Digby: "In other words, Alito is a Freeper. I say filibuster the creep."

[StefanX]

The only political aspirants among those three groups who failed to meet the test of their generation were the chickenhawks. And our problem today is that they are the ones in charge of the government as we face a national security threat. These unfulfilled men still have something to prove.

And, I suspect because their leadership of the "conservative" movement has infected the new generation, we are seeing much of the same pathology among younger warhawks as well. This is why we hear the shrill war cries of inchoate bloodlust from these quarters every time the terrorists strike. It's a primal scream of inner confusion and self-loathing. These are people whose highest aspirations and deepest longings are wrapped up in their masculinity, and yet they are flaccid failures. They are in a state of arrested development, never having faced their fears, never becoming men, remaining boys standing in the corner of the darkened hallway watching Bill Clinton emerge from a co-ed's dorm room to lead a rousing all night strategy session --- and sitting in the bus station on the way home for Christmas vacation as Chuck Hagel and John Kerry in uniform, looking stalwart and strong, clap each other on the back in brotherly solidarity and prepare to see what they are really made of. They have never been part of anything but an effete political movement in which the stakes go no higher than repeal of the death tax.

...

They are damaged by their own contradictory past and as a result they cannot see their way through the haze of emotional turmoil to seek out and find real solutions to the problem of terrorism. They lash out with trash talk and threats and constant references to their own resolve because they are afraid. They've always been afraid.

...

In other words, he's a freeper. I say filibuster the creep.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2006_01_08_digbysblog_archive.html#113686627487472753
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2005_07_03_digbysblog_archive.html#112094486398202142

Senators, this is what you've been "keeping your powder dry" for. A conflicted, insecure, butt-kissing creep like Alito, a guy who was afraid of having women in Princeton, a guy who sucks up to to power so much that he ruled that an innocent young girl couild be strip-searched without a warrant, a guy who is on the record as saying Bork was the greatest, a guy who recuses himself and then unrecuses himself from cases, a guy who favors unlimited dictatorial powers for Bush -- a bitter, confused, insecure, misguided, frustrated failure who will have a chip on his shoulder and an axe to grind for the rest of his life if he gets put on this court. "It's all about character" -- and as Digby's post above shows, Alito's character is a mess and he will destroy this country. If there ever was a time for Democratic Senators to speak up, it is now.

Alito must be filibustered. We have the Republicans on the ropes now with all their scandals and crimes -- all their so-called "wins" are turning out to be actually losses, where they rigged the game and bribed the refs in order to make it look like they won -- but that's all starting to crumble now. They're weak and on the run and they're making on last-ditch attempt to move their lackey into place for life.

Senators -- you can stop Alito. If you filibuster and Congress shuts down, most Americans will SUPPORT you, you know that. Rove is going to be indicted, Ambramoff is going to sing, and six months from now half of Republican DC could be in court or in jail. Drag this confirmation out till the fall when we just might have a legitimate government again -- instead of this dictatorship of desperate delinquents.

[blm]

1. Perfect framing - Republicans lead an "effete political movement"

and the rhetorical machismo and religiosity is just cover for their own bending to cowardice and avarice at every turn.

[StefanX]

2. Digby's framing is always amazing. I think he's the anti-Rove

Republicans keep winning partly because they try to portray Dems as effete.

Which Digby keeps pointing out is utter bullshit.

[Trevelyan]

56. Please sign STOP ALITO PETITIONS:

http://www.usalone.com/alito.php

In the wake of even more revelations of unchecked presidential power, many are looking to our Supreme Court as the ultimate arbiter of what a chief executive can get away with. This makes the next nomination that much more critical. Should Bush be permitted to install another vote to consolidate his power grab?

The one click form on this page will send your personal message to both your Senators, with your vote on the the question "Should Sandra Day O'Connor's Replacement be More Right Wing?" At the same time it will send your personal comments only as a letter to the editor of your nearest local daily newspaper, if that option is selected below. If you need more information to help make a decision, Click Here for Arguments.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/webreturn/?url=/fmf1/issues/alert/?alertid=8355956

Act Now to Block Alito!
http://petition.savethecourt.org/fwd/campaigns/savethecourt/register/fc3c4e7fd9e7c7702f2d1c855b206fc5

Below is the text of the petition you are signing - please spread the word about this effort in the Senate as widely as possible.

