"Well, I certainly wouldn't claim your gift of critical thinking, but no, they do not conflict. One concerns facts, the other concerns opinions about those facts."
Hah Hah!
Better that than attempting to respond to the question.
I know how interested you are in polling data from several months back. Unlike you, however, I do put data in that disagrees with my position. Here's some recent data you can work into your theories. I'm sure you will appreciate it.
FOX 7/13/06
37% to 32% feel Democrats would do better job on immigration
37% to 31% feel Republicans would do better job on border security
Failure to pass a bill would be Bush and Republican congressional fault 43%. Democrats in congress 21%
41% to 36% Immigrants give to the country rather than take away
51% say immigrants should decrease; 41% no change or increase
34% feel borders should be secured first; 35% feel deal with those here first; 28% both equally
Tarrance Group Survey 6/12-13/06
75% of likely voters wanted something similar to the Senate version
49% said it was not amnesty
95% said it was important to pass a bill this year
Gallup 6/8-25/06
59% said immigration should remain at current levels or increase
67% said immigration was a good thing; 28% said bad
66% said illegals cost too much; 29% pay fair share
74% say illegal immigrants take jobs most Americans don't want
66% say illegals should remain if they meet certain requirements; 16% want to deport all
LA Times/Bloomberg 6/24-27/06
34% - 23% Democrats can do better on immigration
87% say immigration is most important or one of most important issues
51% say illegals take jobs no American wants
46% support guest worker program; 22% oppose
67% want illegals to have a path to citizenship
44% want a felony for being in US illegally
58% want a tougher enforcement combined with a guest worker program
22% want only tougher enforcement
60% will be disappointed if no bill is passed this year
NBC/Wall Street Journal 6/9-12/06
50% want increased border security
40% want a guest worker program; 34% do not
More today believe Democrats will do better on immigration than 11/05
50% feel immigration helps; 50% feels it hurts. 12/05 hurts was 53%, helps was 37%
50% favor the Senate Bill; 33% favor the House Bill
CBS News Poll 6/10-11/06
33% approve of President Bush on immigration; 56% disapprove
API/Ipsos 5/15-17/06
52% believe immigration is a good influence on US; 46% a bad influence
Fox News Poll 5/16-18/06
57% feel illegal immigration is very serious problem, 29% somewhat serious
63% favor letting those with jobs apply for legal, temporary worker status
55% favor sending as many back as possible
CBS News Poll 5/16-17/06
77% favor Senate approach to citizenship
61% favor a guest worker program
CNN Poll 5/16-17/06
50% disapprove of Bush handling of immigration; 36% approve
79% favor the Senate approach to citizenship
66% favor increasing penalties for employers who hire illegals
ABC News/Washington Post Poll 5/11/15/06
77% feel US not doing enough to prevent illegal immigration
Newsweek Poll 5/11-12/06
61% disapprove of Bush handling of immigration
CBS News/NY Times Poll 5/4-8/06
61% say legal immigration should be at current levels or increased; 34% say decreased
89% say illegal immigration is a very serious or somewhat serious problem
53% feel illegal immigrants take jobs no one wants; 36% feel they take jobs away
61% feel illegals should be given chance to keep jobs; 35% feel they should be deported
66% oppose a 700 mile fence; 29% favor
70% feel illegals weaken the economy