Based on my understanding, the Rats blocked the appointments. The only way it could have been sped up is if the GOP would have changed the rules to drop the threshold from 60 votes to 51. And, the moderate GOP members would not let that happen.
The judges could move through because the GOP only needed to meet the 51 vote threshold.
Am I wrong?
You answered your own question: “the moderate GOP members would not let that happen.”