"You may want this fight, but NE republicans will not go along. What do you suggest?"
Fight anyway. Fight hard, never surrender. Oppose the northeasterners in the next primary, get a real Senate majority leader and never let them have any pork, do whatever it takes.
There has not been an opportunity like this in American domestic politics (ie, to switch a moderate vote to a conservative one on SCOTUS) for some 15 years.
If we don't fight now, what with 55 senators, then we never will.
Don't forget...Reagan nominated Bork when he had less than 50. He lost. But at least he didn't freaking trot out the white flag before some fur flew.
"Fight anyway. Fight hard, never surrender. Oppose the northeasterners in the next primary"
I'm talking about now. What would you do?