I live in D.C. I am not naive. But this circus has not had a master since Reagan left office. McConnell’s cooperation is what was bought with his wife’s nomination to Transportation.
I am not cynical like you are. I believe Chao's nomination to be Transportation secretary was because she was the best among the candidates and is definitely conservative. But if that is why Trump picked her, McConnell still has to abide by the rules of the senate regardless of what you think about it. There can be 30 hours of hearings for each nominee and the dems have said they will have the 30 hours of hearing. Sometimes things are black and white and should be easy to understand. Trump has no say in how the Senate conducts its business. He can persuade - he can ask for deference - he can ask the dems to bypass the 30 hours of hearings, but he can't make them do it and they will do it.