Roe v Wade has guaranteed the right to an abortion for almost 50 years. The decision by the conservative-majority Supreme Court paves the way to about half of the 50 US states banning or heavily restricting the procedure.
Well for one thing, there were a significant number of legal experts at the time who argued that the Senate refusing to hold a vote was essentially tantamount to assenting to whoever the President picked. So Obama could have used that, either by just appointing someone or by using the threat of it to get them to at least hold a vote
How did Obama give up an appointment?
By not fighting back in any way when McConnell refused to hold a vote on the seat that became vacant when Scalia ate shit
What would fighting back have entailed in this case?
Well for one thing, there were a significant number of legal experts at the time who argued that the Senate refusing to hold a vote was essentially tantamount to assenting to whoever the President picked. So Obama could have used that, either by just appointing someone or by using the threat of it to get them to at least hold a vote