Oh, they are not stupid. Snake oil salesmen seldom are.
They are trying to fool enough of the people long enough to get this bill to Bush's desk. And give wavering Senators some kind of political cover.
We need to keep an eye on the pubbie senators who are not up for re-election in 2008. Those guys might be tempted to think the outrage would subside by 2010 or 2012. They need to be convinced otherwise - if they vote for this bill, conservatives will be tireless in working for their defeat by any means necessary.
It would be nice payback to see those supporters of amnesty in the GOP booted out, and I think many will be but by 2012 enough red states will have turned permanently blue that nationally the GOP is toast anyway and won’t have a prayer.