--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the American people have been…" description: "\"I think the American people have been surprised by the enthusiasm with which the Iraqis have taken to elections and politics.\" — Duncan Hunter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/duncan-hunter-29443_american_i-think-the-american-people-have-been-su_1989316.png" --- # I think the American people have been surprised by the… ![“I think the American people have been surprised by the enthusiasm with which the Iraqis have taken to elections and politics.” quote by Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/duncan-hunter-29443_american_i-think-the-american-people-have-been-su_1989316.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/duncan-hunter-29443_american_i-think-the-american-people-have-been-su_1989316.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/duncan-hunter-29443_american_i-think-the-american-people-have-been-su_1989316.png) > “I think the American people have been surprised by the enthusiasm with which the Iraqis have taken to elections and politics.” [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He notes that Iraqis showed unexpected eagerness for democratic participation, surprising many Americans. **In simple terms:** Iraqis eagerly embraced voting, surprising the US. Key Takeaway Recognize and support emerging democratic enthusiasm. Themes politics democracy public perception Mood optimistic analytical Type observational political When to use this quote - policy analysis - foreign aid planning - NGO program design Key Concepts civic engagement political transition media narratives Questions to Reflect On - How sustainable is this political enthusiasm? - What factors could dampen it? A Different Perspective Enthusiasm may be temporary and influenced by external pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Enthusiasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiasm/) [Enthusiasm Iraqis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiasm-iraqis-3439499/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Iraqis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraqis/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-surprised/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) [Surprised Enthusiasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised-enthusiasm-3439500/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) ## Related quotes > [Many people would be surprised that, in fact, I'm quite shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/many-people-would-be-surprised-that-in-fact-i-m-quite-shy/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Maybe some people were surprised that I came here to Watford. But, after three or four months here, it's the best choice I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianfranco-zola/maybe-some-people-were-surprised-that-i-came-here-to-watford-but/) [Gianfranco Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianfranco-zola/) > [People will be surprised to learn that I've got a sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-henman/people-will-be-surprised-to-learn-that-i-ve-got-a-sense-of-humour/) [Tim Henman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-henman/) > [I think people are surprised that I'm not - I think people come up to talk to me, and they think I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perfume-genius/i-think-people-are-surprised-that-i-m-not-i-think-people-come-up-to/) [Perfume Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perfume-genius/) > [People would be surprised by me if they knew I was humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreja-pejic/people-would-be-surprised-by-me-if-they-knew-i-was-humble/) [Andreja Pejic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreja-pejic/) > [People are always surprised when I say that I'm an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/people-are-always-surprised-when-i-say-that-i-m-an-atheist/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I am also a hard worker and people are sometimes surprised to see that as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-milian/i-am-also-a-hard-worker-and-people-are-sometimes-surprised-to-see/) [Christina Milian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-milian/) > [People are always surprised to see clues to my being a normal kind of guy. As if I'm somehow letting the team down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/people-are-always-surprised-to-see-clues-to-my-being-a-normal-kind-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [English people are always surprised I'm English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/english-people-are-always-surprised-i-m-english/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [People are always so surprised when they meet me. Firstly, that I'm 'so tiny', and secondly that I'm 'so sweet'. They seem surprised that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pink/people-are-always-so-surprised-when-they-meet-me-firstly-that-i-m-so/) [Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pink/) > [There are people who are surprised at my politics and being a conservative and the rest of it. But the truth of the matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-newton/there-are-people-who-are-surprised-at-my-politics-and-being-a/) [Wayne Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-newton/) > [It was amazing that a play that seems dated in this world... A man whose best friend is a six-foot white rabbit... But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stewart/it-was-amazing-that-a-play-that-seems-dated-in-this-world-a-man-whose/) [James Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stewart/) > [I think people will be surprised to find that I'm not as much of an idiot as they think I am. I'm not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-o/i-think-people-will-be-surprised-to-find-that-i-m-not-as-much-of-an/) [Steve-O](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-o/) > [People are always so surprised when I want to do dramatic stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/people-are-always-so-surprised-when-i-want-to-do-dramatic-stuff/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [They cannot imagine what I'll sound like. But always when I'm done singing, people are very surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-lee/they-cannot-imagine-what-i-ll-sound-like-but-always-when-i-m-done/) [Coco Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-lee/) ## More by Duncan Hunter > [Thousands of people die every year of cold, so if we had global warming it would save lives ... We ought to look out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/thousands-of-people-die-every-year-of-cold-so-if-we-had-global/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [Media scrutiny is a great trademark of the American political arena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/media-scrutiny-is-a-great-trademark-of-the-american-political-arena/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [A number of people who have supported me on the border fence in the U.S. have observed the fences in Israel and their effectiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/a-number-of-people-who-have-supported-me-on-the-border-fence-in-the-u/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [In 2006, the Secure Fence Act was signed into law, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to build upward of 700 miles of double…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/in-2006-the-secure-fence-act-was-signed-into-law-requiring-the/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [One way to bring down crime in the state of California and every state in the union is to have an enforceable border. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/one-way-to-bring-down-crime-in-the-state-of-california-and-every/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [You've got soldiers in the 3rd Infantry Division who are going every day on operations and they don't all have what is considered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/you-ve-got-soldiers-in-the-3rd-infantry-division-who-are-going-every/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [This century is going to be a very dangerous century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/this-century-is-going-to-be-a-very-dangerous-century/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [They (#ISIS) are going to be bombing American cities coming across from Mexico.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/they-isis-are-going-to-be-bombing-american-cities-coming-across-from/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [Nothing matures a military force quicker than actual military operations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/nothing-matures-a-military-force-quicker-than-actual-military/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [Blue collar workers cannot hire each other. White collar workers cannot hire each other. You have to have a businessman or a businesswomen, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/blue-collar-workers-cannot-hire-each-other-white-collar-workers/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [I think in the U.S., the border fence is no longer an immigration issue primarily; it's a security issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/i-think-in-the-u-s-the-border-fence-is-no-longer-an-immigration-issue/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [Of all the nations in the world, the people of the United States like freedom maybe a little better than anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/of-all-the-nations-in-the-world-the-people-of-the-united-states-like/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [Fences would be a hindrance to terrorists should they decide to come across a land border between the U.S. and Mexico and to California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/fences-would-be-a-hindrance-to-terrorists-should-they-decide-to-come/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [Fences work and the walls work and separations work. They afford to any nation the delay of entry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/fences-work-and-the-walls-work-and-separations-work-they-afford-to/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) > [ The decision to leave \[Iraq\] should be based solely on the judgment of the combatant commanders on the ground who say, "My Iraqi counterparts… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/the-decision-to-leave-iraq-should-be-based-solely-on-the-judgment-of/) [Duncan Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) [Explore all 18 Duncan Hunter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the American people have been surprised by the enthusiasm with which the Iraqis have taken to elections and politics.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Duncan Hunter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/i-think-the-american-people-have-been-surprised-by-the-enthusiasm/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/i-think-the-american-people-have-been-surprised-by-the-enthusiasm/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/duncan-hunter-29443_american_i-think-the-american-people-have-been-su_1989316.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/duncan-hunter-29443_american_i-think-the-american-people-have-been-su_1989316.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/duncan-hunter-29443_american_i-think-the-american-people-have-been-su_1989316.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the American people have been surprised by the enthusiasm with which the Iraqis have taken to…” — Duncan Hunter", "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": "Duncan Hunter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-hunter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the American people have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/i-think-the-american-people-have-been-surprised-by-the-enthusiasm/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-hunter/i-think-the-american-people-have-been-surprised-by-the-enthusiasm/#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 } } ] } ```