Anyone who sat through the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch came away with a distinct impression that, as far as Mr. Justice Gorsuch was concerned, there were two species of American citizen: Himself, and those who were stuck to his shoe on a hot summer’s day. Rare indeed is the nominee who goes out of his way to be as unlikeable as Gorsuch was.

Now, though, as The Washington Post reports, we discover that, during the process, the nominee alienated even the guy who nominated him.

Trump, according to several people with knowledge of the discussions, was upset that Gorsuch had pointedly distanced himself from the president in a private February meeting with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), telling the senator he found Trump’s repeated attacks on the federal judiciary “disheartening” and “demoralizing.” The president worried that Gorsuch would not be “loyal,” one of the people said, and told aides that he was tempted to pull Gorsuch’s nomination — and that he knew plenty of other judges who would want the job.

Plainly, it was time for White House incompetence and Gorsuch lickspittling to take a hand. From the Post, via The Hill:

Trump was also reportedly concerned that Gorsuch wasn’t grateful enough to him for the nomination. But his fears were assuaged after White House legislative affairs director Marc Short found a personal note Gorsuch had written to Trump but that Trump hadn’t received. “Your address to Congress was magnificent. And you were so kind to recognize Mrs. Scalia, remember the justice, and mention me,” the letter read, according to The Post. “My teenage daughters were cheering the TV!”

Gorsuch writes a suck-up note. The White House staff somehow misplaces the note. The president* throws a nutty over Gorsuch’s towering ingratitude. Someone finds the note and the president* is mollified. The entire United States government needs a damn nap.

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Charles P. Pierce Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976.

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