http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TROUBLED_REPUBLICANS?SITE=CATOR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-04-07-05-20-37Ya gotta love the GOP implosion
The GOP wins election with two energized constituencies. The affluent who ALWAYS vote and the Fundies who vote in droves when there is a hot topic du jour.
Looks to me like the Senate may get together on a immigration but trying to marry it with the house bill in conference is going to kill the effort. Why? Because there are those who want to pull the "Brown Card" to rally the base on a single issue and those are in a real election scrap on their own and think they are better off with a moderate bill. They will get noting done for the rest of the session. There is also nothing else out there which they can create any legislative momentum.
I honestly think their best course to secure at least one House would be to Censure Bush on Plamegate obstructions and WireTappping. It would piss off the fundies but all they will do is sit on their hands and deep down they will understand it is nothing more than a slop on the wrist. It would on the other hand keep the affluent core from jumping and get mods in a better mood about the autonomy and focus of their elected officials.
Sacrificing a lame duck president might be the only way to save their own asses from the fires of November