General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Eleanor Clift: Will Obama Ever 'Fess Up to His Merrick Garland Mess? [View all]zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)It is the extension of a general criticism that was common for all 8 years. Obama insisted on trying to "work with the GOP" instead of choosing to confront them. The point of the article was that he chose Hatch over Grassley. The former was an attempt to work with the GOP leadership, the later would have been an attempt to create division and conflict within the GOP caucus. No Drama Obama chose cooperation over conflict and that was the point of the article.
I get the point, although I am dubious that in this instance it would have been successful. At the very least I'd a bet that Grassley would have been forced to accept a delay in the hearings until after the election, after which Trump probably would have effectively "canceled" the nomination and done what he did anyway. I am sympathetic to the criticism that his attempts to work with the GOP were misguided. Hillary tried to warn him during their primary that the GOP wasn't going to cooperate, but he wouldn't listen.