--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Democrats are standing on one side…" description: "\"The Democrats are standing on one side, and the Republicans are playing games on the other. Both sides are playing games.\" — Mark Shields" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/mark-shields-1572_both-sides_the-democrats-are-standing-on-one-side-a_2863884.png" --- # The Democrats are standing on one side, and the… ![“The Democrats are standing on one side, and the Republicans are playing games on the other. Both sides are playing games.” quote by Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/mark-shields-1572_both-sides_the-democrats-are-standing-on-one-side-a_2863884.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/mark-shields-1572_both-sides_the-democrats-are-standing-on-one-side-a_2863884.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/mark-shields-1572_both-sides_the-democrats-are-standing-on-one-side-a_2863884.png) > “The Democrats are standing on one side, and the Republicans are playing games on the other. Both sides are playing games.” [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Both major US parties are engaged in partisan maneuvering rather than genuine problem solving. **In simple terms:** Politics is reduced to games. Key Takeaway Seek substance over spectacle. Themes politics partisanship strategy leadership Mood critical inquisitive Type political analytical When to use this quote - election cycles - legislative negotiations - public forums Key Concepts game theory public policy media framing Questions to Reflect On - What incentives drive partisan games? - How can voters demand accountability? A Different Perspective The statement oversimplifies complex policy debates. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Both sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both-sides/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Playing games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-games/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) ## Related quotes > [It's not that the Democrats are playing checkers and the Republicans are playing chess. It's that the Republicans are playing chess and the Democrats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/it-s-not-that-the-democrats-are-playing-checkers-and-the-republicans/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Democrats - always standing up for what they later realize they should have believed in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/democrats-always-standing-up-for-what-they-later-realize-they-should/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [While extremist Republicans actively choose to make quality health care coverage harder to come by, Democrats are standing on the side of American people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laphonza-butler/while-extremist-republicans-actively-choose-to-make-quality-health/) [Laphonza Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laphonza-butler/) > [“I see you. I see your hurt and your loneliness. I see your pride, and the way it stops you from leaning on anyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-see-you-i-see-your-hurt-and-your-loneliness-i-see-your-pride-and/) [Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/) > [When you reach a certain age, you get to old to be playing games and dealing with people playing games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/when-you-reach-a-certain-age-you-get-to-old-to-be-playing-games-and/) Enhance Dreams > [Man's most serious activity is play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/man-s-most-serious-activity-is-play/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [“One time I was standing on a corner in Chicago & a man stopped his car & asked for directions to a place I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/one-time-i-was-standing-on-a-corner-in-chicago-a-man-stopped-his-car/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [It's time to stop playing these games…I'm desperate for God to lay his hands on me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quenecia-dean-queen/it-s-time-to-stop-playing-these-games-i-m-desperate-for-god-to-lay/) [Quenecia Dean (Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quenecia-dean-queen/) > [“I'm sure that if woman laid out the rules- requirements- early on, and let her intended know that he could either rise up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/i-m-sure-that-if-woman-laid-out-the-rules-requirements-early-on-and/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [I used to play role-playing games a lot when I was younger, but once you start an RPG, it takes a lot of time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-toriyama/i-used-to-play-role-playing-games-a-lot-when-i-was-younger-but-once/) [Akira Toriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-toriyama/) > [We've been playing games with eachother. We've been trying to see who can outsmart eachother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-minott/we-ve-been-playing-games-with-eachother-we-ve-been-trying-to-see-who/) [Sugar Minott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-minott/) > [“I summon the courage to go for what I want. Having cancer has left me less afraid than I used to be. I’m painfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-force/i-summon-the-courage-to-go-for-what-i-want-having-cancer-has-left-me/) [M.S. Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-force/) > [People are playing games on their TV, young men are, and people are shopping... they are not watching their news channels, but they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/people-are-playing-games-on-their-tv-young-men-are-and-people-are/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Flashing lights, going back to the time, playing games in the street, kicking balls at my feet, theres a numb in my toes standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/flashing-lights-going-back-to-the-time-playing-games-in-the-street/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [I hate playing games. I want love where there's actual flames.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-playing-games-i-want-love-where-there-s-actual-flames/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Mark Shields > [I'm not sure Betsy DeVos has ever spent a day in a public school. And I don't - I'm pretty sure Donald Trump hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-m-not-sure-betsy-devos-has-ever-spent-a-day-in-a-public-school-and/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump is sounding the same theme he has sounded since May or June of 2015.