Amir: So honey, who do you think you're going to vote for in the election? I really like both the Republican and Democratic candidates, but I can't decide who to vote for.
Sharon: You like both of them? I think they're both terrible. For me the question isn't who I like the most, but who I dislike the least!
Amir: Well, I guess that's an interesting way to look at it. To be honest I don't care if Virginia is a blue state or a red state. I just want a moderate candidate who will do a good job.
Sharon: Yeah, you're right. The only thing I care about is that whoever wins isn't too partisan.
看来Amir和Sharon都是moderate voters--温和的选民。不过我不明白，Amir说，他不在乎Virginia州变成blue state or red state，这是什么意思呢？
Professor: In America, the color red represents the Republican Party, and the color blue represents the Democratic Party.
哦，红色代表共和党，蓝色代表民主党。所以，Amir 意思是，他不在乎州长是由共和党人来做，还是民主党人来做，最好是个温和派、干实事儿的人。
Professor: Right! And Sharon says she doesn't want a candidate who is too partisan. Someone is partisan if he refuses to compromise with the other side.
哦，partisan就是“党派性的”。
Amir: Well what do you think the results are going to be? Virginia used to always be a landslide for the Republicans, but these days it's a tossup.
Sharon: You're right, it's pretty hard to say. But since the incumbent is a Republican, I'd have to give him a slight advantage.
Amir: Yeah, incumbents always have an easier time with fundraising, and everybody already knows them because they've been in office for a while.
Sharon: Yeah, but judging by what a bad job he's done, I don't think that name recognition is going to help him!
看来这次选举竞争很激烈。现在选举结果是tossup - 就像扔硬币一样，胜选机会是一半一半，哪个候选人都不会有landslide--压倒性胜利。
Professor: Exactly. But one candidate has an advantage, right?
对，那就是the incumbent--在职者。Amir说，他在fundraising--筹款，和name recognition--知名度方面，都有优势。
Professor: That's true, but name recognition isn't always a good thing, right?
对，知名度不一定都是好事，因为不知道是好名还是骂名!
Amir: A lot of analysts are saying that the election is going to be decided by turnout. The more people vote, the more it's likely to benefit the Democrat.
Sharon: (Sigh) .... Amir, can we stop talking about politics? I just want to eat my breakfast in peace.
Amir: But Sharon, this is my first time voting in an American election. Can't you understand how excited I am?
Sharon: Look, if you're really into the election, why don't you listen to the pundits talk about it?
Amir: Come on Sharon, how can you think about eating breakfast at a time like this? This election is going to decide the future of our country!
Sharon: Amir, if you don't stop talking about politics, it's going to decide the future of your marriage!
professor, 什么叫“turnout”？
Professor: Turnout is the number of people who actually go out and vote on election day. In the US, turnout is usually about 50 percent across the country.
哦，turnout就是投票人数。那么，什么叫pundits呢？
Professor: Pundits are professional commentators. They are famous people who spend all their time talking about their views on current events.
哦，就是那些专门在电视广播里对时事发表看法的评论家! 这么说，我同意Sharon的观点。现在，只要一开电视，到处都是pundits，已经够烦人了，谁还想自己家里的老公也每天大谈政治呢？
A: 原来，Amir和Sharon都是moderate voters, 温和选民，他们更注重的不是partisan党派，而是谁的政策更合理。两人觉得，这次的选举会是个tossup, 两党机会旗鼓相当，哪个候选人都不会有landslide, 压倒性胜利。
B: Yeah, I guess that's the situation today. The new poll shows that Obama and Romney's support rate are incredibly close.
A: So who are you going to vote for?
B: Hmm....杨琳, let me give you some sensitivity training. In America, we don't ask people this kind of question. Anything involving the politics are extremely sensitive.
A: 哦对了，政治问题不能随便问! 不过……咱俩都这么铁了，你就告诉我嘛!
B: Haha, I'm a moderate voter, I will vote for whoever with the best policy for my country. But...remember don't ask other people such questions, you might offend them without even realizing it!
A: 嗯，谢谢你的忠告！
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