They were never in a position to block. LOL.
I think they referring to a filibuster, even though it's null and void and not participating in the roll call vote, that's their means of blockage
But, again, they could of tied up Senate during confirmation of Garland
If Dems universally didn't show up to the roll call vote (a highly unlikely scenario), McConnell would simply force all Republicans to show up (yep, they'd drag in McCain on his hospital bed or whatever), and confirm the nominee. All you need for a quorum to hold a vote is 51 Senators.
Something like that happened on House of Cards except they had the Sargent at Arms arrest the opposing politicians and compel attendance.
I was thinking more about when Byrd did it in ~87 or so. The story’s pretty funny.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1988/02/25/midnight-manhunt-in-the-senate/a2d08d94-a334-46d6-95fb-7473b5ae9eab/?utm_term=.9a226ee12be7
