The idea is that different branches of govt. have different systems of employment. Thus a better form of check and balance might be achieved. eg, US Congress is elected on a 2-year cycle whilst the Senate is 6 years. The idea behind a lifetime appointment is that it can remove a large incentive for party political bias. Many that would have been political lap dogs have found their teeth when freed from the election cycle. One only has to look to all the ex-Torys that have decried the present and former front bench from the Lords. Similarly, I seriously doubt if right-leaning SCOTUS members would have had the guts to rule against Trump's election bs if they had to face re-election. We know that the Senate and House sure didn't.

Getting caught in a cover up is never a good look, is it?

nothing remain hiding forever.....

Yup, he pulled the race card, called the questioning a "high-tech lynching." I thought at the time that the questioning was perfectly appropriate. Anita Hill was a very credible witness. In my opinion, Thomas's nomination should never have been confirmed.