Take That!

By Julie Norwell

"That's Sicilian!" Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia explained, after making a rude hand gesture last week when asked what he'd say to critics who question his impartiality. Here's a look at four other memorable moments in the long, colorful history of the political insult.

EYES ON THE PRIZE King Agamemnon dissed Achilles by stealing his war prize, the beautiful woman Briseis. So the warrior laid down his sword, giving Troy a boost in its epic battle with the Greeks.

SHE SANK HIS BATTLESHIP Spain's Philip II didn't impress England's Elizabeth I, who said she couldn't "fear a man who took 10 years a-learning of his alphabet." Her ships humiliated his armada in 1588.

LADY'S MAN When Lady Nancy Astor--the first woman member of Britain's House of Commons--told Winston Churchill during a fierce debate, "If I were married to you, I'd put poison in your coffee." Churchill replied, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it."

VEEP'S VITRIOL In 2004, Vice President Dick Cheney told Senator Patrick Leahy to "go f___ yourself" after the Democrat criticized Halliburton, which Cheney once ran.