Dear Senators,
The Senate must reject President Bush's attempt to reward right-wing special interests by nominating Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court of the United States. Alito's record as an ideological activist would make his confirmation a threat to civil rights protections, reproductive and privacy rights, environmental protections, religious liberty, and laws safeguarding workers.

I urge you to vote not to confirm Samuel Alito to a lifetime position on the Supreme Court of the United States.

Call your Senators and tell them you expect them to vote NO on Alito!

Webforms at: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[sui generis]

8. "effete"?

effete \eh-FEET; ih-\, adjective:
1. No longer capable of producing young; infertile; barren; sterile.
2. Exhausted of energy; incapable of efficient action; worn out.
3. Marked by self-indulgence or decadence; degenerate.
4. Overrefined; effeminate.

All you evil overrefined effiminate folks take note! This is a macho world and all your hugh self-indulgent decadent degenerate asses are all belong to me!!1!

Errr, let me rephrase that :blush:

:sarcasm:

Effete is unfortunately most commonly used to create a negative association to the stereotype of effeminate homosexuals. I don't like the word.

[klook]

10. I agree

It would have better to say "a barren political movement" rather than "an effete political movement."

[blm]

13. Self-indulgent political movement - Bereft of personal sacrifice.

.

[klook]

17. Good stuff

That pretty much sums up the whole Republican philosophy. They love hard work, as long as somebody is doing it on their behalf. They love personal sacrifice, too, as long as it's coming from the plebeians who (in Republican dreams) live to serve their patrician masters.

Oh, there I go waging class warfare again!

[Trevelyan]

33. More FReepers than usual on AOL Messageboard under Alito discuss

Someone wrote that anyone can erase messages on AOL by hitting the "notify" or alert button and the way anti-Alito threads were disappearing, the FReepers must have been cheating at that.

Very anti-Kennedy because they don't have any defense of Alito and I decided to cut and paste some of my Bush Crime Family material and links to counter the lies.

[blm]

12. The RW sure has screwed up alot of perfectly good words.

.

[sui generis]

14. there are lots of other words one could use

the right wing is not alone in using this phrase.

It's okay, I get what he was driving at, no offense taken esp. I'm sure he didn't intend, but would have chosen something more biting in place of that particular word.

[ninkasi]

42. If "effete" doesn't work...

try cowards. That's what they are, when all's said and done. They were too cowardly to serve their country when they had the opportunity, and have no qualms now about sending other people's sons and daughters to face death or maiming. I can respect the ones who didn't serve because they are pacifists, and opposed to war; the chickenhawks are different, though. They love war, as long as they can look macho from a safe distance.

They represent the very worst elements of humanity, those who use other people to do by proxy what they are loathe to do themselves. Before my health declined, I loved to garden. I dug up every spadeful of soil myself, and planted every seed. I fed my flowers, and kept them watered, and took pride in the beauty of my gardens. If I had hired a gardener to do it, there would have been no satisfaction for me. The beauty, for me, was in the hours of work I invested in helping the plants bloom and thrive.

Chickenhawks have no personal satisfaction, because they have achieved nothing themselves. They can order a million soldiers to war, but the soldier's valor and sacrifices will not add one second of bravery to these evil men's lives.

[Trevelyan]

34. The RW screws up everything it touches including our country and the

Constitution. What have they ever built?

[ProfessorGAC]

15. I Think Not

That word has been used for centuries to connote a combination of cowardice and smugness.
The Professor

[sui generis]

16. the word in my lifetime

has been used to connote homosexual effeminate behavior. You have it from me.

Also, more recently, an association of liberals with effeminate homosexuals, double slam.

You may think what you wish but do not use it around me without expecting commentary, just as you would no doubt enlighten us on other unacceptable racial and cultural vernacular, regardless of historical usage.

[StefanX]

21. You're right -- "effete" has nothing to do with "effeminate"

But for better or worse, both words start with "eff"... so although they have different roots etymologically, a lot of people still get them confused.

So what. It's a great word and I know why Digby's using it -- because he's the anti-Rove.

[sui generis]

23. you're right

on thinking about this.

If there's one thing they hate it is for us to use their conversation-forms to describe them. "Whining" republicans ALWAYS makes their heads assplode in live conversation.

