Alito displayed a “stop the steal” symbol at his home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I commend Alito for taking the opportunity to teach the liberals who think history started when they were born a little about the history of this country.

The idea that he would fly a flag designed and used during the American Revolution helps our youth learn what they failed to learn in school.

In a letter dated October 20, 1775,[1][2] General Washington's secretary, Colonel Joseph Reed, suggested a "flag with a white ground and a tree in the middle, the motto AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN" be used for the ships Washington commissioned.[5] Two heavily armed American scows, or "floating batteries," launched on the Charles River in September 1775 had used the Pine Tree flag as an ensign; in his letter, Reed described the banner he proposed as "the flag of our floating batteries."[2][1] The six schooners commissioned by Congress beginning in October 1775 to intercept British ships entering Boston—the USS Hancock, Lee, Franklin, Harrison, Lynch, and Warren—used the Pine Tree flag.[2][1]
The following year, on April 29, 1776,[2][1] the Massachusetts Council established the flag of the state navy with a resolution stating: "...that the Colours be a white Flag, with a green Pine Tree, and the Inscription, 'An Appeal to Heaven'."[1][5][2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Tree_Flag

The far right has been doing a lot of misappropriating of patriotic symbols - this one as one example, the Gadsden "Don't Tread On Me" flag as another - that one is particularly ironic as it was based on Benjamin Franklin's woodcut of a snake cut into 13 pieces, with the caption, "Join, or Die" calling for the need for a strong federal union. The exact opposite of the "shrink federal government down to nothing" loose bond and states' rights and sovereignty that the far right wants. That, and it was also first flown by the newly incorporated US Marines, which again is the opposite of state guards and the local militias that the far right loves.

The far Left has done its share of co-opting historical symbols as well, including flags. Look into the origins of the rainbow flag, which didn't become an LGBTQ symbol until 1978.

And yet it's a symbol of love. Not hate. Wonderful.

Depends on who you ask. For some it has become a symbol of an overly-aggressive political agenda.

Because they hate the love between two people of the same sex. Wow.

[Anonymous]

I really wonder sometimes why we Americans feel the need to advertise our specific political views so publicly in the form of the types of flags discussed on this thread, bumper stickers, T-shirts, hats, etc. Why do some people insist on putting it all out there for everyone to see? As someone who grew up abroad, I find it very odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the Pine Tree flag bad when BLM displayed it, or nah?

Ordinary private citizens aren’t held to judicial standards. There’s no requirement for construction workers or bus drivers or waitresses to be apolitical or to avoid the mere appearance of impropriety.

Isn't Alito's wife one of those private citizens?

Because she’s married to a Supreme Court justice, her house is also his house. Her income is also his income and must be reported. She’s not quite a private citizen, but not entirely bound by judicial standards. Fair or not, her activities can cast the appearance of impropriety on him.

You're nutz. She can do as she damn well pleases. She is a PRIVATE CITIZEN.

There is no nuance, regardless of how you would like to project your tyrannical wishes.

This is cut and dry. Got it? CUT AND DRY.

When she made a political statement at her residence, she was also making a political statement at a SUPREME COURT JUSTICE’S RESIDENCE. She did this at Justice Alito’s house. She had HIM living under that flag. The flags flown at HIS home reflect on HIM. She’s free to do whatever she wants, and OTHER PEOPLE ARE FREE TO CRITICIZE THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY ON JUSTICE ALITO’S PART.

DP. Just because you think it creates an appearance of impropriety on the part of Justice Alito, doesn't mean that he must recuse himself. This is why there are objective rules in place to avoid subjective judgments. First, you're assuming her actions can and should be imputed to him. Strike one. Second, you're assuming she made a political statement. Strike two. Three, you're assuming that her political statement was supporting an "insurrection" or other inappropriate activity. You're out.

Also, let us know if you're willing to apply your "rules" to Democratic politicians, appointees, and judges. Please tell us what those rules are and what the objective criteria are for following them.

You are so ignorant, you don’t know how ignorant you are.

Yes, all feds have a ton of rules and expectations of professional conduct that mechanics, entrepreneurs, and construction workers don’t have to think about.

You don’t understand government and assume every fed is political when it’s actually quite the opposite. Being APOLITICAL (look it up) is an important part of A LOT of fed jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really wonder sometimes why we Americans feel the need to advertise our specific political views so publicly in the form of the types of flags discussed on this thread, bumper stickers, T-shirts, hats, etc. Why do some people insist on putting it all out there for everyone to see? As someone who grew up abroad, I find it very odd.

