--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The American national security state is…" description: "\"The American national security state is totally bipartisan. My biggest problem is with the Democrats, like Feinstein and Pelosi, who are defending it b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/glenn-greenwald-1215_american_the-american-national-security-state-is_640144.jpg" --- # The American national security state is totally… ![“The American national security state is totally bipartisan. My biggest problem is with the Democrats, like Feinstein and Pelosi, who are defending it because there is a Democrat in the White House, and they are party loyalists and hacks before they are public servants.” quote by Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/glenn-greenwald-1215_american_the-american-national-security-state-is_640144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/glenn-greenwald-1215_american_the-american-national-security-state-is_640144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/glenn-greenwald-1215_american_the-american-national-security-state-is_640144.jpg) > “The American national security state is totally bipartisan. My biggest problem is with the Democrats, like Feinstein and Pelosi, who are defending it because there is a Democrat in the White House, and they are party loyalists and hacks before they are public servants.” [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The national security apparatus enjoys bipartisan support, but some politicians defend it for party loyalty rather than public duty. **In simple terms:** Security policies are often defended for political reasons. Key Takeaway Question motives behind policy support. Themes politics security partisanship Mood skeptical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - Congressional hearings - election cycles - policy debates - media coverage Key Concepts institutional analysis public accountability Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens hold officials accountable beyond party lines? - What reforms could reduce partisan bias in security policy? A Different Perspective Party loyalty can obscure objective assessment of security measures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Biggest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest/) [Biggest problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-problem/) [Bipartisan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipartisan/) [Bipartisan Biggest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipartisan-biggest-5140533/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Defending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defending/) [Defending Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defending-democrat-5140532/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-democrats-684112/) [Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public/) [Public servants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-servants/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Servants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servants/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [Totally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totally/) [Totally Bipartisan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totally-bipartisan-5140531/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [The main problem with the Democrats is their utter negativity. They're made up of schumucks and hypocrites. They also have higher levels of immorality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-mason/the-main-problem-with-the-democrats-is-their-utter-negativity-they-re/) [Jackie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-mason/) > [ Pushing gun control drives people \[in my district\] crazy, gay marriage, abortion, deficit spending.All of that stuff adds up to be a problem for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/pushing-gun-control-drives-people-in-my-district-crazy-gay-marriage/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/their-problem-is-not-me-and-the-democrats-their-problem-is-themselves/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [The problem we have is not Democrats versus Republicans. It is a Washington cartel. I've said many times the biggest divide we have politically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-problem-we-have-is-not-democrats-versus-republicans-it-is-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The problem: Democrats have to drop their stupid class-warfare rhetoric. With 74 million Americans owning stock in one form or another, anything which helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/the-problem-democrats-have-to-drop-their-stupid-class-warfare/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [ The way things are supposed to work is that we're supposed to know virtually everything about what they \[the government\] do: that's why they're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-way-things-are-supposed-to-work-is-that-we-re-supposed-to-know/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [My biggest problem with everything going on is the lack of understanding and the lack of respect in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/my-biggest-problem-with-everything-going-on-is-the-lack-of/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [The biggest problem about looking at a problem is looking at it. When we finally find or face it, it becomes harmless and easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheid/the-biggest-problem-about-looking-at-a-problem-is-looking-at-it-when/) [Robert Scheid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheid/) > [The biggest problem though out the history of man is the fact that racism is anything but an anomoly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-hansen/the-biggest-problem-though-out-the-history-of-man-is-the-fact-that/) [Erik Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-hansen/) > [The biggest problem is my back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-lovren/the-biggest-problem-is-my-back/) [Dejan Lovren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-lovren/) > [I do have some young coaches, but I don't really believe that is the biggest problem we have here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/i-do-have-some-young-coaches-but-i-don-t-really-believe-that-is-the/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [The biggest problem is the big man / one wants to understand his compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-biggest-problem-is-the-big-man-one-wants-to-understand-his/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Boredom is the biggest problem. The same position. Same day of the week. It becomes boring when you don't bring any added flowers home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/boredom-is-the-biggest-problem-the-same-position-same-day-of-the-week/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [The biggest problem in life isn't the problem itself, but how people act upon it ???