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quadruple-stuff. forgot about the conservative authoritarian layer.

Not that you couldn't potentially criminalize that (if it isn't already criminal), it's still a quid pro quo that's simple to explain.

I think the bribes are for three reasons in descending order of importance: 1) as you say, to keep him in luxury where he is so he doesn’t leave 2) a signal to other judges of the rewards available 3) a lever for just in case he ever thinks about deviating for a case or two.

Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch would all collect Hitler's paintings if their benefactor Harlan Crow hadn't already bought them. bsky.app/profile/rinc...

I don't actually think this is true. I think that he, like all people who manage cognitive dissonance badly, will adjust his "true beliefs" based on his material situation.

For now.

And give the would be bribers surety because he is a true believer and doesn't have to work to hard to do what they want done. He can just do it! He should be impeached.

As the son of a law professor, can confirm; prestige and accolades matter HUGELY in this space

I swear if we invented a Penfield Mood Organ that makes them feel that all the time we could defang the world destroyers

🎯🎯🎯

Alito’s former clerks don’t feel peer pressure from Sotomayor’s former clerks the way a former Burger clerk would have from a former Brennan clerk

Upholding the hierarchy gets them a seat with the rest of the top of the ladder. Which becomes self reinforcing.

Wait until Clarence passes and see what happens to Ginny’s social calendar.

It's school lunchroom dynamics. The rich kids made a nerd feel cool and important and then that nerd will do anything for them.

You know who else is seeking glory in the eyes of this group? > Bill Barr You know who else? > Don McGahn You know who else? > John Eastman You know who else? > John Durham You know what's not a coincidence? ☝️ All of the above

yeah, the entire Federalist Society project exists to provide a comfortable cocoon within which these people will be feted for their loyalty and rewarded for it both materially and socially they have no interest in one of their nominees ever pulling a Souter again

bsky.app/profile/dmrm...

Don't forget sex pest. His status protects his behavior

It's a corollary of the revolving door- sometimes people are so good in political power that interest groups will pay to keep them their rather than leverage things as a lobbyist. Especially because there's no democratic accountability and they serve for life, judges are worth their weight in gold.

Do what you love for your job and you never work another day in your life.