Well, according to the dictionary, "whine" is a verb that means:
1. To utter a plaintive, high-pitched, protracted sound, as in pain, fear, supplication, or complaint. 2. To complain or protest in a childish fashion. 3. To produce a sustained noise of relatively high pitch: jet engines whining.
Since both #1 and #3 involve sounds, not usually available in this text-based medium, I assume that we are being chastised for using #2, complaining in a childish fashion.
I have seen many cogent arguments today castigating the President for his choice of Harriet Miers. The analysis by methadras was one of the most coherent and well-written of these (Kudos to you, methadras) and, while criticism does involve an element of complaining, it was clearly not done in a childish fasion.
Dialogue and disagreement are staples of lively discourse, and telling those who disagree with you to "stop the whining" is tantamount to Archie Bunker telling Edith to "stifle." And about as intelligent. Yes, threatening to run off and join some third party or to move on over to moveon.org is childish and whining. But reasoned analysis backed by facts is not. It's the reason we are here.
i've never said anything about me whining about the presidents choice of associate justice... he's already made his choice and now it is up to US, the people to either support or not support that decision and in like fashion, the senate is there to advise and consent...
i simply don't support his decision for harriet miers, that's my choice, i may be proven wrong, but i don't like the obstacle course that her nomination has put up to get her there and then to wait, with possible hand wringing that she is indeed a conservative rising from her stealth nomination...