One can argue that Bush and Co. should have done a better job on pressing this issue to get reform passed instead of just letting it die. That’s one of the failures of the Bush Administration is that they, at many times, had no back bone to push their agenda. But then again, Bush is/was a RINO.
He may not be as conservative as you or I would like, but calling him a Republican in name only is simply not accurate.
And saying he had no "backbone" after he stood practically alone in defending America and winning in Iraq is just silly.