Democratic-Led Congress Could Help Swiftly Implement Obama Agenda
民主党国会占多数有助奥巴马改革

Expanded Democratic majorities in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives as a result of Tuesday's election could help President-elect Barack Obama implement an ambitious agenda next year. But analysts say no one should expect Democrats to automatically walk in lock-step with a president of their own party. What kind of relationship to expect from a Democratic congress and president.

美国总统选举结束之后，民主党不仅拿下了白宫，还在国会的参众两院都增加了席位。民主党在国会所处的多数党地位可以帮助新当选的总统奥巴马实施一系列雄心勃勃的改革措施。但是，分析人士同时指出，指望国会中的民主党人与奥巴马的政见完全吻合，也是不现实的。那么民主党占据多数的国会和总统之间将会是什么样的关系呢？

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi pledged Democrats' cooperation with President-elect Barack Obama.

美国国会众议院的议长佩洛西表示，国会的民主党人将与新当选的奥巴马总统密切合作。

"Our increased numbers in the House better enable us to work closely with our new president for a vision for America and a plan to succeed," said Nancy Pelosi.

她说：“我们在众议院增加的席位让我们能够和下一任总统一道，为了美国的未来，为了把国家建设得更好，而紧密合作。”

American University political science professor Alan Lichtman says there is evidence that when one party controls the congress and White House, much can get done.

美利坚大学政治学教授利希特曼(Alan Lichtman)表示，过去的经验表明，在国会和白宫都由同一个党派来主导的情况下，政府可以作许多事情。

"History shows if you are a programmatic president with a big agenda, the best possible thing is to have unified control of government," said Alan Lichtman. "Franklin Roosevelt, who was elected in 1932 as a Democrat, also came in the midst of a big economic crisis, and he got a Democratic congress to pass 15 major bills in his first 100 days."

他说：“历史告诉我们，一个想要取得卓越成就的总统，最好是对政府有一个宏观的掌控。1932年当选的罗斯福总统，他也是一位民主党人，而且入主白宫的时候，也面临著大规模的经济危机；在实际运作当中，他当总统的头100天，民主党控制的国会就通过了15项重要的议案。”

But with that said, Lichtman adds that congressional Democrats will not automatically 'rubber stamp' everything that Mr. Obama proposes.

尽管如此，这位教授也提醒说，民主党人控制国会并不意味著奥巴马总统提出的所有议案，一概都会通过。

Other analysts agree, noting that Democrats can be liberal or conservative-leaning or moderate, and divided by cultural or regional differences.

其他一些分析人士也这么认为，说民主党内有改革派、保守派、也有温和派等各种倾向，而且也有文化和地域上的差别。

Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute says it will be a challenge for Democratic leaders to constantly deliver enough Democratic votes to pass Mr. Obama's initiatives, and may at times have to look to the opposition for support. He says this is especially true in the House, where Democrats will hold more than 250 of the 435 seats.

美国企业研究所的奥恩斯坦表示，对民主党在国会的领导层来说，不断地拉票、通过奥巴马提出的一系列措施和提案，将不会是一件轻松的事，有的时候，恐怕要到反对党那里去寻求支持。他说，在国会众议院，这一点恐怕尤其明显。众议院435个席位当中，目前有250多个席位由民主党控制。

"For democrats to do it all on their own will require for Speaker Pelosi a very delicate and difficult juggling," said Norman Ornstein. "That is going to be a tricky process, and I think it will make it imperative to find some allies on the Republican side."

他说：“假如民主党什么都想靠本党来通过的话，那么佩洛西议长将总要面对各种很微妙、很不易的权衡。这中间挑战很大，我认为在这个过程中，不得不在共和党那里拉一些盟友。”

The situation is much the same with the expanded Democratic majority in the Senate, says Senator Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat:

康涅狄克州的民主党参议员克里斯.多德说，这种状况与参议院中一个扩大的民主党多数基本上是一样的。

"The assumption that if you get a certain number [of Democrats] you can do things automatically, then you don't know this institution very well," said Senator Dodd. "Even though we have increased numbers, if you neglect to deal with the other party, you will not achieve much."

他说：“如果你以为民主党获得一定数量的议席就可以轻而易举地做到一切，那你就不太了解国会的运作。即使我们已经增加了一定的议席，但如果你忽视与共和党打交道，你就不会取得很多进展。”

Alan Lichtman of American University says the key for Mr. Obama is to act immediately, at the start of his administration when he will enjoy a so-called honeymoon period of political goodwill.

美利坚大学的利希特曼教授说，对于奥巴马而言，关键是要在他的行政当局刚开始当政时立即行动起来，因为这个时期他将享受所谓的政治蜜月。

"I think it will go six months, and you can get a lot accomplished in six months," he said. "But the lesson is you've got to strike quickly."

他说：“我认为，这种蜜月可以持续半年，你在这6个月中可以实现许多进展。不过，经验就是你必需迅速采取行动。”

Lichtman says Mr. Obama's experience as a U.S. senator - albeit for two years - gives him a crucial understanding of the legislative process.

利奇曼说，尽管奥巴马担任美国参议员只有两年时间，但这种经验使他对立法过程有至关重要的理解。

It is a comment echoed by Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Mr. Obama has been a member and where Vice President-elect Joe Biden has been chairman.

印地安纳州的理查德.卢格参议员对这种见解表示认同。他是参议院外交委员会中地位最高的共和党人，奥巴马是参院外交委员会的成员，当选副总统拜登则是这个委员会的主席。

"I think with both the president and vice presidents moving from chairs in our body that these are people from the beginning who really have a head start on important issues when it comes to legislation," said Senator Lugar. "

卢格说：“我认为，由于当选总统和副总统都是出自我们外交委员会的，因此，在对一些重要的问题进行立法工作时，他们从一开始就占据有利的地位。”

Mr. Obama has an ambitious agenda that includes efforts to improve the economy, find alternative sources of energy, tax reform, health care reform, and the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq.

奥巴马雄心勃勃的议事日程包括：努力改善经济、寻找替代能源、改革税收、医疗保险制度以及从伊拉克撤出美国的作战部队。