Strategery, my friends is what this is all about----think
1)Immigration - Bush's proposal is a modest worker program. However, it does scare the Dems into proposing full, blanket amnesty --- thereby alienating them from the public.
2) Presciption Drug - The program steals a huge issue from the Dems where Bush can claim progress versus the Dems lip-service. It contains an experiment for medical savings accounts --- an experiment that can be enacted if we keep a Republican majority.
3) Education - Bush allowed Kennedy to write the "No Child Left Behind Act" and has funded the money. The Dems will look like typical bigger-spenders in comparison.
The bottom line here is politics. If we want to change course, we need to be the majority party for years to come, not for 2 years (remember, we barely have the Senate for the last 2 years).
Bush can campaign on the fact that he increased spending, kept his promises, protected senior citizens, funded education. America can trust conservatives.
That will become the death knell for the Dems. They will move farther left aka Dean in the future and the Republicans will be able to enact their agenda with strong majorities.