Justice Samuel Alito sought to head off mounting criticism Friday over a report that an inverted American flag was flown at his house in January 2021, telling Fox News that his wife hoisted the symbol of discontent in response to profane signs in the neighborhood.
Bringing your wife (or for some reason your neighbor apparently) into it is going to be good for no one
I have no idea whether Alito actually wants to overthrow our democracy and affirmatively decided to promote a symbol of his desire to do so. But I just know tactically that unless the explanation is simple and straightforward, which in this case it isn't, him trying to explain any of the details is a mistake
(Side note: I absolutely love that the US still is set up so that even if your neighbor is a Supreme Court justice you can walk over and call them a cunt and it's okay. Rand Paul's neighbor punched him in the face and apparently that was okay, too. You don't have to treat them special just because they've got this special job. I'm not kidding; I think that's awesome.)
Edit: I am wrong, Rand Paul's neighbor got a felony and is facing maybe 10 years. I'm assuming that calling Alito a cunt was still allowed.
I love that some of these politicians are assholes on a personal level about things like the leaves on the street or whatever the Rand Paul issue was, and that their neighbors feel empowered to deal with it on a purely interpersonal level. I'm not kidding. I can't stop talking about how much I like that the political system in the US is that way.
I think -- I'm being dead serious -- that in the vast majority of countries, if you punched a politician for a reason of pure interpersonal conflict and nothing related to politics, the police and courts would make it a huge deal, because that is a special type of person you're supposed to honor the better-than-you-ness of.
Edit: I am wrong, dude got a felony and is facing maybe 10 years
You're right. People who come to the US are sometimes shocked to learn you can say mean things about the President and nobody cares.
Not everybody thinks that way. Nixon, Trump, and any number of wannabe tyrants have sought revenge on a number of people who wouldn't put up with their crap.
Rene Boucher, 58, was charged on Friday with assaulting a member of Congress, a felony, months after his sneak attack on Sen. Rand Paul in November, according to officials.
"Assaulting a member of Congress is an offense we take very seriously," said Josh Minkler, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. "Those who choose to commit such an act will be held accountable."
Officials said Boucher signed a plea agreement, but no date or sentencing has been set. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.