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-problem-in-life-isn-t-the-problem-itself-but-how-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The biggest problem in the world is that stupid people are full of confidence whereas smart people are full of doubts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-problem-in-the-world-is-that-stupid-people-are-full-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Glenn Greenwald > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“The evidence shows that assurances that surveillance is only targeted at those who “have done something wrong” should provide little comfort, since a state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-evidence-shows-that-assurances-that-surveillance-is-only-targeted/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“It's almost hard to imagine anything more undemocratic than the view that political officials should not debate American wars in public, but only express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-almost-hard-to-imagine-anything-more-undemocratic-than-the-view/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [It's hardly news that the Obama administration is intensely and, in many respects, unprecedentedly hostile toward the news-gathering process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-hardly-news-that-the-obama-administration-is-intensely-and-in/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Only In America can a renowned and devoted terrorism supporter like Peter King be the arbiter of national security and treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/only-in-america-can-a-renowned-and-devoted-terrorism-supporter-like/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“Above even our physical well-being, a central value is keeping the state out of the private realm—our “persons, houses, papers, and effects,” as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/above-even-our-physical-well-being-a-central-value-is-keeping-the/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“That capability at any time could be turned around on the American people and no American would have any privacy left, such is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/that-capability-at-any-time-could-be-turned-around-on-the-american/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“Converting the Internet into a system of surveillance thus guts it of its core potential. Worse, it turns the Internet into a tool of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/converting-the-internet-into-a-system-of-surveillance-thus-guts-it-of/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“the desire for privacy is shared by us all as an essential, not ancillary, part of what it means to be human. We all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-desire-for-privacy-is-shared-by-us-all-as-an-essential-not/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [I don't have a 'side'—I'm responsible for what I say and nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/i-don-t-have-a-side-i-m-responsible-for-what-i-say-and-nothing-else/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“Encryption matters, and it is not just for spies and philanderers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/encryption-matters-and-it-is-not-just-for-spies-and-philanderers/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“Among other devices, the agency intercepts and tampers with routers and servers manufactured by Cisco to direct large amounts of Internet traffic back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/among-other-devices-the-agency-intercepts-and-tampers-with-routers/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“NSA has increasingly made use of a secret technology that enables it to enter and alter data in computers even if they are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/nsa-has-increasingly-made-use-of-a-secret-technology-that-enables-it/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [A key purpose of journalism is to provide an adversarial check on those who wield the greatest power by shining a light on what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/a-key-purpose-of-journalism-is-to-provide-an-adversarial-check-on/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“We all instinctively understand that the private realm is where we can act, think, speak, write, experiment, and choose how to be, away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/we-all-instinctively-understand-that-the-private-realm-is-where-we/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) [Explore all 270 Glenn Greenwald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) ## 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": "The American national security state is totally bipartisan. My biggest problem is with the Democrats, like Feinstein and Pelosi, who are defending it because there is a Democrat in the White House, and they are party loyalists and hacks before they are public servants.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Glenn Greenwald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-american-national-security-state-is-totally-bipartisan-my-biggest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-american-national-security-state-is-totally-bipartisan-my-biggest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/glenn-greenwald-1215_american_the-american-national-security-state-is_640144.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/glenn-greenwald-1215_american_the-american-national-security-state-is_640144.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/glenn-greenwald-1215_american_the-american-national-security-state-is_640144.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The American national security state is totally bipartisan. My biggest problem is with the Democrats, like…” — Glenn Greenwald", "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": "Glenn Greenwald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The American national security state is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-american-national-security-state-is-totally-bipartisan-my-biggest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-american-national-security-state-is-totally-bipartisan-my-biggest/#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 } } ] } ```