The Real Garland?

President Obama evidently thinks he has a nominee who is confirmable by a Republican Senate that soon after Antonin Scalia’s death made clear its intention to block anyone the president might nominate and thus let the voters decide in November who instead should select Scalia’s replacement.

Obama is in a difficult position. He has no constitutional authority to force the Senate to quit its no-consent-to-any-appointment position and get the Republicans to hold hearings and have votes, which they have said will not occur. Obama instead must try to persuade the dug-in Senate to change course.