keep in mind that up until Trump, it was rare for ANY judge that got confirmed to get more then a handful of NAY votes—most of these judges would have cruised through with no opposition at all, and possibly through voice votes.
It’s only in the Trump era where every judge he nominates gets the Bork light treatment.
First, most Republican Senators are still living and thinking in the pre-Bork era.
If a judicial nominee is morally fit, professionally qualified, and has a judicial temperament, most Republicans will confirm that judge.
No one on the Democrat side of the aisle votes that way anymore.
Second, the two Bush presidents were centrists who rarely nominated an ardent Conservative.
The only reason GHWB nominated and stuck with Clarence Thomas was because GHWB needed a Black guy to replace Thurgood Marshall.
The only reason GWB nominated Samuel Alito is because Free Republic led the political riot that destroyed his first nomination, centrist cipher Harriet Miers.
As far as I am concerned, EVERY judge that Trump nominates should be getting confirmed with a 51-50 vote!