If the Republicans fail to get Estrada through, it would embolden the Democrats and lead to huge trouble for any further Bush nominees. In such a case, I would hope (this won't happen) that Bush just throws the whole "advise and consent" clause out the window, waits for Congress to recess, and appoints about 250 judges in one afternoon. I would hope that Bush would spend another 6 years in office, and I would hope that he would not seek a single senate confirmation during all that time.
Dems want to screw the process? Goes both ways.
Article II, section 2 concludes,
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may hapen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
. . . so it wouldn't work very well (I had some similar thoughts myself, and was corrected by FR's expertise net).