldn't preserve the political lives of fellow Democrats¹ this month, but he can still save a turkey.

美国总统贝拉克·奥巴马本月虽然未能保住民主党的政治前途，但还是可以保住一只火鸡的性命。

President Barack Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey next to National Turkey <a href=

Federation² President Yubert Envia in the Rose Garden of the White House, November 24, 2010." src="http://www.enread.comhttp://www.enread.com/upimg/allimg/101127/4_101127060452_1.jpg" width="450" height="310" />
President Barack Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey next to National Turkey Federation President Yubert Envia in the Rose Garden of the White House, November 24, 2010.
President Barack Obama pardoned "Apple," a 45-pound bird, and his feathered friend, "Cider," on Wednesday in an annual White House ritual（仪式，惯例） ahead of Thanksgiving, a holiday Americans celebrate with a big turkey dinner.

"Today, I have the awesome³ responsibility of granting a presidential pardon to a pair of turkeys," Obama, standing⁴ with his two daughters in the White House Rose Garden, told a smiling audience.

"Now, for the record, let me say that it feels pretty good to stop at least one shellacking（殴打，彻底击败） this November."

Democrats lost strength in the Senate and their majority in the House of Representatives on November 2 in elections Obama described famously as a "shellacking", or heavy beating.

Politics took a backseat to the more high-profile turkey ceremony on Wednesday, however, and the president -- calling it "one official duty I am sworn to uphold as the leader of the most powerful nation on Earth" -- made the most of it.

He explained the process that led to the birds' selection: two turkeys from a California ranch（农场，牧场） won the high-stakes competition by strutting⁵（大摇大摆地走） to music before a panel of judges.

"Only one pair would survive and win the big prize: life and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington," Obama said to laughter.

White House staff had gathered outside to watch. Obama's chief economist⁶, Austan Goolsbee, dispensed⁷ advice about turkey preparation, proclaiming the virtues⁸ of brining（盐浸） the bird before it is cooked.

Apple and Cider will not have to worry about a brine bath.

The two turkeys will spend the rest of their days on the grounds of Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of the first U.S. president, George Washington.

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1 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》

2 federation
n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会
参考例句：
It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。 Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

3 awesome
adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的
参考例句：
The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。 That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

4 standing
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。 They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 strutting
加固，支撑物
参考例句：
He, too, was exceedingly arrogant, strutting about the castle. 他也是非常自大，在城堡里大摇大摆地走。 The pompous lecturer is strutting and forth across the stage. 这个演讲者在台上趾高气扬地来回走着。

6 economist
n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人
参考例句：
He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。 He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

7 dispensed
v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药）
参考例句：
Not a single one of these conditions can be dispensed with. 这些条件缺一不可。来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage. 他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 virtues
美德( virtue的名词复数 )；德行；优点；长处
参考例句：
Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。 She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。