@pbump Very true. Slate's Dahlia Lithwick was on NPR earlier this afternoon and made a similar point regarding today's #JudiciaryEthics hearing: There's partisan disagreement and then there's actual ethical issues. She said they were being conflated, but didn't say that it was Republicans like Cruz and Kennedy doing the conflating.

On NPR, Dahlia Lithwick is saying that political questions are being conflated with ethical questions. She is right, but in this hearing, Dems are trying to maintain that distinction. Republicans like Cruz and Kennedy are the ones doing the conflating. #JudiciaryEthics

Republicans insisting that justices aren't actually on the take, ignoring the fact that even *appearances* of conflict of interest are a serious problem, as the Court itself said in Buckley v. Valeo (1976). #JudiciaryEthics

Republicans are whining that Dems are using appropriations to force SCOTUS to adopt a code of ethics. Gawd, these hearings are worthless. All the Republicans do is spout bullshit. #JudiciaryEthics

Sen. Horono asks one of the witnesses, "Shouldn't the court be bound by the same standards that applies to all other judges?" Adds, "The highest court in the land needs to be holding itself to the highest ethical standards, and it is so clear that that is not happening today. ... Frankly, I can see why the public has such questions about the ethics of the Supreme Court." #JudiciaryEthics

Cruz says Democrats are entitled to disagree on the law ... which, of course, is exactly what they're doing. #JudiciaryEthics

Cruz calls the hearing a "kangaroo circus," says "the Left is willing to threaten the justices' lives." Sure, Ted, you lying sack of shit. #JudiciaryEthics

Cruz: "This is a political attack directed at a justice (liberals) hate." Sure it is, Ted. People are pissed at Alito and Roberts (and Thomas's wife and Roberts's wife). But for God's sake don't include THAT essential context. #JudiciaryEthics

Ted Cruz: "This is not about judicial ethics. ... This is about applying an attack to Clarence Thomas and only Clarence Thomas." Fuck off, Ted. Thomas took hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of trips and hospitality AND DIDN'T REPORT THEM. #JudiciaryEthics

Sen. Blumenthal calls on federal judges who think SCOTUS justices have created actual conflicts of interest or appearance problems to stand up and speak out. #JudiciaryEthics

Sen. John Kennedy of LA is pissed that witness Kedrick Payne RTed that some justices are for sale. Payne mumbles and stutters. What he should have said was, "Yes -- Thomas, Roberts, and Alito. And the question isn't why I said it. The question, Senator, is: Why aren't you saying it, too?" #JudiciaryEthics

Senate Dems, left wing advocates "never tell the complete story about this," Lee says. "... their true purpose ... is not to tell the truth but to punish their political enemies." Even if that were true, it'd be rich coming from a Republican. #EveryAccusationIsAConfession #JudiciaryEthics

*makes wanking motion in Sen. Mike Lee's general direction*

Dear God. Joseph Goebbels would have been proud. #JudiciaryEthics

Sen. Mike Lee says "the left" is questioning Thomas's ethics because he's "a black man who happens to be conservative." Which tells you more than he probably intended about Republican ethics. #JudiciaryEthics

Sen. Cornyn plays video of Clarence Thomas's "high-tech lynching" speech from Thomas's confirmation hearing. Cornyn's not very bright: That speech was awful at the time and has only gotten worse with age. #JudiciaryEthics