[RecallJeffords]

They don't carte abour personal embarrassment because that requires a sense of shame. They do, however, care about public ridicule because it affects prestige and ultimately their pocketbook. This is also why CFR is a joke. How can there be a presumption of corruption in publicly disclosed capmapaign contributions but not in paying spouses of legislators hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars. Real CFR would bar immediate family members from lobbying at the federal level. I guarantee you every bureacrat knows full well that they are dealing with the wife of the Senate Majority leader, and they know the price of not complying.

[sneakypete]

They do, however, care about public ridicule because it affects prestige and ultimately their pocketbook.

You're right,but it goes beyond that and is even more basic. We are talking about people with collossal egos,and "peasants" hating them,screaming at them,or even calling them names isn't even worth them noticing. The one thing they absolutely can't stand is to be laughed at,though. It has to do with power and egos. Peasants don't dare laugh at the powerful (in THEIR minds),so if they are getting laughed at,it means they are losing power.