History revisionism. Not a single GOP Senator opposed Souter's nomination, and only ONE major conservative organization did (The Conservative Caucus). Just like the Gorsuch nomination, they rallied behind the nomination the instant it was made, blinded trusted the President, and believed that since the judge "judicial philosophy" was marketed as a "strict constructionist", that would ensure he'd vote the right way for the rest of his life.
None of the senators, but many in the movement did. A lot more than you seem to remember.
Howard Phillips and those of us who opposed the nomination villified for doing so. I hate to say this, but we were right. (Just as YAF got attacked when we opposed O’Connor and Ann Coulter got attacked for opposing Roberts. In all three cases, that was the right position.)
O’Connor, Souter, and Roberts had no record. Gorsuch does.
Did anyone seriously believe that those people were “strict constructionists” or “Originalists”? It was clear that the likes of Scalia, Thomas, and Alito were. Gorsuch falls into their category.