The minority party is always for “bipartisan solutions” if they actually want to pass legislation because they have no choice.
McConnell’s biggest influence wasn’t when he was minority leader (“Obamacare” passed while he was in the minority, for example), but when he was majority leader. He didn’t even bring Garland up for a vote in the senate because he knew the senators weren’t going to vote lock-step on party lines, and he didn’t have enough votes to guarantee defeat. He had nothing to lose by delaying. Same with all of the other federal judicial positions.
I suppose there is a little to be gained as the minority party in not going for bi-partisanship. Going back to the ACA, Republicans in the House were offered committee positions to help shape the act; they refused, allowing them to scream to their followers “Look what the Demoncrats foisted upon us!”, and when they did get back into the majority, chip away at the less popular parts of the act and be able to claim “We fixed it!”
II recall it being called Ronald Reagan’s rule “Never say anything bad about a Republican” (or close to that). This has mostly been adhered to. Trump has flaunted it but he’s not really a Republican - just elected as one. Also the current Republicans know better than to say anything even slightly critical of Trump. Mitt Romney (voted Yea on impeachment!) ought to think twice if he’s invited to any of Trump’s towers as his (Trump) shadow advisor Musk will have reminded him how Putin handles miscreants.
Yet a lot of credit has to go to Karl Rove, not so much what he did for W but his endeavours to win the state legislatures. He didn’t need to resort to McConnell tactics. Now look, who has the most governors (and majority state legislatures), Dems or Repubs? And if there was an electoral tie (almost was right?) the Republicans win if we’re still using the Constitution as the basis of government in 2028.
The concept is “don’t punch right”. i.e never criticize someone to the right of you, even if they are doing or saying abhorrent shit. That way the Overton window always moves to the right.
Which is why republicans constantly demand that democrats disavow their left flank but republicans never disavow their right flank. It keeps the overton window moving right.