Obviously I am not in the know but looks to me like he is keeping a campaign promise, clearly an impeachable offense. Also, him ignoring the precedent of the home state senator giving assent tells me he is not trying to pick out leftist pleasing moderates.
And just maybe Trump's huge negatives lose him the general election. But I bet the senate gets redder on angry voter turnout. And them a D president will have their picks blocked. No sense a R senate playing nice and confirming picks, not ever since we went to Harry Reid Thunderdome rules right? May be why this doesn't get talked about, they don't want to admit how royally screwed Reid made them. That's the guy who restored a conservative judiciary, not Trump. Because chances are 26 states will be red flyover s-holes with two red senators for a long time. And the House will be a blue rabble and much to the delight of all of us whos in whoville nothing will get done in DC.