中新网评：美国众议长选举“连续剧”暴露美式民主痼疾******
中新网北京1月9日电(蒋鲤)在15轮投票表决后，美国众议院议长选举这场“连续剧”终于落下帷幕，众议院共和党领袖凯文·麦卡锡最终成功当选第55任美国众议院议长。这是美国国会过去164年来耗时最久的一次议长选举记录，将美国“对抗式民主”的弊端暴露无遗。
资料图：美国众议院共和党领袖麦卡锡。中新社记者 沙晗汀摄
由于两党对立加剧、党派内斗、利益分配不均等因素，众议长选举陷入一场拉锯战。在此次众议长竞选中，美国民主党议员继续抱团，多轮投票中，一票不投麦卡锡，共和党右翼“强硬派”领头的约20人小团体也拒绝投票麦卡锡。
麦卡锡的当选之路一波三折，除了本人的“政治投机派”角色在国会不受欢迎外，与共和党内部政治分歧关系密切。
一方面，共和党党内反对者认为，麦卡锡对民主党态度过于软弱，无力对抗民主党控制的参议院和拜登政府，另一方面，因为共和党的多数优势微弱，党内一些影响力较小的派系的政治力量则被放大，有利于他们巩固自己的选票。
此外，党内反对者也认为，自己的选票没有换取更多利益，希望以此作为筹码换取麦卡锡更大的让步，比如让他们获得众议院重要委员会中的职务。
作为仅次于美国总统、副总统的政坛三号人物，众议院议长通常由众议院多数党领袖担任，选举几乎没有悬念。然而，麦卡锡此次为当选，不得不做出多个关键让步，其中可能包括恢复一项罢黜议长动议机制，使得众议长的权力被削弱，难以掌控众议院。
美国有线电视新闻网CNN称，麦卡锡在这场不合时宜的政治勒索中作出让步，这种绥靖政策只会让极端主义势力更加强大。
这场引发全世界围观的尴尬选举暴露出美国政治存在严重的对立和分化。在权力博弈思维的裹挟下，党派利益凌驾于国家和人民利益之上，美国两党相互拆台，陷入“为反对而反对”的无脑对垒。而即便是一党内，也会因为利益分配问题产生不同的小派系，相互对抗，选票变成了谋利益的工具。
从国会山骚乱到打破记历史记录的15轮众议长选举，“对抗式民主”让美国政治陷入瓶颈，长期对抗势必会让政客们丧失客观公正的判断能力，其政治阶层是否有能力治理国家也会引发质疑。
两党之争和党派内斗进一步放大了美国政治体制弊病，美国所谓的“民主”形象，让全世界大跌眼镜。鼓吹以选民利益为先的美式选举，变成了政客们利益置换的游戏，进一步彰显出美国“民主政治”日渐失能，不断极化的党争已使美国政治制度陷入死循环。
House speaker election reveals deep-rooted problems in U.S. democracy
(ECNS) -- The Republican leader Kevin McCarthy was elected as the 55th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after 15 ballots. As the most grueling House speaker election in the past 164 years, the election has highlighted the defects of the country’s "confrontational democracy".
The election once reached a stalemate due to intense partisan strife, inner-party struggle among the Republicans, uneven distribution of interests, and more. Democratic Party members forged a close alliance, refusing to vote for McCarthy, while about 20 Republicans also declined to cast ballots for the GOP leader.
Except for his unpopular role as a "political speculator" in Congress, McCarthy’s hard-won election can be attributed to turmoil within the Republican Party.
On the one hand, opponents in the Republican Party believe that the GOP leader's attitude toward the Democrats is too weak to confront the Senate controlled by Democrats and the Biden administration.
On the other hand, the political power of some less influential factions in the Republican Party has been amplified due to the Party’s weak majority advantage in the House of Representatives, which is conducive to consolidating their ticket warehouses.
Meanwhile, these opponents believe that their votes failed to win them more benefits, hoping to use this as a bargaining chip for McCarthy's further concessions, such as getting them positions in important House Committees.
As the third political figure after the President and Vice President of the U.S., the speaker, by tradition, is the head of the majority party in the House of Representatives.
