My point is more that I got what Stewart was espousing and prefer Dems to forego the ideal of a cooperative government mindset and go to adopting more of a competitive, corporate mindset which is what Stewart was presenting as a method to more effectively fight back and actually get the shit done that we say we want to accomplish.
Garland was just one of the examples of how that traditional norm mindset beat us that he used which goes like this:
1. Scalia dies in early Feb 2016.
2. Obama nominates Garland
3. McConnell says he won't allow him to go through the nomination process.
4. Dems cry and scream that violates norms, traditions and ettique.
5. Dems/Obama let McConnell accomplish that and end up giving the seat away.
In an alternate timeline it starts the same way then.
4. Dems whine about it and Obama figures out a way/loophole to appoint Garland (maybe use that Gaetz Recess loophole that was suggested to avoid the Senate approval rule)
5. After Trump wins, Pubs impeach Garland and have him removed.
6. Ginsberg dies and McConnell rushes Barrett through.
7. Biden than impeaches Barrett like you did Garland and fills the position. Maybe have an approval ceremony again since I think the Dems had the Senate.
So yeah, Obama being a pussy to go against the historical norm really cost that seat to this day.
The other example used was Biden and the immigration swelling. Biden supposedly strongly believed that it needs to be a bipartisan legislative solution. I actually don't disagree with that and wish it could be true but no, and when that failed, Biden was too much of a pussy to get aggressive with mandates and basically shrugged his shoulders saying 'It failed in congress, so I can't do anything'.
Had he gotten aggressive he could have possibly better nipped it while also aggressively eviscerating congress for their incompetence, particularly Republican senators possibly being a much better campaign message than what he had.
That's a much easier political narrative to push than 'there's nothing I can do and I might upset some libs if my mandates are too aggressive'.
Short story long, I just hope the Dems move more in a corporate competitive mindset than holding on to any belief in long standing political traditions.
Don't be afraid to say 'f#$k traditional norms and ettique. Just get the shit we want done even if it might need creative political/corporate strategies'.
This pardon feels like it might be a move into that mindset. Now we'll see if the new administration will let it stand or figure out a way to override presidential pardons (which wouldn't surprise me one bit).
It's a long, 20 minute watch but he gets into the core around the 12 min point. He does make fun and rip on Dems til then, particularly does a really good impression of Schumer but again the core message starts around the 13 minute mark if you're bored.