I guess I need your observations next.
I know people hate to hear it, but GWB is not all that sharp. Hence, he leans extra heavily on the notion of the executive as someone who doesn't know jack about anything, but somehow has the ability to "make decisions" based on advice.
We ought to be over this notion by now, that Bush is a dummy. You don't get to be President, twice, win two wars, and get a good deal of your agenda through Congress by being stupid.
However they don't negate the fact that he stated a wish for reform on this issue prior to his first election and immediately thereafter and then in the wake of 9/11 neither took action on the issue by execution in any forceful manner or by introducing a program.
Instead, he let it twist in the wind until it became a media "crisis" that he couldn't avoid.
I also disagree with your last statement. Bush talked about his immigration plan in early 2004, then again in early 2005. It was Bush who drove the issue in the House, and he made a statement in early 2006 that he wanted the Senate to act.
I don't think the Congress would have taken this up at all had it not been for Bush pushing the issue. He wants an immigration bill, but I don't think he would sign HR 4437 without at least a guest worker program.
IOW, the Pence proposal stands a good chance of being the basis for negotiations in conference.
Like Huck, I believe the Congress has overwhelmed the executive branch in recent decades. Clinton was a very weak executive who was kicked around by his own party and, after 1995, the Republicans. Bush was determined to take back some of that executive authority, and he has done it, by putting documents off limits, and his willingness to go the courts to resolve disputes with the legislative branch.
Long time, no see. It's good to see your name back up on the forum.