Based upon Bush’s prior messages vis a vis amnesty (stated) and lack of border control (obvious), the Democrats (along with corrupt RINO's like McCain) thus seized a rare opportunity to pass legislation which would be sure to grow both government and Democrat voter rolls, at the expense of Republican party power, whose base, enraged, would punish the Republican “leadership” in 2008 in manner similar to that which they employed in 1992 (this involving another sellout Bush).
This time, if not for an unusually engaged Conservative base, they almost pulled it off.
I agree and Bush signaled them he was more than willing to do anything to get the bill passed and personally don’t think he cared if it tanked the GOP.
We had Senators who were not afraid to stand up and be counted and a lot of voters who said NO! This was activism at its greatest in telling the Senators you work for us!