One thing that has bothered me though is the "blue slips" that the Republicans used to use to hold up nominees. They did away with those when they got into power and therefore the only way the Dems could stop a nominee from going forward was to filibuster. So while the filibuster was unprecedented, we are as much to blame, and just as guilty...
I don't see it that way. Nowadays, we have the Judiciary Committee, which can reject a nominee. In that scenario, 10 votes out of 100 are enough to reject a nominee. The Senate can manage it that way if they want. Or they can filibuster. Or not. I don't care if a nominee gets an "up or down" vote. I just care if my interests are advanced or not. Who cares if Bader Ginsburg gets an up or down vote? I don't. Why should I? I don't care about that at all, and the Constitution does not even require it.