Bush is, at the very least a traitor to his base. I like the guy and many of his policies but this issue stinks. Not only is the issue framed by the President and the Governor as pro immigration vs. anti immigration, which is not the case, but the opponents are implied xenophobes and racists. These are the same people who campaigned and donated just as much as the pro illegal group did and are now being told to "tone it down" by the Representatives they voted for.
Like it or not this issue is going to cause major problems for Republicans. Not just the issue but how those in opposition were treated by their representatives.