And that's the problem. If Bush listened to the base on amnesty as well as looked at the failure of the Reagan amnesty, he should stand firm, veto pen in hand, and say "I will veto any bill that remotely resembles amnesty."
And that would change the entire dynamic in the Senate. Instead, by saying he wants his pseudo-amnesty, he allows the Dems to play games with the GOP.
Bush is not up for re-election. He should be working with the House members instead of undercutting them. Especially since their continued control of the House is critical for Bush avoiding impeachment.