Cable news created a sports team concept to politics. It’s awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the Pine Tree flag bad when BLM displayed it, or nah?

Ordinary private citizens aren’t held to judicial standards. There’s no requirement for construction workers or bus drivers or waitresses to be apolitical or to avoid the mere appearance of impropriety.

Isn't Alito's wife one of those private citizens?

Because she’s married to a Supreme Court justice, her house is also his house. Her income is also his income and must be reported. She’s not quite a private citizen, but not entirely bound by judicial standards. Fair or not, her activities can cast the appearance of impropriety on him.

You're nutz. She can do as she damn well pleases. She is a PRIVATE CITIZEN.

There is no nuance, regardless of how you would like to project your tyrannical wishes.

This is cut and dry. Got it? CUT AND DRY.

When she made a political statement at her residence, she was also making a political statement at a SUPREME COURT JUSTICE’S RESIDENCE. She did this at Justice Alito’s house. She had HIM living under that flag. The flags flown at HIS home reflect on HIM. She’s free to do whatever she wants, and OTHER PEOPLE ARE FREE TO CRITICIZE THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY ON JUSTICE ALITO’S PART.

DP. Just because you think it creates an appearance of impropriety on the part of Justice Alito, doesn't mean that he must recuse himself. This is why there are objective rules in place to avoid subjective judgments. First, you're assuming her actions can and should be imputed to him. Strike one. Second, you're assuming she made a political statement. Strike two. Three, you're assuming that her political statement was supporting an "insurrection" or other inappropriate activity. You're out.

Also, let us know if you're willing to apply your "rules" to Democratic politicians, appointees, and judges. Please tell us what those rules are and what the objective criteria are for following them.

Every one of the "strikes" is wrong. Are you that committed to "owning the libs" to outwardly support traitorous behavior like this? How are you going to look back on this period of your life (or will you move the goalposts on what your real position was)?

[Anonymous]

Mrs Alito is clearly mentally jll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mrs Alito is clearly mentally jll.

If you consider extreme partisanship a mental illness, perhaps. But I would say Ginni Thomas is way worse. She's not just open about her political biases, she actively works to promote her beliefs (election denier, Jan. 6 supporter).

PS. I'm pretty sure Mrs Alito did not hoist up that flag at two houses all alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mrs Alito is clearly mentally jll.

I don’t think her flag stunt indicates mental illness. I think she was angry enough to spit nails, but couldn’t bring herself to use the same kind of profanities as her neighbor, so she tried to think of a way to flip them the bird without actually flipping them the bird. This was meant to rile them up — which it only did because she did it at a Supreme Court justice’s home. If she and her husband were just your average neighbors, this wouldn’t be newsworthy. She asked for this kind of attention, so I don’t mind giving it to her and her husband.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mrs Alito is clearly mentally jll.

If you consider extreme partisanship a mental illness, perhaps. But I would say Ginni Thomas is way worse. She's not just open about her political biases, she actively works to promote her beliefs (election denier, Jan. 6 supporter).

PS. I'm pretty sure Mrs Alito did not hoist up that flag at two houses all alone.

Ginni Thomas is clearly more extreme, more political, and has less of a grip on reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the Pine Tree flag bad when BLM displayed it, or nah?

Ordinary private citizens aren’t held to judicial standards. There’s no requirement for construction workers or bus drivers or waitresses to be apolitical or to avoid the mere appearance of impropriety.

Isn't Alito's wife one of those private citizens?

Because she’s married to a Supreme Court justice, her house is also his house. Her income is also his income and must be reported. She’s not quite a private citizen, but not entirely bound by judicial standards. Fair or not, her activities can cast the appearance of impropriety on him.

You're nutz. She can do as she damn well pleases. She is a PRIVATE CITIZEN.

There is no nuance, regardless of how you would like to project your tyrannical wishes.

This is cut and dry. Got it? CUT AND DRY.

When she made a political statement at her residence, she was also making a political statement at a SUPREME COURT JUSTICE’S RESIDENCE. She did this at Justice Alito’s house. She had HIM living under that flag. The flags flown at HIS home reflect on HIM. She’s free to do whatever she wants, and OTHER PEOPLE ARE FREE TO CRITICIZE THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY ON JUSTICE ALITO’S PART.

DP. Just because you think it creates an appearance of impropriety on the part of Justice Alito, doesn't mean that he must recuse himself. This is why there are objective rules in place to avoid subjective judgments. First, you're assuming her actions can and should be imputed to him. Strike one. Second, you're assuming she made a political statement. Strike two. Three, you're assuming that her political statement was supporting an "insurrection" or other inappropriate activity. You're out.