If they think that "effete" is a slam on us because they think it has an association with "them homos" then let's have at it and turn the tables. Latte drinking volvo driving motherfuckers.

:evilgrin:

[thefool_wa]

26. Yeah but

2 & 3 apply. Not the best word choice, but effective.

[Kurovski]

30. The most common use of the word "effete" has been to describe royalty

and the lazy upper-class. Prior to the French Revolution, royalty was "effete". That is what has echoed through a few centuries.

For decades it has been used against intellectuals and liberals to separate the mainstream from their ideas by setting liberals apart from the populace. ( you know, ideas like a five-day working week instead of seven days.)

It is proper to turn the tables on the right-wing as they are indeed the ones who are self-indulgent to the point of corruption.

It is perfectly fitting, even wise to use the word "effete".

I have never in my many decades heard "effete" been used as a derogatory comment toward homosexuals. Take it from me. "Mary", "femme", "sissy", and others which are now mercifully more filled with humor than hate and contempt...but never "effete". Even sissy has a broader meaning.

The words that once were contemptuous were changed to humorous, even loving words not by banning the words themselves, but by opening minds, hearts, and raising awareness. To fight against a word like "effete" is working backwards.

I think you might be splitting political hairs, given the context here.

Edit: I see you agree that it's good to turn the tables on them, cool! :-)

[Mr_Spock]

31. Forget it

I can't read.

[mattclearing]

3. Excellent. n/t

[Vincardog]

4. K & R

[Dhalgren]

5. Excellent, excellent post! It strikes to the very heart of the

matter! Well done!

[bunkerbuster1]

6. If you don't filibuster this lying, slimy-ass gavone...

you ain't filibusterin' nothing.

Do it.

For the sake of our country, for whatever pride you have left in your party, do it, for god's sake.

[Trevelyan]

35. The most important thing is to filibuster and not allow the Imperial

Presidency. Keep writing your Senators and email support to Feingold, Kennedy and others who are asking tough questions and request that they FILIBUSTER.

[Voltaire99]

59. If they don't filibuster, what good are they?

I would not place much hope in the present Democratic Party. The past five years did, in fact, occur, and they are as plain a measure of this party's inability to oppose extremism as any you might ever despair to see.

The party is clearly following a rope-a-dope strategy: lie back, absorb abuse, wait for the opponent to tire, spring off the ropes next election. But politics isn't boxing. The abuse our nation is absorbing is lasting, pervasive. And in the case of Supreme Court appointments, permanent. (To take the metaphor further: the rope-a-dope didn't help poor Ali's health in the long term, did it?)

Our problem, as ever, is: we are represented by a corporate political structure that sustains itself with massive amounts of tainted money. So it always "wins," even as we all lose. There is simply no incentive for the party to fight tooth and nail. Why go out on a limb if the money keeps flowing in?

[Left Is Write]

7. Everyone should read this.

So I'm giving it a kick.

[JohnnyRingo]

9. Of all the right wing nuts avaiable, this is the one that Buxh thinks will

get past the Democrats.

If the Republicans can outlaw consent and debate leaving only the "up or down vote", imagine the real nutjobs Buxh must have waiting in the wings.

Be afraid

[Swamp Rat]

11. ... 'slither' past the Democrats.

:D

[ClintonTyree]

29. What happened to Harriett Meirs "up or down" vote?

Throw that one at them it they try that shit again. They never gave Harriett the chance, right? :shrug:

[Stockholm]

18. A really interesting theory applicable to many of the chicken-hawks

not just Alito.

- That is a picture catcher, you are supposed to smile at it.

- I am smiling can´t you tell?


Kick and nominated.

[Historic NY]

Geez........will you shake Spector's hand..............already

who taught you manners.

[Kurovski]

32. Caption for the photo:

"There's the door, Mr. Alito."

[Binka]

41. LOL! I Love You!

Best. Post. In. The. Thread.

[Kurovski]

49. I loved you first!

:hi:

[Sequoia]

19. Very well said. Like spring in winter!

He looks like my boss as well. Horrors!

[understandinglife]

20. Superb post. Alito is a liar -- Game. Set. Match. -- Filibuster the creep.

Recommend.


Peace.

