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President Barack Obama’s public approval rating is higher now than at any time in his second term in office. Many observers think Obama will have high popularity ratings when he leaves office in January 2017. Yet during his eight years as president, the Democratic Party has suffered a sharp reduction in power at the national and state level. Republicans now hold more power nationwide than at any time since the 1920s. The Washington Post newspaper recently noted that “the biggest stain on Obama’s political legacy may turn out to be the decimation of the Democratic Party on his watch.” Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the presidential election this month.
* public approval rating = 대중의 지지도/ observer = 관찰자; 목격자; (회의・수업 등의) 참관인[옵서버]/ popularity rating = (대통령, 총리 등의) 지지율, 인기도/ suffer = (부상・패배・상실 등을) 겪다[당하다]/ nationwide = 전국적으로; 전국적인/ stain (on ~) = (평판에 생긴) 오점; (지우기 힘든) 얼룩/ political legacy = 정치적 유산/ turn out to be ~ = ~으로 밝혀지다/ decimation = 심한 훼손[약화]; 대량 학살/ on sb's watch = ~의 책임[권한] 동안/ defeat = (전쟁・시합・대회 등에서 상대를) 패배시키다[물리치다/이기다]
Barack Obama and his wife Michelle supported Clinton’s campaign for the presidency. They made campaign appearances for her in many states. But many Americans who had voted for Obama did not seem to support Clinton. The president told reporters “I think it’s fair to say that I was surprised by the election results.” Voters also kept Republican lawmakers in control of the United States Senate and House of Representatives. A continued Republican majority in the House was expected, but many political experts thought Democrats would retake control of the Senate. Republicans will have as many as 52 to 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate and at least a 41-seat majority in the 435-seat House. Now, for the first time since 1928, Republicans will control the presidency, the House, the Senate, and most state governorships. They also have the chance to name a new Supreme Court justice. Some observers have noted that soon after 1928, The Great Depression began, causing economic hardship across the country. And soon after 2007, The Great Recession began.
* make an appearance = 출연하다, 등장하다/ in control of ~ = ~을 관리[제어]하고 있는/ Senate and House of Representatives = 상원과 하원/ majority = (선거・투표에서 이긴 측과 진 측 간의) 득표 차[(표) 차이]/ governorship = 지사[장관, 총재 등]의 직[지위, 임기]/ Supreme Court justice = 대법관, 대법원 판사/ economic hardship = 경제적 고난
