Being less known can be a good thing. It gives the Dems less ammunition from his cases and rulings to use against him.
I recall many Republicans saying that if Hillary was elected they wanted Obama's choice, because he was a moderate. They feared who she would pick. Not sure why you feel it is necessary to call him a Goof, you lose my interest when you resort to name calling. What about him do you not like? If you can give me some facts instead of name calling I will be more than willing to listen.
On a strictly left-right scale Garland would have probably been close to Bryer, arguably the least liberal justice on the left (except for Kennedy who seems to be a switch hitter). However he has shown very little of his personal politics in his opinions, something that would indicate that he may be closer to originalism than activist. The BS about his second amendment stance is just BS. He has never ruled on a 2A case, and his only dealing with it was to recommend hearing Parker en banc. That is hardly an anti 2A stance. He has been a friend of individual liberty, siding with the SC on Citizens United in a follow up decision. In short, when you have the most liberal President in history making a pick, and the second most liberal looking to take over the oval office, you could do a whole lot, I mean a WHOLE LOT worse than Merrick Garland.
The Colorado native attended Harvard Law with former President Barack Obama
Well all nine are either Harvard or Yale. He can join Roberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Kagen, and Ginsberg.
It sounds like they were there at the same time. That is what made me giggle.
(Doesn't matter who it is or what ammunition they do or do not have.)