--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you look at why do we end up with the…" description: "\"If you look at why do we end up with the nominees that we get often? It's because you have only a very small number of Americans participating in the p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/frank-bruni-16963_partisans_if-you-look-at-why-do-we-end-up-with-the_1749703.png" --- # If you look at why do we end up with the nominees that we… ![“If you look at why do we end up with the nominees that we get often? It's because you have only a very small number of Americans participating in the primaries, and those people tend to be your most dyed in the wool partisans.” quote by Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/frank-bruni-16963_partisans_if-you-look-at-why-do-we-end-up-with-the_1749703.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/frank-bruni-16963_partisans_if-you-look-at-why-do-we-end-up-with-the_1749703.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/frank-bruni-16963_partisans_if-you-look-at-why-do-we-end-up-with-the_1749703.png) > “If you look at why do we end up with the nominees that we get often? It's because you have only a very small number of Americans participating in the primaries, and those people tend to be your most dyed in the wool partisans.” [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Primary elections are dominated by a small, highly partisan group, limiting broader representation. **In simple terms:** Primaries reflect a narrow, partisan base. Key Takeaway Expand voter participation. Themes politics democracy participation partisanship Mood analytical concerned Type political informative When to use this quote - voter registration drives - primary reforms - community forums - education campaigns Key Concepts electoral reform civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can we broaden primary participation? - What reforms would reduce partisan bias? A Different Perspective Changing the system is politically difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nominees Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nominees-small-1595221/) [Participating Primaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participating-primaries-1595223/) [Partisans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Primaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primaries/) [Primaries People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primaries-people-1595222/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Donna\] Brazil warned the campaign that \[Hillary\] Clinton might face a question over lead poisoning during a CNN primary debate, showing her partisan ties. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/donna-brazil-warned-the-campaign-that-hillary-clinton-might-face-a/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [ Was that Donna Brazile, a CNN analyst, or a \[Hillary\] Clinton partisan? Two batches of emails posted by WikiLeaks show Brazile gave Clinton advisers… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/was-that-donna-brazile-a-cnn-analyst-or-a-hillary-clinton-partisan/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [This partisan decision by a packed GOP state Supreme Court takes away worker's rights to bargain for a safe place to work. It underscores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-larson/this-partisan-decision-by-a-packed-gop-state-supreme-court-takes-away/) [Chris Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-larson/) > [Jeb Bush was supposed to be the establishment candidate, but he didn't catch on. And the extraordinary thing about this Republican primary is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-liasson/jeb-bush-was-supposed-to-be-the-establishment-candidate-but-he-didn-t/) [Mara Liasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-liasson/) > [Even as a partisan Republican, I'm not sure a 40-year run is healthy for either party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/even-as-a-partisan-republican-i-m-not-sure-a-40-year-run-is-healthy/) [Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/) > [National security advisors are not there to be advocates, generally. They're not there to be partisans, they're not there to be ideologues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/national-security-advisors-are-not-there-to-be-advocates-generally/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [The partisan when he is engaged in a dispute, cares nothing about the rights of the question, but is anxious only to convince his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-partisan-when-he-is-engaged-in-a-dispute-cares-nothing-about-the/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Memo to extreme partisans: If you can't bring yourselves to love your enemies, can you at least learn to hate your friends?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/memo-to-extreme-partisans-if-you-can-t-bring-yourselves-to-love-your/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [First, I think more Americans need to declare their independence from partisan politics on both sides. The more that Americans declare their independence, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/first-i-think-more-americans-need-to-declare-their-independence-from/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-nation-as-you-know-is-at-a-critical-point-at-a-time-like-this-we/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [A critical component of White House Scandal Defense 101 is rallying the partisan base. This keeps approval ratings in territory where the wheels don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barr/a-critical-component-of-white-house-scandal-defense-101-is-rallying/) [Bob Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barr/) > [I have also come to understand Congress' need for a bipartisan as well as a partisan capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-price/i-have-also-come-to-understand-congress-need-for-a-bipartisan-as-well/) [David Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-price/) > [Modern Democrats aren't the first political party to abuse power - far from it. Obama isn'€™t the first president to abuse executive power -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/modern-democrats-aren-t-the-first-political-party-to-abuse-power-far/) [David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/) > [Children's books are by nature partisan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-walters/children-s-books-are-by-nature-partisan/) [Eric Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-walters/) > [Surely to root politics out of art is a highly necessary undertaking: for the freedom of art, like that of science, depends entirely upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/surely-to-root-politics-out-of-art-is-a-highly-necessary-undertaking/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) ## More by Frank Bruni > [We are constantly bemoaning that we have two nominees, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, who are when you put them together as unpopular a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/we-are-constantly-bemoaning-that-we-have-two-nominees-hillary-clinton/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [“Books are personal, passionate. They stir emotions and spark thought in a manner all their own, and I'm convinced that the shattered world has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/books-are-personal-passionate-they-stir-emotions-and-spark-thought-in/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [We still write too many stories that are "state of the race" stories that are informed almost solely by what the polling shows and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/we-still-write-too-many-stories-that-are-state-of-the-race-stories/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [But fairness is where we’re heading, at least in regard to marriage, which has emerged as the terrain on which Americans are hashing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/but-fairness-is-where-we-re-heading-at-least-in-regard-to-marriage/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [Campaigns waged with lies presage governments racked by distrust. The sclerosis starts there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/campaigns-waged-with-lies-presage-governments-racked-by-distrust-the/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [I think with Donald Trump we're seeing the sort of utterly vanished line at long last of enter - between entertainment and politics. