"Partisanship is a worthy foe in debate on stimulus"
Summary
By way of introduction, (…)
The document deals with the Congressional response to Obama’s proposed legislation on a stimulus package.
At first / Originally / initially, Obama intended to (/planned to) downplay (/ to minimise) rivalry between political parties in Congress.
To intend to do something
However, as he met with entrenched opposition, he has been induced to (/he has been prompted to) (/ he has been led to) adopt a firmer stance (/ a different strategy), pressuring / pressurizing Congressmen and Senators to turn a more favourable eye on his proposed legislation.
To meet with entrenched opposition
To induce someone to do something
To prompt someone to do something
To pressurize someone (to pressure someone) to do something
(Justify by quoting from the text: Indeed the text reads: “Frustrated that the debate over the bill was being dominated by Republican’s criticism, and that his overtures had yielded little in the way of support from across the aisle” l. 12-13)
Obama’s difficulties are threefold (twofold / threefold / fourfold…)
First, he did not know much about the workings of Congress.
(House democrats had warned Obama that republicans would not support (/ would be reluctant to) support his stimulus legislation).
To be reluctant to do something
He has to contend with (/ to put up with)
By attempting to (/ trying to) reach out to (/ to appeal to) (/ to court) Republicans, Obama runs the risk of antagonising his fellow Democrats in Congress…
To court Republicans
To reach out to Republicans = to “reach across the aisle”
To run the risk of + V-ing
On top of this / In addition / What’s more / Besides, the House proves to be even more partisan than in the past (/ than it used to be), and there are even less moderate Republicans ready to (/ willing to / inclined to) make compromises on the stimulus package.
To be willing to do something
To be inclined to do something
To be ready to do something
Similarly / In a similar fashion, the Senate is quite partisan, and Republican senators are even more conservative.
Lastly / Last but not least, Obama must be careful not to alienate either House democrats or grassroots groups, or bloggers.
V négatif é either / or
(Structure quelque peu maladroite: Obama must take care to alienate neither House democrats nor grassroots groups, nor bloggers. (V affirmatif é Neither / Nor))
NB: lastly ≠ at last
Obama’s repeated / his attempts at + V-ing
