Appoint, yet still needing Senate approval is probably what made this palatable to the founding fathers. I'm guessing the old white dudes in wigs never thought that the Senate would abdicate its role by become subservient to one old dude if not in a powdered wig at least in powdered face

Given that the Supreme Court has managed to appoint[1] two presidents in the past thirty years, I'd say that the Gordian knot has tightened.

[1] Bush 2000, and less directly but far more dangerously, by making Trump unprosecutable in the run-up to 2024.

But the Senate Judiciary Ctte and then the full Senate get to vote.

Remember Kavanaugh's confirmation vote in 2018 was 50-48, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted against, Susan Collins for, Joe Manchin (D-WV) also for [0]. Susan Collins' reluctant-voice-of-moderation act has run out of steam, finally, probably decades overdue

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Kavanaugh_Supreme_Court_...

Unfortunately American politics has completely deteriorated to a civil war between red and blue.

Which I suppose is another thing that was predicted but not acted upon: the establishment of political parties.