Remember: the reason Garland got nominated for SCOTUS in the first place was that he was so conservative Obama figured Mitch McConnell couldn’t possibly object to him.
Merrick garland was actually recommended by one of the senate GOP members, Grassely, who headed up the senate judicial commitee. He said Garland would be “reasonable” choice that Obama would never nominate.
So Obama nominated him to make a point, and the Senate tsk tsked anyway and refused to fill the seat for the first time in its history.
Remember: the reason Garland got nominated for SCOTUS in the first place was that he was so conservative Obama figured Mitch McConnell couldn’t possibly object to him.
Merrick garland was actually recommended by one of the senate GOP members, Grassely, who headed up the senate judicial commitee. He said Garland would be “reasonable” choice that Obama would never nominate.
So Obama nominated him to make a point, and the Senate tsk tsked anyway and refused to fill the seat for the first time in its history.