正文
昨天晚上，前美国副总统高尔在有八万四千人参加的美国民主党全国代表大会的讲话
中，对布什总统的八年执政，进行了尖锐的批驳，表示了对奥巴马作为民主党总统
候选人的坚定支持。高尔曾以《不愿面对的真相》影片获得奥斯卡金奖，并因其不
倦地在世界各地进行全球暖化演讲，呼吁环境保护的工作分享诺贝尔和平奖。高尔
曾在过去的八年中，一再回避提及当年因最高法院的裁决失去2000 年总统竞选一事。
但他在当晚的讲话中，言辞尖利，锋芒毕露，对布什政府的执政记录痛加抨击，得
到在场群众及听众的阵阵欢呼和笑声。
Eight years ago, some said there was not much difference between the nominees
of the two major parties and it didn’t really matter who became president.
Our nation was enjoying peace and prosperity, and some assumed we would
continue both, no matter the outcome.
But here we all are in 2008, and I doubt anyone would argue now that election
didn’t matter.
他对共和党及总统候选人麦凯恩表示了极大的不信任，
Today, we face essentially the same choice we faced in 2000, though it may
be even more obvious now, because John McCain, a man who has earned our
respect on many levels, is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney
White House and promising to actually continue them, the same policies all
over again.
Hey, I believe in recycling, but that’s ridiculous.
不能不欣赏高尔对环境保护的热忱，时刻不忘。
然后，高尔现身说法，
If you like the Bush/Cheney approach, John McCain’s your man.
If you believe it’s time for a change, then vote for Barack Obama and Joe
Biden.
Barack Obama is telling us exactly what he will do: launch a bold new economic
plan to restore America’s greatness. Fight for smarter government that
trusts the market but protects us against its excesses. Enact policies that
are pro-choice, pro-education and pro-family. Establish a foreign policy
that is smart as well as strong. Provide health care for all and solutions
for the climate crisis.
So why is this election so close?
Well, I know something about close elections, so let me offer you my opinion.
I believe this election is close today mainly because the forces of the
status quo are desperately afraid of the change Barack Obama represents.
当然，2008 的选举和2004 有很大的不同，其中，
This election is actually not close at all among younger voters; you are
responding in unprecedented numbers to Barack Obama’s message of change
and hope.
高尔从他自己的角度，解释美国面临的种种问题，包括能源问题，
There is no better example than the climate crisis. As I have said for many
years throughout this land, we’re borrowing money from China to buy oil
from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human
civilization. Every bit of that has to change.
最后，高尔从多个方面指出美国急需变革的必要，
We can tell Republicans and independents, as well as Democrats, exactly
why our nation so badly needs a change from the approach of Bush, Cheney
and McCain.
After they wrecked our economy, it is time for a change.
高尔多次反复提到 it is time for a change，全场群众一起重复 “CHANGE”，
场面十分热烈。
对于奥巴马，高尔给予了高度的评价，将其和美国最有名的林肯总统相比较，
A century and a half ago, when America faced our greatest trial, the end
of one era gave way to the birth of another.
The candidate who emerged victorious in that election is now regarded by
most historians as our greatest president.
Before he entered the White House, Abraham Lincoln’s experience in elective
office consisted of eight years in his state legislature in Springfield,
Illinois, and one term in Congress, during which he showed courage and wisdom
to oppose the invasion of another country in a war that was popular when
it started but later condemned by history.
The experience that Lincoln’s supporters valued most in that race was his
powerful ability to inspire hope in the future at a time of impasse.
He was known chiefly as a clear thinker and a great orator with a passion
for justice and a determination to heal the deep divisions of our land.
He insisted on reaching past partisan and regional divides to exalt our
common humanity.
In 2008, once again, we find ourselves at the end of an era with a mandate
from history to launch another new beginning.
And once again, we have a candidate whose experience perfectly matches an
extraordinary moment of transition.
Barack Obama had the experience and wisdom to oppose a popular war based
on faulty premises.
His leadership experience has given him a unique capacity to inspire hope
in the promise of the American dream of a boundless future.
His experience has also given him genuine respect for different views and
humility in the face of complex realities that cannot be squeezed into the
narrow compartments of ideology.
His experience has taught him something that career politicians often overlook:
that inconvenient truths must be acknowledged if we are to have wise governance.
The extraordinary strength of his personal character ─ and that of his
wonderful wife, Michelle, who gave such a magnificent address and will be
such a wonderful first lady for this country ─ their strength of character
is grounded in the strengths of the American community.
His vision and his voice represent the best of America.
简直就没有任何原因不选举这样一位第二个林肯，
And then let us leave here tonight and take the message of hope from Denver
to every corner of our land and do everything we can to serve our nation,
our world and our children and their future by electing Barack Obama president
of the United States of America.
得加一句，高尔的一位前主要助手曾在今年春天的电台节目采访中对高尔是否会再
次参与总统竞选做过“推测”，为高尔当年接受美国最高法院的裁决结果深表遗憾。
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