--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's dawning on some Democrats…" description: "\"I think it's dawning on some Democrats that obstructing the Patriot Act, like they've been obstructing everything else, is bad for them politically.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/karl-rove-3809_democracy_i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-t_369158.jpg" --- # I think it's dawning on some Democrats that obstructing… ![“I think it's dawning on some Democrats that obstructing the Patriot Act, like they've been obstructing everything else, is bad for them politically.” quote by Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/karl-rove-3809_democracy_i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-t_369158.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/karl-rove-3809_democracy_i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-t_369158.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/karl-rove-3809_democracy_i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-t_369158.jpg) > “I think it's dawning on some Democrats that obstructing the Patriot Act, like they've been obstructing everything else, is bad for them politically.” [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Opposing popular legislation can be politically risky for Democrats. **In simple terms:** Blocking the Patriot Act hurts Democrats. Key Takeaway Consider broader political impacts. Themes politics strategy legislation Mood analytical critical Type political strategic When to use this quote - election cycles - party leadership - media coverage Key Concepts public opinion policy opposition Questions to Reflect On - Is it better to compromise or stand firm? - How do constituents view such blocks? A Different Perspective Opposition may be principled, not just strategic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad Politically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-politically-3371600/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [Democrats Obstructing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats-obstructing-3371599/) [Obstructing Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstructing-patriot-3371601/) [Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot/) [Patriot act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot-act/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I listen a little to the Democrats, and if one of them gets elected, we are going on defense," Giuliani continued. "We will wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-listen-a-little-to-the-democrats-and-if-one-of-them-gets-elected-we/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [The Democrats were in the majority in the U.S. Senate when we voted for the Iraq war and passed the U.S. Patriot Act. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/the-democrats-were-in-the-majority-in-the-u-s-senate-when-we-voted/) [Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/) > [The Patriot Act has increased the flow of information within our government, and it has helped break up terror cells in the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-patriot-act-has-increased-the-flow-of-information-within-our/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [No one in their right mind can say to me with a straight face that the Patriot Act has not aggregated the Fourth Amendment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-camejo/no-one-in-their-right-mind-can-say-to-me-with-a-straight-face-that/) [Peter Camejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-camejo/) > [If middle-class Americans do not feel threatened by the slow encroachment of the police state or the Patriot Act, it is because they live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/if-middle-class-americans-do-not-feel-threatened-by-the-slow/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [Since 2001, the Patriot Act has provided the means to detect and disrupt terrorist threats against the U.S. Prior to enactment of the law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-wicker/since-2001-the-patriot-act-has-provided-the-means-to-detect-and/) [Roger Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-wicker/) > [Civil libertarians have raised concerns that some of the Patriot Act's provisions infringe on Constitutional rights. Those concerns are not supported by the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-wicker/civil-libertarians-have-raised-concerns-that-some-of-the-patriot-act/) [Roger Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-wicker/) > [The Patriot Act makes a mockery of the Sixth Amendment, which protects your right to a speedy and public trial, and your right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-badnarik/the-patriot-act-makes-a-mockery-of-the-sixth-amendment-which-protects/) [Michael Badnarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-badnarik/) > [It is no response to assert that the Patriot Act has been useful; what you need to explain is how any particular safeguard would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-sanchez/it-is-no-response-to-assert-that-the-patriot-act-has-been-useful-what/) [Julian Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-sanchez/) > [The Patriot Act was used against me in total contradiction to its stated purpose. Or perhaps it was the most logical use of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-lindauer/the-patriot-act-was-used-against-me-in-total-contradiction-to-its/) [Susan Lindauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-lindauer/) > [Here at home, we need to do two fundamental things. Number one, we need to recognize that technology has moved on. The Patriot Act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/here-at-home-we-need-to-do-two-fundamental-things-number-one-we-need/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [To be patriotic is to be able to question government policy in times of crisis. To be patriotic is to stand up for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-al-arian/to-be-patriotic-is-to-be-able-to-question-government-policy-in-times/) [Sami Al-Arian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-al-arian/) > [We have been through four and five generations of technology since the PATRIOT Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/we-have-been-through-four-and-five-generations-of-technology-since/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [We all deserve credit for this new surveillance state that we live in because we the people voted for the Patriot Act. Democrats and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/we-all-deserve-credit-for-this-new-surveillance-state-that-we-live-in/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) ## More by Karl Rove > [Well, I'm a Christian. I was a born a Presbyterian and became an Episcopalian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/well-i-m-a-christian-i-was-a-born-a-presbyterian-and-became-an/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [We face a brutal enemy who will kill the innocent for one purpose and that is to gain control of the Middle East and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/we-face-a-brutal-enemy-who-will-kill-the-innocent-for-one-purpose-and/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [We need to be asking for the vote in the most powerful way possible, which is to have people asking for the vote who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/we-need-to-be-asking-for-the-vote-in-the-most-powerful-way-possible/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [The labor movement must be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/the-labor-movement-must-be-destroyed/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [You may be right that people say: You know what, we had Obama. He was inexperienced. The guy had great rhetoric, sounded good, looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/you-may-be-right-that-people-say-you-know-what-we-had-obama-he-was/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [I'm not a journalist. I'm a pundit. I'm a commentator, I'm somebody with an opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-m-not-a-journalist-i-m-a-pundit-i-m-a-commentator-i-m-somebody-with/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [ I think it was Osama bin Laden's \[idea to start a pre-emptive war in Iraq\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-it-was-osama-bin-laden-s-idea-to-start-a-pre-emptive-war-in/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [It's time to put America at the front of all of our agendas and to find ways to work together on common ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/it-s-time-to-put-america-at-the-front-of-all-of-our-agendas-and-to/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [But the world is a better place with Saddam Hussein gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/but-the-world-is-a-better-place-with-saddam-hussein-gone/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [What Mr. Obama wants in a nominee isn't really 'empathy' and 'understanding.' He wants a liberal, activist Supreme Court justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/what-mr-obama-wants-in-a-nominee-isn-t-really-empathy-and/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [As people do better, they start voting like Republicans - unless they have too much education and vote Democratic, which proves there can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/as-people-do-better-they-start-voting-like-republicans-unless-they/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [There is a difference between Senator Obama and Senator McCain. Senator Obama believes that the government ought to be able to take as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/there-is-a-difference-between-senator-obama-and-senator-mccain/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [I think wealthy conservatives are busy investing in profit and job creation and enterprise, and wealthy liberals, many of them either from the media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-wealthy-conservatives-are-busy-investing-in-profit-and-job/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [If you look underneath the surface of the Tea Party movement, on the other hand, you will find that it is not sophisticated. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/if-you-look-underneath-the-surface-of-the-tea-party-movement-on-the/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [To win in November, Republican candidates must show they are in touch with voter concerns about growth, jobs, paychecks, government spending and debt. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/to-win-in-november-republican-candidates-must-show-they-are-in-touch/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) [Explore all 121 Karl Rove quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it's dawning on some Democrats that obstructing the Patriot Act, like they've been obstructing everything else, is bad for them politically.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karl Rove" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-that-obstructing-the-patriot/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-that-obstructing-the-patriot/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/karl-rove-3809_democracy_i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-t_369158.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/karl-rove-3809_democracy_i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-t_369158.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/karl-rove-3809_democracy_i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-t_369158.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think it's dawning on some Democrats that obstructing the Patriot Act, like they've been obstructing…” — Karl Rove", "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": "Karl Rove", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think it's dawning on some...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-that-obstructing-the-patriot/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-it-s-dawning-on-some-democrats-that-obstructing-the-patriot/#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 } } ] } ```