You just touched on my biggest fear that boner will take up immigration(amnesty)and we will once again snatch defeat while as of right now we have sure victory.
I still see it all as political strategy both short term, long term and as it occurs. We seem to lose at every turn.
Your fears are well-founded. The GOPe wants an increase in the guest worker programs to meet the demands of their corporate paymasters. They will use amnesty as a bargaining chip to get that done. Boehner, Cantor, Goodlatte, Pete Sessions, McCarthy, Issa, and others are all on-board for immigration reform this session of Congress.
They will pass piecemeal bills on guest workers, border security, a GOP version of the Dream Act, and employer verification. They will be sent to the Senate, which will pair it with the Gang of 8 bill and then go to conference where a bill will emerge that resembles the Gang of 8 bill. This will pass with 25 to 50 GOPs in the House voting for it along with the Dems. It has been the strategy all along.
The GOPe underestimates the impact it will have on the base. They believe conservatives have nowhere else to go. They will be surprised. This could be the issue that takes the GOP down and results in a third party movement. Count me in if they pass comprehensive immigration reform. There is no benefit to having a Rep controlled House or Senate. The GOP is not called the Stupid Party for nothing.