English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature

I need to find a good insulting term to describe a category of second-rate busybodies who mess up the good work of good men.

I'm actually translating a Chinese term - the "inferior men" referred to by Confucius - but I thought I'd ask here as well for more inspiration.

I'm thinking about using weasels; or perhaps mediocrities.

Here are some quotes from the book I'm doing, describing these people: "They who mixed fine words and sycophancy with snarling defensiveness, until you could no longer discern if they were friend or enemy...As to their moral character, it is hard to say with any certainty whether they are good or bad. But we can easily see what their behavior has done to our history. Iconic figures were made soft, fatigued, enervated. Simple undertakings became fraught with confusion, ambiguity and muck. Tension and fear crept into relationships, and great causes seemed dim, unfocused, even absurd."

Just to give you an idea of the sort of thing I'm after, I've been searching writing about Ayn Rand - these weasels are definitely the kind of people who get in the way of Rand's heroes. And I've been looking at Iago - the inferior man who brings down his much greater friend.

Please, help me with a fun brainstorm: hit me with your best insults!