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The Campaign
简体
The Campaign
《政坛混战》

How to Form the Second Conditional

Date: Sep 26 2012

Themes: News

Grammar: Second Conditional

Intro

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It is election season here in the US, and that means the mudslinging is in full force. Campaigns often get dirty, especially when there is a lot at stake. Candidates will do anything they can in order to make their competition look bad so they can win.

In real life, people get frustrated and upset by dirty campaigns. But in the movies, they can be a source of drama and humor. That’s the idea behind the new movie The Campaign, starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as two politicians who will stop at nothing to win. Find out what Amy and Amanda think of the movie and real-life political campaigns.

当下正值美国的选举季,这意味着政敌之间正竭尽全力地进行人身攻击。竞选常常很肮脏,生死攸关的时刻更是如此。候选人会用尽一切手段破坏竞争对手的形象,这样他们才会赢。

现实生活中,人们因肮脏的竞选而沮丧和不安。但在电影中,竞选则是戏剧创作和幽默的来源。这就是新电影《政坛混战》(The Campaign) 的灵感来源,影片中,威尔·法瑞尔 (Will Ferrell) 和扎克·加利费安纳基斯 (Zach Galifianakis) 扮演的两位政客倾尽全力互相诽谤中伤,只为赢得选举。了解艾米和阿曼达对电影和现实生活中的政治竞选有何感想。

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amy

Amy

Amanda

Amanda

Amy:  I just saw a pretty funny movie, The Campaign.

Amanda:  Who’s in it?

Amy:  Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis.

Amanda:  I love them!

Amy:  Yes, they’ve finally teamed up. And it’s sort of a spoof of, you know, a political campaign. And, you know, it just kind of highlights all the things that are absurd about political campaigns, like the crazy attack ads, and the different campaigns trying to dig up dirt on each other.

Amanda:  And the mudslinging back and forth.

Amy:  Exactly.

Amanda:  I have noticed that things get pretty below the belt.

Amy:  Definitely.

Amanda:  But I’m excited to see that movie because it shows kind of an over the top look at political campaigns.

Amy:  Yeah, and just kind of making fun of something that we’re all aware of. I mean politics in this country have gotten pretty dirty, I would say.

Amanda:  So do you think that if you were one of the presidential candidates today you would be offended by watching a movie like that, or do you think that they think it’s funny?

Amy:  I mean, I think it depends on the person. I mean, I think I would definitely laugh at it. And I have a feeling that President Obama would laugh about it.

Amanda:  But maybe not the other one?

Amy:  Maybe not.

 

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Discussion

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Amy tells Amanda about the new comedy, The Campaign. It stars Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis. They play politicians competing against each other in an election. It makes fun of political campaigns and dirty politics.

Amanda says that she does think political campaigns have gotten pretty dirty. There is a lot of mudslinging and the candidates use attack ads that are often below the belt. Amy agrees that campaigns are often very negative, and candidates will do anything they can to win.

Do politicians run dirty or negative campaigns in your country? Do you think there is too much mudslinging in politics?

 

Comments

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La Princesse de la vie

Egypt

Hello!!.. You are speaking about election, but here in Egypt, it’s our first time to reach actual real election. I mean at past, the president was being known before the election season comes, or actually, he was one president who wins by forgery. There was no one dares to nominate himself against him.. 


But as a beginner, and already have witnessed a real presidential election, I can tell you that there’s no election without mudslinging, or maybe there is, but few…

03:00 PM Oct 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

zarin.setare

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I think the movie (Ekhrajiha)showed our previous presidental election with fun very good.attack ads. mudslinging and how much some of them were dirty is showned by that film

01:26 PM Oct 02 2012 |

raisacorrea

Brazil

yes, in my country political campaigns ever are dirty and an attack over the top or can I say a mudslinging with no end?


There are many mudslinging here and I guess that in any place in the world.

07:08 PM Sep 30 2012 |

buynikenow

Åland Islands

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08:13 AM Sep 29 2012 |

mohamed 2246

Sudan

yes i agree with u ,here in sudan campaigns its verey dirty ….from the first time i came to the world , i seeing only same condidnates  ....election is sucks here

07:02 PM Sep 28 2012 |

Sara97

Sara97

Spain

Yes, I agree with you, Nabilo. Many people are very lucky for living in a country with rights and without weapons. We sometimes complain a lot about our situation but we must remember that, unfortunately, many persons are living worse than us.

03:54 PM Sep 27 2012 |

1 person likes this

Nabilo

Nabilo

Germany

Sara, that is too ideal and I respect your opinion. We can not find that anywhere in the world but in my opinion I will always happy as long as the compaigns pass without weapons as the case in many countries;)

03:13 PM Sep 27 2012 |

ale_serrat

ale_serrat

Brazil

Sara, I agree with you but this is really difficult to happen because as I said they don’t think in what about really is important.

10:07 PM Sep 26 2012 |

ale_serrat

ale_serrat

Brazil

I completely agree with it, like the politics campaigns are dirty and this is a shame. Here in Brazil we are in the mayor election season and that’s the first time i’m going to vote and i can say that is difficult to choose a good candidate. I mean, all their promises are the same and nothing changes!!!!! I think the corruption is the main problem, that don’t let politicians think about what is good for people because they just want money!!!!

10:04 PM Sep 26 2012 |

Sara97

Sara97

Spain

What I ask is: Why do the politics spend so much time arguing instead of working together to make a better country? Maybe my idea is too ideal to become true, but I think that would be the perfect option. Listening to other people´s ideas and working in group would give more effective results, in my opinion. Does anybody think the same as me?

06:38 PM Sep 26 2012 |

sarinha.c.s@hotmail.com

Brazil

I don’t like. I’m apolitical,

06:18 PM Sep 26 2012 |

knuschu

knuschu

Germany

It’s really pity, that at an election mudslinging is needed, instead of facts, results and clear visions.

03:06 PM Sep 26 2012 |

1 person likes this

oussa10.10

oussa10.10

Morocco

WHAT A MOVIE

12:41 PM Sep 26 2012 |

1 person likes this

HONKA

Russian Federation

In my country the election process always play in a dirty way. It doesn’t matter what is your choice. But sometimes it is funny. Because Policy do everything to win :)

09:13 AM Sep 26 2012 |

1 person likes this

usama zater616

Egypt

before presdent morsi there are alot of mudslinging in politics

07:32 AM Sep 26 2012 |

usama zater616

Egypt

i would like to tkank ebaby because thay make me save at least 600 egyption pounds to learn english

06:37 AM Sep 26 2012 |

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