Sorry if I'm boring, but I'm asking again: What do the Dems do to enforce party discipline? Do they keep a couple of guys who will shoot off kneecaps if anyone steps out of line? They're doing something!
Actually, that's a great question which goes to the heart of our present crisis.
US Senators, for the most part, come from the non-producing upper class. They either inherited money, or made money nonproductively (in finance, for example).
They all, or almost all, went to elite schools and all of their friends are members of the social and political elite (the rare exception, like Coburn, proves the rule).
This elite non-producing class has certain common prejudices and beliefs. Of all of them sexual "freedom" and the corollary "right" to kill undesired babies is one of the strongest.
The Democratic senators don't need any discipline. Their side, the death side, is what they all believe already.
The Republicans, however, have depended on pro-life votes for their seats. Most of them who say they are committed to pro-life justices are lying.
They therefore have a strong (or very strong) incentive not to vote.
There are not 20 Senators who would vote to confirm a pro-life nominee, IF their vote was #51.
The Dems' benefit from party disciplined established by their former party leaders. Understand, they had battles too when they became the majority long ago. What we see today is the prevailing ideology that survived. We're in the midst of a battle with RINO's trying to seize the reins they haven't earned. the only way to defeat them, is to expose them and defeat them in the public arena. That will send a stark lesson to anyone else that seeks to follow their path after it's happened a few times.
But, as acknowledged, you need someone willing to get dirty and bloody in this battle. There is no Delay in the Senate.