I tend to agree. There are many loathsome parts to this bill, especially the money for illegals. But it is a start. If Bush and the Republicans presented anything more sweeping, it would have been kicked to the curb by Dems, period. I, too, believe this is just a 'foot-in-the-door' type of win. Round two will be a blast.
The same 'start small' approach happened with vouchers and the 'No Child Left Behind Act', if I'm not mistaken. I'd look for the same thing to happen with partial privatization of social security next.
I do not think the No Child Left Behind Act has even passed through Congress yet.