Politian’s are the center of a special world that orbits them.
“Good morning, Senator. Here’s your coffee. I’ve put your agenda on the table. You have a meeting with the head of the United Labor Front at nine. Your notes on the last meeting are next to your schedule. Can I get anything for you?”
Someone lays out their clothes, folds their laundry, makes their meals and generally makes them feel important. You almost never see a politician retire because they are the job. As far as they are concerned, no one else can even do it. I’m reminded of Ruth Ginsberg who was asked when she’d retire. She snapped back, “And who would do my job?” I’d have said, anyone with a pulse. But she obviously thought, as do they all, that no one else was even marginally qualified.
USSC Justice is like the POTUS, no one is truly qualified until they are in the job.
And many of those who get the job are not really qualified when they leave the job, like the current POTUS.