新聞英語

Schwarzenegger: 'He's going to show me the ropes'

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger sat down Thursday with the man he'll be replacing, and said in a joint news conference that they were working well together and had started "a great relationship."

The Republican actor said there were no hard feelings between himself and Democratic Gov. Gray Davis lingering from the October 7 recall election.

Schwarzenegger was also scheduled to meet with each of the statewide office holders -- including recall election opponent Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. On Wednesday, he paid personal visits to top Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature, describing the talks as "relationship building" sessions.

Schwarzenegger said Thursday that Davis had given him some good pointers already.

"He's going to show me the ropes. He's going to give me some of the inside information here," Schwarzenegger said.

Davis said that once he leaves office, he will try in his private life to find ways to champion some of the same causes he championed in Sacramento, though he did not elaborate.

During his first official visit to the Capitol on Wednesday, Schwarzenegger pledged "action, action, action, action" in the Statehouse as he picked a chief of staff, Patricia Clarey. He also joked and chatted with lawmakers and announced his plan to call them back in a special session soon after he's sworn into office.

Spokesman Rob Stutzman emphasized Clarey's experience, saying: "She has a very good understanding of how the governor's office works."

"We're going to give him the benefit of the doubt, and on things that we disagree with him on, we're going to fight tenaciously," Wesson, D-Culver City, told the Los Angeles Times.

The special legislative session Schwarzenegger plans to call is expected to deal with workers' compensation reform and repealing SB60 -- legislation recently signed by Davis to grant drivers' licenses to undocumented immigrants. Other possible topics would be political reform and budget issues, Stutzman said.

(解說)

1. show sb the ropes' = explain to sb the procedures and rules for doing sth

2. government elect / president-elect

3. no hard feelings = no resentment or bitterness 沒有嫌隙/沒有惡感
We were enemies once, but there are no hard feelings between us now.
(我們曾經是仇人，但如今彼此已不存芥蒂)

4. recall election = 罷免選舉

5. legislature = 立法機關 (body of people with the power to make and change laws)

6. session = meeting or series of meetings for discussing sth 會議
= single continuous period spent in one activity 進行某項活動的ㄧ段時間

7. office holder = (美)公職人員; 官員

8. cause = aim, principle, or movement that is strongly supported or defended
極力維護的目標或原則
a good cause - 高尚的目標

9. elaborate = describe or explain sth in detail 詳述

10. chief of staff = 參謀主任 /總幹事

11. swear into office = 宣誓就職

12. spokesman = 發言人

13. give sb the benefit of the doubt = 因罪證不足而認定某人無罪 (本句在日常生活中有許多衍生的意義，必須依據上下文來推定)
By allowing her to go free the judge gave the accused the benefit of the doubt.

I think this goes along with not taking things so personally. While I can give people the benefit of the doubt (maybe they are having a bad day), I will also fiercely limit my contact with them. It never hurts to be nice.

14. tenacious = keeping a firm hold on property, principles, etc 緊握的；堅決的

15. repeal = withdraw (a law) officially; revoke 廢止法律；撤銷

16. undocumented immigrant = 非法移民
Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a burglar an uninvited house guest.