I disagree.
I listened carefully to what the President said, and considered the full import of his plan. He has not moved an inch.
6 years ago, he wanted guest workers and some sort of amnesty. Now he doesn't call it "amnesty", in fact he says it's "not amnesty", because he has listened enough to know that people don't want that. But it is.
6 years ago, he thought that walling the border, or militarizing it, were impracticable. Last night he said that the US is NOT militarizing the border, and called for a "virtual fence", as opposed to a real barrier. Border conservatives were calling for a cheap and effective real barrier. Bush carefully avoided giving them anything they said they wanted, while using words that showed he listened enough. He said "No Fence" while trying to sound like he said "We're putting up a Fence."
The Border Conservatives said they wanted border security FIRST. The President said no. He proposed only amnesty with no fence.
The Border Conservatives said they wanted heavy enforcement and employer penalties within the US. Bush said he was going to create guest workers, which effectively allows employers to hire cheap aliens at cheap alien rates without even being illegal.
His speech demonstrated that he knew he was in trouble with the conservatives, and so he tried to sell them his same ideas as before, which they rejected before, packaged up in the mantra of new words aimed at making it sounding like he was compromising. His "compromise" amounted to: "Do what I'vE always said, but we'll do it using your words so you think you've won."
I don't think he saved his Border Conservative base last night. I think he alienated them.
Bush himself has come to terms with the fact that like everyone else, he will not get this to come out entirely the way he wants it.
There will be more enforcement than he wants, there will be more of a physical barrier than he wants and there will be less legalization than he wants.
The President cannot make law. No WAY will he veto a reform bill that contains one. Even if it is not the complete east to west that many people demand.
W wants to and has done some great leading on alot of issues. On this one , as he stated last night, he has to wait on Congress because it will take the almighty dollar appropriation to accomplish ANYTHING.
Last night he did duch anchor babies and actual penalties but again, I caution you to the fact that he really has no control over forming that policy, that has to be done by congress.
Time will tell.