--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the way, this should be not only about…" description: "\"By the way, this should be not only about protecting us going forward but this is a form of warfare for Vladimir Putin, who is a thug and a bully and h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/claire-mccaskill-5688_bully_by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about_3080909.png" --- # By the way, this should be not only about protecting us… ![“By the way, this should be not only about protecting us going forward but this is a form of warfare for Vladimir Putin, who is a thug and a bully and has the friends around the globe that we don't want to be friends with.” quote by Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/claire-mccaskill-5688_bully_by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about_3080909.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/claire-mccaskill-5688_bully_by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about_3080909.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/claire-mccaskill-5688_bully_by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about_3080909.png) > “By the way, this should be not only about protecting us going forward but this is a form of warfare for Vladimir Putin, who is a thug and a bully and has the friends around the globe that we don't want to be friends with.” [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The conflict is framed as a geopolitical threat requiring collective resistance against authoritarian aggression. **In simple terms:** War is a threat from a bully leader. Key Takeaway Recognize and oppose authoritarian tactics. Themes politics security authoritarianism Mood cautious urgent Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy making - international alliances - public awareness - media literacy Key Concepts geopolitics propaganda defense strategy Questions to Reflect On - What actions can citizens take to support democratic allies? - How can media responsibly report on such conflicts? A Different Perspective Complex global dynamics may oversimplify nuanced diplomatic options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bully/) [Bully Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bully-friends-3469482/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Globes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globes/) [Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putin/) [Putin Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putin-thug-5254671/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thug/) [Vladimir putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vladimir-putin/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Warfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warfare/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“In this bubble of time, I wasn't a freak and he wasn't a bully, and we could be friends without anyone knowing, and at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/in-this-bubble-of-time-i-wasn-t-a-freak-and-he-wasn-t-a-bully-and-we/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Dont blame me if I punch you...I'd only do that if; 1. You bully my friends 2. You offend my family. 3. You hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-blame-me-if-i-punch-you-i-d-only-do-that-if-1-you-bully-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I used to try to bully my friends into imitating the Spice Girls on the playground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-used-to-try-to-bully-my-friends-into-imitating-the-spice-girls-on/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [There is no moral equivalent between that butcher and thug and KGB colonel Vladimir Putin and the United States of America, the country that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/there-is-no-moral-equivalent-between-that-butcher-and-thug-and-kgb/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [If there ever was a time for a cool, rational and unemotional series of responses on the part of people in Europe, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-glees/if-there-ever-was-a-time-for-a-cool-rational-and-unemotional-series/) [Anthony Glees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-glees/) > [We need to send a message to Vladimir Putin through stronger sanctions. We need him to understand that the sanctions that we put in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/we-need-to-send-a-message-to-vladimir-putin-through-stronger/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [This question: 'How do I deal with a bully without becoming a thug in return?' has been with me ever since I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scilla-elworthy/this-question-how-do-i-deal-with-a-bully-without-becoming-a-thug-in/) [Scilla Elworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scilla-elworthy/) > [For Vladimir Putin to be trying to impact our elections, that - we have to - there has to be - he has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/for-vladimir-putin-to-be-trying-to-impact-our-elections-that-we-have/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [ By needlessly provoking him \[Vladimir Putin\] and humiliating him, we empower far worse possibilities in Russia. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/by-needlessly-provoking-him-vladimir-putin-and-humiliating-him-we/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [“Once we subliminally accept that we are watching a reality show rather than thinking about real life, no image can actually hurt the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/once-we-subliminally-accept-that-we-are-watching-a-reality-show/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) > [President Obama and Vladimir Putin are both in China attending the same economic summit. Obama saw Putin and said, 'After those midterms, it's nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-and-vladimir-putin-are-both-in-china-attending-the/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Vladimir Putin is a smart guy. I don't like him, smart guy. He is going to advance the cause of Russia until he hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-kinzinger/vladimir-putin-is-a-smart-guy-i-don-t-like-him-smart-guy-he-is-going/) [Adam Kinzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-kinzinger/) > [You cannot compare any leaders in our country to what Vladimir Putin has done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/you-cannot-compare-any-leaders-in-our-country-to-what-vladimir-putin/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [Candidate Trump held out his hand to Vladimir Putin. He rejected further U.S. intervention in Syria other than to smash ISIS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/candidate-trump-held-out-his-hand-to-vladimir-putin-he-rejected/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) ## More by Claire McCaskill > [No commander in chief would ever say, 'I'm not going to listen to the guys on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/no-commander-in-chief-would-ever-say-i-m-not-going-to-listen-to-the/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [Only in Washington would the Republican operatives get the entire press corps ginned up over the notion that I'm going to be home campaigning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/only-in-washington-would-the-republican-operatives-get-the-entire/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I'm going to work with Republicans when they do things I agree with and I'm going to fight Republicans when they're doing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-m-going-to-work-with-republicans-when-they-do-things-i-agree-with/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I'm a moderate. I hang out in the middle. I vote against my party with some regularity and try to compromise. It doesn't appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-m-a-moderate-i-hang-out-in-the-middle-i-vote-against-my-party-with/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I think, first of all, you know, Washington has a bad habit of a very short attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-think-first-of-all-you-know-washington-has-a-bad-habit-of-a-very/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I worry about the lack of experience that Rex Tillerson has had on the diplomatic front and, frankly, I think that's true for many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-worry-about-the-lack-of-experience-that-rex-tillerson-has-had-on/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [First of all, Donald Trump cabinet or - I call it the 3-G cabinet, Goldman, generals and gazillionaires. And I think it's one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/first-of-all-donald-trump-cabinet-or-i-call-it-the-3-g-cabinet/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I want to compliment the fraternity and sorority organizations for taking the time to meet with us and then removing their support from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-want-to-compliment-the-fraternity-and-sorority-organizations-for/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [My first obligation is my job. It's very hard to really get into campaign mode when you've got to focus on doing the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/my-first-obligation-is-my-job-it-s-very-hard-to-really-get-into/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [ What is most heartbreaking to me is the young women who don't report \[being raped\] because they were drinking, and they feel like it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/what-is-most-heartbreaking-to-me-is-the-young-women-who-don-t-report/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [ \[Hillary Clinton\] and I are fine. Are we going to be besties for the rest of our lives? No. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/hillary-clinton-and-i-are-fine-are-we-going-to-be-besties-for-the/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I have fought the establishment, run primaries, my entire career. I think that for Planned Parenthood or NARAL or the Human Rights Campaign to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-have-fought-the-establishment-run-primaries-my-entire-career-i/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [Corporate governance is a huge issue too. We don't have women on these corporate boards. More than half of the students in law school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/corporate-governance-is-a-huge-issue-too-we-don-t-have-women-on-these/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I've got a really hard election. If you had a really hard election and it was after Labor Day would you go to North…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-ve-got-a-really-hard-election-if-you-had-a-really-hard-election-and/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [After holding hearings to get input from Missourians, I led the fight to pass legislation that protects seniors from predatory lending in the mortgage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/after-holding-hearings-to-get-input-from-missourians-i-led-the-fight/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) [Explore all 100 Claire McCaskill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) ## More Bully quotes > [I never caught on to being a bully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/i-never-caught-on-to-being-a-bully/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [Bullies enjoy dark happiness; these are the blank parts that eventually fill their minds with nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-shanks/bullies-enjoy-dark-happiness-these-are-the-blank-parts-that/) [Emily Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-shanks/) > [“You fed us, washed us, forced that vile medicine down our throats. By sheer force of will you made some of us live who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-osborne/you-fed-us-washed-us-forced-that-vile-medicine-down-our-throats-by/) [Maggie Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-osborne/) > [Nothing can prepare you for living or working with a sociopathic serial bully. It is the most devastating, draining, misunderstood, and ultimately futile experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/nothing-can-prepare-you-for-living-or-working-with-a-sociopathic/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [John McCain is a liar and flip-flopper and panderer and bully and whiner. And it seems to be working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tomasky/john-mccain-is-a-liar-and-flip-flopper-and-panderer-and-bully-and/) [Michael Tomasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tomasky/) > [Democracy becomes a government of bullies tempered by editors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/democracy-becomes-a-government-of-bullies-tempered-by-editors/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I daydreamed that when you grow up there are more bullies and how wonderful that would be if it were true, but, it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-daydreamed-that-when-you-grow-up-there-are-more-bullies-and-how/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [The real problem with Donald Trump is, if you engage him, it will only make things worse. It's like - it's a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-walter/the-real-problem-with-donald-trump-is-if-you-engage-him-it-will-only/) [Amy Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-walter/) > [It won't ruin our movement if someone gets killed in an animal rights action. It's going to happen sooner or later. 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It was difficult enough when the exotic, undeniably gorgeous creature of her fantasies had turned out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stuart/jilly-looked-at-it-with-a-sinking-heart-it-was-difficult-enough-when/) [Anne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stuart/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) [Browse all 729 Bully quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bully/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By the way, this should be not only about protecting us going forward but this is a form of warfare for Vladimir Putin, who is a thug and a bully and has the friends around the globe that we don't want to be friends with.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire McCaskill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about-protecting-us-going-forward/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bully" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about-protecting-us-going-forward/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/claire-mccaskill-5688_bully_by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about_3080909.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/claire-mccaskill-5688_bully_by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about_3080909.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/claire-mccaskill-5688_bully_by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about_3080909.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By the way, this should be not only about protecting us going forward but this is a form of warfare for…” — Claire McCaskill", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Claire McCaskill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "By the way, this should be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about-protecting-us-going-forward/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/by-the-way-this-should-be-not-only-about-protecting-us-going-forward/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```