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President Bush Did It & It's a Sicilian Thing: Scalia's Potential Excuses for Flipping Off Critics Minutes after Catholic Mass
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Antonin Scalia, who has already declared his full-fledged support for secret military tribunals BEFORE hearing the appeal this week, has startled Christians around the nation by "flipping off" critics moments after attenting Roman Catholic mass.
I haven't seen the photo, but UPI reports that a photographer with The Pilot, the Archdiocese of Boston newspaper, snapped a shot.
Scalia "ordered him" not to publish the photo. So much for separation of church and state.
Rationalizing what he did, Scalia said "That's Sicilian."
But just in case anyone has forgotten, George W. Bush gave what he called the "one-finger salute" in this film clip, which he thought no one would see.
In the President's defense, however, I've done the same -- but neither of us was walking out of church when we let the finger fly.
John Aravosis has more.
-- Steve Clemons
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What's next, mooning from the bench? Can the level of our culture sink any lower?
why is the reporter not publishing the picture? Is a comment from a SC Justice not to publish the picture considered a "court order"?
For all practical purposes, that has been done. I refer to Scalia's refusal to recuse himeself in hearing Cheney v. USDC for District of Columbia (03-0475).
Ah... this group as brought us so many wonderful phrases. Like "You Sack of Santorum!" or "Go Cheney yourself!" and now "Flipping the Scalia!". Wonderful.
Steve M: Thanks for that fascinating extra insight. I only have the UPI piece as the source, but thanks for adding the Boston Herald report, making it clear that the gesture was "obscene".
Wonder if he'll comment further. In any case, the real issue is that he declared his position on a case before hearing it. He's really outrageous on so many levels.
Steve Clemons
Why did not the Democrats make sure that every American had seen this image of Bush during the 2004 election?
The Republicans made sure every American had seen pictures of Kerry with Jane Fonda.
They could have put it out in a 527 ad, like the Republicans did with the Swift Boat stuff. Somebody could have fed it to Jay Leno, who would have loved to use it.
Does anybody here know how to play this game?
I called my 86 year old Scicilian mom about the gesture. I seemed to remember it meaning: the hell with you, get outa here, you're dead to me, things that were not obscene.
She agreed with me and even remembered Sophia on the Golden Girls using that gesture (the one Steve M. described) often.
I'm sure Scalia will explain it as an innocuous meaning. I'm not sure why the reporter described it as obscene unless it's some other gesture but I can't think of what it might be.
Nino would be well advised to dial back on the drinky winkys.
There is no excuse for these jerks' loutish behavior. This is what we're stuck with, a bunch of aging white men, mostly, developing senile road rage. rEminds me of my father when he started losing it badly. next, any one these jerks will take a swing at someone deliberately. We should see if we can provoke them somehow.
Mister Go - that's exactly what I was asking myself when I came across this bird-flipping picture of Bush. I kept hoping it would break into the mainstream. That and so much more. Recently, there was Mary Carey's bit on Scarborough talking about the many drunk Republicans hitting on her all the time.
The hypocrisy of these moralizing assholes really needs more exposure. Thanks for doing your bit here, Steve.
"I'm not sure why the reporter described it as obscene unless it's some other gesture but I can't think of what it might be."
Scalia probably used the brush-the-fingers-out-from-under-chin gesture but it turned into a display of his middle finger. It was probably a combination of the Italian gesture and the American gesture -- as misinerpreted by the reporter, Scalia would claim.
AP inquired at the court:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SCALIA_GESTURE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
[snip]
"Untrue.
" 'It was a hand off the chin gesture that was meant to be dismissive,' " Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.
"Scalia, 70, is Italian and known for wisecracks in and out of court.
"The sign he used in Boston is frequently used by Italians to express displeasure with someone - from mild to deep irritation. It is done by cupping the hand under the chin and flicking the fingers like a backward wave."
This was not a 'wisecrack'. A wisecrack is what you and your buddy make when you're standing around being doofuses. This was a deliberate -- or uncontrolled -- reaction to critics' questioning of Scalia's judgements. Whether or not he thought much before indulging himself, the underlying attitude is one of arrogance and prerogative. Wisecracking involves give and take; Mr. Scalia is certain he is in the position of giving only and we just have to take it.
Can America and it's institutions look more stupid and hypocritical? Whats' next?
If this were the worst thing either one of them had done how happy we could be.
They hide the bodies of soldiers being brought home, they lie about almost everything, they declare themselves above the law. Their symbolic gestures are just a pictural method of conveying what THEY are--And these people are there to represent us?
As to why the dem did not make a point of this in the 04 cycle. Because the dems, of which I am part, suck at this thing called campaigning. Why didn't one Dem. Senator sign the resolution in 00 that various members of the house put forward to question the Flordia election results. Same answer as above.
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