For a long time, Senate approval was a rubber stamp. As the ability to legislate in Congress declined, Supreme Court nominees became a battle ground (see also “Robert Bork”). It would have been good to see him lobby not that he is able to get Merrick Garland, but that the process had been inappropriately politicized. That would have been a rebuke to both sides and maybe even a call for cooler heads to prevail. Just my $.02