It's even worse for observers who don't have a handle on what is going down. There is a big payoff in this one. It is being well played. I too wish it had been played earlier, but it wasn't.
Explain
People who observe a process, but don't understand the process, can be unnecessarily unnerved by what is going on. They sometimes become impatient at inappropriate times. E.g., go to the doctor with a gut pain, and object because you haven't been cut open yet (when you assume you have cancer or appendecitis, but really have the flu).
In the case of confirming judicial nominees, there is much to be gained by breaking the tactic of stomewalling nominees on a Senate-erected supermajority rule. The payoff accrues to the people, as the government more closely adheres to the Constitution.
I think Frist and the GOP are approaching the breaking of the DEM tactic in a thoughtful and wise way.
I wish Frist and the GOP had broken the DEM tactic before now. I'm as impatient as anybody. But I can't always get what I want, so I live with it.