What do John Roberts and Ben Bernanke have in common?

Their “simps” think they should have done better.  In their own, unconstrained models of the world, they each wish they could be doing better.  They each have refused to “do better” out of an understanding of limited institutional and moral capital.  They each are given relatively little epistemic deference by their critics on this point of omission.

They are each very smart men who were appointed by Republican Presidents.

There are some who understand Roberts but damn Bernanke for not “doing his job.”  I see fewer who understand Bernanke but damn Roberts for not “doing his job.”  You may think Bernanke has committed a worse sin of omission, or you may believe that BernankeApologetik is somehow a higher and more difficult art to master.