He couldn't take decisions and keep to his policies if he had to argue their merits at every count.

You can argue the merits of each case.

However, as they stand arguing the merits of such a decision it begins to rain, the storm escalating quickly into a flash flood.

Many time-periods now have on-line discussion boards where reenactors and historians argue the merits of various items, how to make them, or where to purchase them.