[worldgonekrazy]

22. I gotta say, I don't think the public would support a fillibuster

At least not as of right now. There isn't any big scandal out there over Alito, so it would look like the Democrats were fillibustering him just because he is conservative. I think that to fillibuster his nomination, at this point, would backfire and throw support behind the Bush adminstration. We don't want to give the right something to rally around.

Having said that, I think that it could still change during these hearings. The Democrats have to tie Alito in to this issue of Presidential power with the warrantless domestic spying and all that. So far Alito has responded well to those attempts, but the Dems have to keep up and find a way to make it apparent that Alito really does support Executive power without any meaningful bounds.

[savemefromdumbya]

24. Filibuster BECAUSE HE IS DANGEROUS

He is dangerous for this country - period. The sheep will begin to realize sooner ot later.

[Kurovski]

25. "New Conservatives" today are indeed pathological.

The evidence is clear and one should never feel shy about saying so.

With all due respect for his intelligence, Alito is a screwball. Please get him away from our Supreme Court post-haste.

[thefool_wa]

27. Fall hell...

I say they filibuster every nomination this administration has until 2K8. They have an agenda that is direct opposition to the American way of life and the American people. GW does not deserve the legacy of two supreme court justices. There is no way we should stand for the ideals of this administration being forced upon us for as long as Alito is alive.

What's even better is that constant filibuster will keep other legislative parts of their (Repug's) agenda at bay as well. Force them to acquiesce, force them to our (the PEOPLES) will and keep them from taking everything our ancestor fought for away from us.

This guy is a bust. NEXT!

(my appologies to Sandra Day O'Connor, we know she wants to retire, but there are important ideals at stake here)

[ClintonTyree]

28. Wasn't it Spiro Agnew who called Democrats.........

"effete, impudent snobs"? :shrug: Childish name calling has been part of the Republican play book for decades.
Perhaps the Republicans aren't "effete". Perhaps "gelded" would have been a better term. Their experience of what being a man is all about has been "cut short". In any case, he's correct in most of his assumptions.

[Trevelyan]

36. Please sign Petitions to email your Senator to STOP ALITO!

http://www.usalone.com/cgi-bin/action3.cgi
http://www.savethecourt.org/site/c.mwK0JbNTJrF/b.1142525/k.3576/Stop_Alito/apps/ka/ct/contactcustom.asp?auid=1198339

[Ksec]

37. I think Digby stole my idea

of framing them as effeminate (which was taken down by moderators for reasons never given)

Its a good idea and he stole it from me.

[blm]

51. If it's any solace, I've been reading Digby for 4yrs and he's made similar

statements quite a few times during that stretch.

[Tuesday_Morning]

38. Absolutely

Filibuster the creep.

[emald]

39. if this white trash lawyer with his nose stuck up in the air

doesn't get blown out of the court then what are the dems there for? Opposition means fighting the entrenched status quo not sucking up to it.
Shit, when is someone going to get a set and stop this movement toward the fascist states of Bushit? I've sent email after email, phone calls, and letters but my GOP reps seem to not care less. Listen to the voice of the people you idiots or all of us are going to drown in the ugliness that is this administration.

[nicknameless]

40. WOW!!! Lou Dobbs' Poll: 82% don't want Alito on the Supreme Court!

http://www.CrooksAndLiars.com

82%!

[ClintonTyree]

47. That shoots the Corporate Media's whoring for him..............

right in the gut, doesn't it? All I hear on CNN, and MSNBC (I never watch "that other one") is how "eminently" (sorry george) qualified he is and that there is really nothing in his background to keep him from being confirmed. :eyes: This is, "THE LIBERAL MEDIA" reporting this, remember. :eyes: :puke: :eyes: :puke:

Could it be that the "Liberal Media" is all a myth? :wow:

[nicknameless]

55. This is a guy who thinks that it's okay to strip search a ten-yr-old

girl, without a warrant. He suggested that it's common for drug dealers to keep drugs IN their kids.
One more dumbya nominee = one more psycho.

[Kurovski]

50. Many thoughtful people from all political parties watch Lou Dobbs.

the results of that poll are in keeping with the intelligence and general awareness of the viewership.

[PurpleChez]

43. Excellent article!

I've always felt that the war fetishists were driven, at least in part, by a toxic view of masculinity but I have simply been unable to convert the hunch into a concise, well-worded statement. Thanks, Digby!

