Do You Quarrel, Sir?

I don't know about you, but when I hear the back and forth about the Sicilian hand gesture Scalia made to a reporter the other day, I can't but think of a play:

Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sam. I do bite my thumb, sir.
Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sam. [Aside to Gre.] Is the law on our side, if I say ay?
Gre. No.
Sam. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.

Romeo and Juliet Act I: Scene I

I don't see why anyone is surprised about this. We've known for a long time that, whatever one thinks of his judicial philosphy, Scalia is a jerk. He relishes the role. And if you can't use life tenure to maybe-not-quite flip someone off inside a church, that what is it good for?