Also, let us know if you're willing to apply your "rules" to Democratic politicians, appointees, and judges. Please tell us what those rules are and what the objective criteria are for following them.

It’s laughable to claim Mrs. Alito wasn’t making a political statement. She didn’t fly the flag upside down by accident and she wasn’t signaling that she needed to be rescued. She was sending a message in response to a conflict over a political yard sign because she felt she’d been treated very badly. It was an odd, ham fisted gesture. I’m not one of the posters calling on Justice Alito to recuse himself over the flag multiple issues. I do, however, think that it’s appropriate to report on this kind of incident, and to ask Justice Alito about it. I don’t want his head on a pike, but he should be asked to explain public displays at his home. Someone on Justice Alito’s staff should refresh Mrs. Alito’s instruction on maintaining judicial propriety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really wonder sometimes why we Americans feel the need to advertise our specific political views so publicly in the form of the types of flags discussed on this thread, bumper stickers, T-shirts, hats, etc. Why do some people insist on putting it all out there for everyone to see? As someone who grew up abroad, I find it very odd.

Cable news created a sports team concept to politics. It’s awful.

+100

[Anonymous]

What the heck is Stop the Steal?

Don’t tell me Trump has already said if he loses, it’s stolen.

This is exactly what led to January 6th.

[Anonymous]

Aren’t SC judges supposed to stay neutral? How is this appropriate that a judge is encouraging resistance to a democratic election’s results?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t SC judges supposed to stay neutral? How is this appropriate that a judge is encouraging resistance to a democratic election’s results?

Exactly. It’s not hard to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the Pine Tree flag bad when BLM displayed it, or nah?

Ordinary private citizens aren’t held to judicial standards. There’s no requirement for construction workers or bus drivers or waitresses to be apolitical or to avoid the mere appearance of impropriety.

Isn't Alito's wife one of those private citizens?

Because she’s married to a Supreme Court justice, her house is also his house. Her income is also his income and must be reported. She’s not quite a private citizen, but not entirely bound by judicial standards. Fair or not, her activities can cast the appearance of impropriety on him.

You're nutz. She can do as she damn well pleases. She is a PRIVATE CITIZEN.

There is no nuance, regardless of how you would like to project your tyrannical wishes.

This is cut and dry. Got it? CUT AND DRY.

When she made a political statement at her residence, she was also making a political statement at a SUPREME COURT JUSTICE’S RESIDENCE. She did this at Justice Alito’s house. She had HIM living under that flag. The flags flown at HIS home reflect on HIM. She’s free to do whatever she wants, and OTHER PEOPLE ARE FREE TO CRITICIZE THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY ON JUSTICE ALITO’S PART.

DP. Just because you think it creates an appearance of impropriety on the part of Justice Alito, doesn't mean that he must recuse himself. This is why there are objective rules in place to avoid subjective judgments. First, you're assuming her actions can and should be imputed to him. Strike one. Second, you're assuming she made a political statement. Strike two. Three, you're assuming that her political statement was supporting an "insurrection" or other inappropriate activity. You're out.

Also, let us know if you're willing to apply your "rules" to Democratic politicians, appointees, and judges. Please tell us what those rules are and what the objective criteria are for following them.

It’s laughable to claim Mrs. Alito wasn’t making a political statement. She didn’t fly the flag upside down by accident and she wasn’t signaling that she needed to be rescued. She was sending a message in response to a conflict over a political yard sign because she felt she’d been treated very badly. It was an odd, ham fisted gesture. I’m not one of the posters calling on Justice Alito to recuse himself over the flag multiple issues. I do, however, think that it’s appropriate to report on this kind of incident, and to ask Justice Alito about it. I don’t want his head on a pike, but he should be asked to explain public displays at his home. Someone on Justice Alito’s staff should refresh Mrs. Alito’s instruction on maintaining judicial propriety.

I'm the DP you were responding to. I think we're going to disagree as to whether or not she was making a "political" statement, which assumes she was trying to send a message to more than just her annoying neighbor. Rather, it was as you point out a rather hamfisted way of responding to the neigbor (some would say petty, but perhaps there is more to this neighborhood spat than we all know). I think it's good odds that Justice Alito had a conversation with his wife about the situation and that was the end of it. This has nothing to do with judicial propriety, since she's not the sitting justice nor are her actions subject to the Court's ethical rules. The press certainly has a right to ask Justice Alito about it (and he has the right to say that he had a conversation with his wife), but the WaPo though the entire story was a nothingburger.