[madeline_con]

44. "...young girl couild be strip-searched without a warrant"

At the risk of getting flamed for spouting "RW talking points" or some such nonsense accusations...

"without a warrant" (???)

It was my understanding that there was a warrant issued for the premises where this incident took place, as I watched the hearings.

It is also my understanding that any and all people who may be found on said premises can and probably will be searched by police. It's been my experience that this has been standard procedure since at least the 60's when raids on "hippy houses" resulted in the arrests of several individuals (who did not live in said house) on drug charges.

I'll go out on a limb and say what if parts needed to assemble a dirty bomb, etc. might be hidden in an infant's carseat or stroler, is the infant off limits?

EDIT: spelling errors

[oc2002]

45. I was against a fillibuster at first, now however, I think it is more then

..warrented, but the duty of all dems to fight now or resign.

[elmerdem]

46. a filibuster is the only option

...can the dems pull it off?

It is readily apparent that Alito is unfit to be on SCOTUS. The question is will the dems have the courage not just to filibuster, but to handle it with the honesty and determination necessary to convince the public they were right. If there were ever a time that I thought the dems could pull it off, it is now. I think Reid & Dean & some of the vertebrate dems can get us through the momentary public outrage & the republic whining of partisan politics. After the initial uproar I think that they can convince the public that it was the right thing to do. Why? because it is the right thing to do.

>Senators -- you can stop Alito. If you filibuster and Congress shuts down, most Americans will SUPPORT you, you know that. Rove is going to be indicted, Ambramoff is going to sing, and six months from now half of Republican DC could be in court or in jail. Drag this confirmation out till the fall when we just might have a legitimate government again -- instead of this dictatorship of desperate delinquents.

This is a very reasonable assessment. The public trust of republicans is eroding & a filibuster will most likely not hurt dem chances in the mid-term elections. Anyways, what the dems are doing now has hardly had any courage & as far as I can tell it isn't really making much difference. Their only chance is to be seen as strong. Strong & wrong is better than weak & right, but I certainly don't think a filibuster is wrong. Alito is in no way the right person for the job!

[ClintonTyree]

48. Right you are........

I think the public will back the Democrats on this one, I really do.

And welcome to DU! :hi: Nice to have you here!

[muntrv]

52. Did You See...

Alito's wife in tears today? You'd cry too if your husband ruled that a bunch of co-workers sticking a broom up the anal cavity of a mentally retarded man is not harassment, but mere horseplay.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Riverman]

54. Any Senator that votes for Alito MUST BE RUN FROM

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. There would no better evidence that they have chosen sides, that is to fight for the rights of the Corporatists against the rights of Americans. This is the acid test!

A True American Patriot!

[Trevelyan]

57. I agree - if the Dems don't Try their hearts out on this one, even if

states throw away Diebold and blackboxes, it will be a waste of time to vote for any Democrat who allowed this dishonest judge on the Supreme Court and the indictments of the Republicans who are in deep with Abramoff and Cunningham money may well get off.

Please keep writing to your Senators and the media! Easy, clickable links to Senators on the Judiciary:
http://www.boomantribune.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2006/1/8/134922/4200

Judiciary Committee: Phone, Fax, and email info.....
====
Day One - Balance of Power in Government
Day Two - Age Discrimination/FMLA
Day Three - Judicial Ethics
Day Four - Needs of the Disabled
Day Five - Roe v. Wade
Day Six - Separation of Church and State
Day Seven - Freedom of Religion
Day Eight - Old Boys Club
Day Nine - Equality Under the Law
Day Ten - Gender Discrimination
Day Eleven - Corporate Interests

Continuing Action: After the Diary for Day 12 is available, print each diary and make booklets to hand out from December 23rd to January 9th.

[Trevelyan]

58. I guess the bush crime family got to Brian Williams - he is incoherent in

his haste to defend Alito and his fear of having offending the Bush Family Evil Empire with his formerly brave stand on reporting the truth from New Orleans martial law. Even after bravely reporting that a member of the 82nd Airborne pointed her gun at Williams and his crew "armed only with pencils and paper" and that he would be staying and reporting in NOLA for the duration, someone obviously got to him.

Scroll Down on Crooks and Liars to read about Brian Williams VERY ODD statements condemning the Democrats questioning Alito on Imus. Imus even stated he was lost.