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/i-think-with-donald-trump-we-re-seeing-the-sort-of-utterly-vanished/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [I remember going to a Trump rally in South Carolina, and it was really important and it was really interesting to talk to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/i-remember-going-to-a-trump-rally-in-south-carolina-and-it-was-really/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [“Thin people, God bless them, God curse them, don't get it: If you're not thin, you need to be careful and conscious about when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/thin-people-god-bless-them-god-curse-them-don-t-get-it-if-you-re-not/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [“You can make a successful run for political office in this country without an especially thick résumé, any exceptional talent for expressing yourself, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-political-office-in-this-country/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [I think the Donald Trump's obsession is, is bigger than just polling. I mean it's funny because we've been harping on polls like never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/i-think-the-donald-trump-s-obsession-is-is-bigger-than-just-polling-i/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [You're encouraging a response in citizens and the public, that has nothing to do with an informed decision, that has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/you-re-encouraging-a-response-in-citizens-and-the-public-that-has/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [Writers and reporters need to remind themselves they're not to be judged solely by the number of clicks or eyeballs on a given story,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/writers-and-reporters-need-to-remind-themselves-they-re-not-to-be/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [Another way in which our system is unfair. Why do Iowans get so much of a bigger voice every four years than everybody else?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/another-way-in-which-our-system-is-unfair-why-do-iowans-get-so-much/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [I wanted us to be careful about, going to the corner diner, interviewing three people and saying, "here's the mood of the public."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/i-wanted-us-to-be-careful-about-going-to-the-corner-diner/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [After all, a creature without passionate conviction doesn't cling to extremes. He surveys the scenery and makes sure his outfit doesn't clash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/after-all-a-creature-without-passionate-conviction-doesn-t-cling-to/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) [Explore all 38 Frank Bruni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) ## More Partisans quotes > [Surely to root politics out of art is a highly necessary undertaking: for the freedom of art, like that of science, depends entirely upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/surely-to-root-politics-out-of-art-is-a-highly-necessary-undertaking/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) > [Children's books are by nature partisan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-walters/children-s-books-are-by-nature-partisan/) [Eric Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-walters/) > [Modern Democrats aren't the first political party to abuse power - far from it. Obama isn'€™t the first president to abuse executive power -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/modern-democrats-aren-t-the-first-political-party-to-abuse-power-far/) [David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/) > [I have also come to understand Congress' need for a bipartisan as well as a partisan capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-price/i-have-also-come-to-understand-congress-need-for-a-bipartisan-as-well/) [David Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-price/) > [A critical component of White House Scandal Defense 101 is rallying the partisan base. This keeps approval ratings in territory where the wheels don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barr/a-critical-component-of-white-house-scandal-defense-101-is-rallying/) [Bob Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barr/) > [The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-nation-as-you-know-is-at-a-critical-point-at-a-time-like-this-we/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [First, I think more Americans need to declare their independence from partisan politics on both sides. The more that Americans declare their independence, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/first-i-think-more-americans-need-to-declare-their-independence-from/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [Memo to extreme partisans: If you can't bring yourselves to love your enemies, can you at least learn to hate your friends?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/memo-to-extreme-partisans-if-you-can-t-bring-yourselves-to-love-your/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [The partisan when he is engaged in a dispute, cares nothing about the rights of the question, but is anxious only to convince his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-partisan-when-he-is-engaged-in-a-dispute-cares-nothing-about-the/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [National security advisors are not there to be advocates, generally. They're not there to be partisans, they're not there to be ideologues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/national-security-advisors-are-not-there-to-be-advocates-generally/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [Even as a partisan Republican, I'm not sure a 40-year run is healthy for either party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/even-as-a-partisan-republican-i-m-not-sure-a-40-year-run-is-healthy/) [Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/) > [Let a man be of what side he may in politics, unless he be much more of a partisan than a patriot, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/let-a-man-be-of-what-side-he-may-in-politics-unless-he-be-much-more/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Of all the officers of the Government, those of the Department of Justice should be kept most free from any suspicion of improper action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/of-all-the-officers-of-the-government-those-of-the-department-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [American media has just become talk radio, incredibly partisan name-calling and op-eds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-smith/american-media-has-just-become-talk-radio-incredibly-partisan-name/) [Shane Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-smith/) > [ At what point do \[progressives\] take off our partisan blinders and start wondering whether a very powerful faction of Democrats actually continues to SUPPORT… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sirota/at-what-point-do-progressives-take-off-our-partisan-blinders-and/) [David Sirota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sirota/) [Browse all 261 Partisans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisans/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you look at why do we end up with the nominees that we get often? 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