Democrats and Liberals are beside themselves, again, with the Kennedy retirement and the fact that Trump is getting another Supreme Court Justice pick. Rabbit, your suggestion about waiting until the mid-term election isn't a valid one as the actual reason for delaying a choice from 2015 was only because it was a Presidential election year. Your point would only be valid if it were 2019 and then it would be a similar situation.
The point was to allow the next (new) President the opportunity to make a pick and at the time that decision was made all signs and polls pointed to a Hillary Clinton victory so McConnell was, at the time, reserving the choice for Hillary to make rather than Obama. True there was always the chance Donald Trump could be elected (and I'm sure that was the hope) but Hillary also stood just as good, if not better chance. Actually, you can thank your own party (the Democrats) and Obama for that happening because it was their Obamacare (Democratic un-affordable health care bill) and decisions that cost the Democrats control of Congress that gave McConnell and the Republicans the ability to do what they did.
The President makes the selection and then it is confirmed by the Senate and thanks to Democratic (former) leader, Harry Reid, Republicans stand a much better chance of confirming whoever Trump chooses since Harry Reid eliminated the filibuster rule for Supreme Court picks. Proof positive of what goes around comes around (to bite you) at times.
If Trump does end up winning in 2020 or if the Republicans (a Conservative) wins in 2020 then there will possibly be another one or two retirements or openings due to death given the age of the Justices.
This is just one more thing that will further unhinge the radical left and those with Trump derangement syndrome and yet one more chance for Trump to stamp his imprint on the future. One more reason for Hillary to lament losing the election as she blames anything, everything, and everyone but herself for the 2016 loss. One wonders if she actually still believes she has a chance in 2020? You just know that Joe Biden looks in the mirror every morning/day and has regrets over decisions he made in 2015 and dreams of what might be in 2020. By that time they'll have to prop up ole Hillary, like a scarecrow, if she decides to actually run. This time around though I doubt Hillary will get a free pass to run without any competition, other than Bernie who may try and test the waters again but this time around because he's an Independent I don't think the Democrats are going to let him spoil their party.
So let's see what 2020 may look like Trump vs. Elizabeth Warren or Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton. One thing is for sure and that is that the Democrats are going to have to wish and clammer for a failing economy to somehow manifest itself to have any chance because right now Trump is on a roll even though the Republican Congress is so ineffectual at anything they try to do.
Regarding Trump and his accomplishments compare (Economy wise) what Trump has accomplished in 1 1/2 years to what Obama got accomplished (or didn't) in 8 years. That's the difference between a CEO/businessman President and a Politician (community organizer) President. One talks a game while the other does. Although not covered by the Mainstream news (propaganda) outlets Trump works continuously with very little recreational time while Obama worked very little with huge amounts of recreational time. Obama was never qualified for the job he was graciously given, by the American voters where Trump was totally qualified and equipped to handle the position and job of President having the private industry experience that he had from the many years in Real Estate and in Construction. Obama could make a good speech, from a teleprompter, and was great at apologies but totally ineffectual (as Congress is/was) at leadership and getting things done.