But McCarthy has made many concessions in order to bring the ultra conservatives along, involving what’s known as the “motion to vacate,” a mechanism by which members can force a vote to depose the speaker. The reported concessions will empower individual members at the expense of McCarthy’s sway as speaker.
CNN thought the concessions he made during this unseemly political shakedown would only make the extremist faction more powerful.
This embarrassing election, which has drawn global attention, exposed the serious opposition and polarization in American politics. Both Democrats and Republicans put their interests before that of the country and its people, attacking and opposing each other irrationally.
Besides, different factions arise within a single party and confront each other because of the distribution of interests. Votes have become a tool to win more benefits.
From Capitol riots to the House Speaker election with record-breaking ballots, "confrontational democracy" has become a bottleneck of American politics. Long-term confrontation will surely impede politicians to think objectively and fairly while their capacity of governing the country will also raise doubts among the public.
Both parties’ struggle and infighting among the Republicans have further amplified the defects of the American political system, with its "democratic" image shocking the world.
The U.S.-style election, which advocates putting voters' interests first, has become a game of interest exchange among politicians. In addition, it further demonstrates the malfunction of American "democratic politics" and the constantly polarized party struggle that has trapped the American political system into an infinite cycle.
“洋面孔”赶场国家非遗马街书会：“这真是难忘的经历”******
(新春见闻)“洋面孔”赶场国家非遗马街书会：“这真是难忘的经历”
中新社河南宝丰2月3日电 (记者 韩章云)“一日能看千台戏、三天胜读万卷书。”中国首批国家级非物质文化遗产代表性项目马街书会3日在河南宝丰鸣锣开唱。这项传承七百余年的民间曲艺盛会今年吸引多位外国观众前来赶会，切身感受中国曲艺的魅力。
马街书会位于河南宝丰县城南7公里的马街村，是中国民间规模宏大、形式独特、内涵丰富的说书(表演)大会。
2月3日是中国农历正月十三，马街书会的正会日子。当日，来自全国各地的曲艺人负鼓携琴汇聚于马街村开阔的麦田里，以天作幕，以地为台，打起简板，拉起琴弦，说书亮艺。听书爱好者扶老携幼，从四面八方赶来。
赶会者中，金发碧眼的克莱夫十分引人注目。一向喜爱中华传统文化的他在朋友的带领下第一次赶场马街书会。他不时按下相机快门，记录曲艺人生动的演出形象。
“我来自英国，目前是河南洛阳一所高中的英语教师，也是洛阳女婿。”克莱夫说，在中国居住的十多年，他喜欢用摄影的方式记录各地独特的人文风貌，这次参加马街书会，让他倍感震撼。
“难以想象艺人们用简单的乐器就能凑出欢快的曲调，虽然我听不懂他们在唱什么，但是那种快乐的氛围感染着我。”克莱夫告诉中新社记者，为了真实感受曲艺人在马街书会期间的生活状态，2日晚间，他和各地的曲艺人一起住在“艺人之家”，“这真是难忘的经历。”
当日，来自非洲津巴布韦的姑娘裴心，在朋友的陪伴下一早就从临县赶到马街书会。会场百花齐放的曲艺展演、喧闹的锣鼓队、精彩的舞龙舞狮表演，令她目不暇接。
已在河南生活多年的裴心表示，马街书会就是她心中的“中国狂欢节”，这场曲艺盛会将原本就热闹的中国春节推向了高潮。“马街书会场面宏大，我在这里听到不同的乐曲，非常开心。”
河南中医药大学德国留学生无名则是有备而来。2日，他专程赶到被誉为马街书会“活化石”、103岁的曲艺人余书习家，听老人弹三弦，请教马街书会历史。此经历被无名拍成短视频呈现在网络平台上，受到众多网友点赞。
3日，无名在马街书会现场观看了历届“书状元”展演、两个剧团“对戏”，还见到中国著名评书艺术家刘兰芳现场说《岳飞传》。在无名看来，麦田上的马街书会热闹又接地气，他期待以后能更多地参与其中，学习中国曲艺，“毕竟现在学习中华传统文化就是最大的‘潮’”。(完)
