最近，奥巴马在他的首篇国情咨文中有部分语句翻译为中文时有些疑惑，希望大家能帮我解答！ The limit to verbiage翻译为中文应该是废话少说么？
the loss of a crucial Senate seat in Massachusetts a week earlier means that much of his domestic agenda, notably his efforts to reform health care, is stalled if not dead.此句中is stalled if not dead如果译为中文应该是什么意思呢？

Question

最近，奥巴马在他的首篇国情咨文中有部分语句翻译为中文时有些疑惑，希望大家能帮我解答！ The limit to verbiage翻译为中文应该是废话少说么？
the loss of a crucial Senate seat in Massachusetts a week earlier means that much of his domestic agenda, notably his efforts to reform health care, is stalled if not dead.此句中is stalled if not dead如果译为中文应该是什么意思呢？

Answer

Obama wants to change the US health care system.
The recent election in Massachusetts reduced the number of Senators that will vote for Obama's changes. 
This may delay (stall) his changes, or prevent the changes from happening (they will be "dead").