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-is-sounding-the-same-theme-he-has-sounded-since-may-or/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [It's interesting how identity politics and Ann Coulter-style tactics have now blossomed. But they were always there in CPAC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/it-s-interesting-how-identity-politics-and-ann-coulter-style-tactics/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [When you run for president of the United States, everybody does the same thing in the campaign-they talk about veterans, how much they admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/when-you-run-for-president-of-the-united-states-everybody-does-the/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Americans don't like powerful figures who punch down, that is, who pick on someone less powerful and less able to speak for themselves than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/americans-don-t-like-powerful-figures-who-punch-down-that-is-who-pick/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Everyone has to take Donald Trump seriously, and I think that's what we're seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/everyone-has-to-take-donald-trump-seriously-and-i-think-that-s-what/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump defies gravity. And so I guess he has to be Donald Trump. It's gotten him so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-defies-gravity-and-so-i-guess-he-has-to-be-donald-trump/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [ My church \[Catholisism\] is hurting from arrogance and from its indifference to the suffering of children that were abused and the inclination of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/my-church-catholisism-is-hurting-from-arrogance-and-from-its/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [America is Republican until 5:00 or 6:00 at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/america-is-republican-until-5-00-or-6-00-at-night/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [John Kerry's biography was central to his campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/john-kerry-s-biography-was-central-to-his-campaign/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I think Guantanamo, has been synonymous with the staining of American values and American legal tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-think-guantanamo-has-been-synonymous-with-the-staining-of-american/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Stronger together is, I think, a preposition and a comparative adjective, but it's not really an action verb or what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/stronger-together-is-i-think-a-preposition-and-a-comparative/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [If you only make fights that you're going to win, there would be no women's vote in America, there would be no civil rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/if-you-only-make-fights-that-you-re-going-to-win-there-would-be-no/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) [Explore all 227 Mark Shields quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## More Both sides quotes > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-luther/it-s-almost-inevitable-there-s-going-to-be-an-escalation-on-both-sides/) Bill Luther > [I have yet to see someone attack Obama over his report card. A lot of people I talk to from both sides of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-have-yet-to-see-someone-attack-obama-over-his-report-card-a-lot-of/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [I have an office full of product from brands trying to be in videos and an inbox full of songs from artists, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-kluger/i-have-an-office-full-of-product-from-brands-trying-to-be-in-videos/) [Adam Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-kluger/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [When the war ends, it will be found that there was an equal amount of 'thuggery' practiced on both sides, that terrible things were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-jones/when-the-war-ends-it-will-be-found-that-there-was-an-equal-amount-of/) [Rufus Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-jones/) > [I find that Americans are all in the middle somewhere, except for the extreme nuts, and extreme nuts on both sides are the loudest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/i-find-that-americans-are-all-in-the-middle-somewhere-except-for-the/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [My family was musical on both sides. My father's family had a famous flautist and a classical pianist. My mother won a contest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/my-family-was-musical-on-both-sides-my-father-s-family-had-a-famous/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/i-come-from-a-long-line-of-saloon-keepers-and-proselytizers-and-i/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [I usually accept bribes from both sides so that tainted money can never influence my decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-usually-accept-bribes-from-both-sides-so-that-tainted-money-can/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I really like seeing players like Ousmane Dembele and other players who can take corners from both sides and things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-bellingham/i-really-like-seeing-players-like-ousmane-dembele-and-other-players/) [Jude Bellingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-bellingham/) > [I come from both sides of the spectrum: I grew up listening to hip-hop and R&B then learned how to make a track by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lotic/i-come-from-both-sides-of-the-spectrum-i-grew-up-listening-to-hip-hop/) [Lotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lotic/) > [ \[Albert Camus\] positions are sensed. So, naturally, those intellectuals who don't have that experience have difficulty in comprehending it. But I think it made… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-camus/albert-camus-positions-are-sensed-so-naturally-those-intellectuals/) [Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-camus/) [Browse all 597 Both sides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both-sides/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Democrats are standing on one side, and the Republicans are playing games on the other. 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