Notes on Chapter 03

Somebody should write a "what if" history of America that begins with the Senate following the Advice and Consent process after President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.  Our history surely would have been quite different had that happened.  I think it is important to dwell on this particular egregious violation of the Constitution, rather than move on, because it seems so pivotal in retrospect.  As I noted in the chapter, it might have seemed more pivotal in the prospect if we got past reporting about polling that predicts the popular vote and instead focused on polling that predicts the vote in the Electoral College.  

This is also one that can't be pinned on Trump.  It was the Republicans in the Senate who did this on their own, without knowing yet who would be their candidate for President.  It may not be the "first cause" for all that ensued, but it surely was a very important one. 

I want to observe one other thing.  News about Trump seems to crowd out other news or past events of importance.  In that sense, Trump provided another service to the Republicans in Congress aside from his nominating very conservative people for judicial appointments.  He took the heat off Congress for their highly suspicious behavior.  Trump gets blamed for everything and his supporters in Congress get off scot-free. Providing that sort of cover must have emboldened his supporters even more.  This is not mentioned in the story, but it is something to keep in mind.