I think Ruth Marcus misses something in this piece which is Fred Fielding's reputation as a dealmaker long rested on representing people who not only recognized their own fallibility but also understood the concept of compromise and actually pursued it when it was necessary to move things forward.  He currently represents that kid you remember from the playground who hogged the basketball and wouldn't let you play anything else but his game... you know, the jerk who constantly wanted to play best 2 out of 3, etc. everytime he lost at HORSE until you just said screw it?