Karol,

As you pointed out, the GOP was going to do it anyway, as their business donors wanted it. The only thing holding the line was the House and see how the GOP's central leadership treated some of the more vocal critics of the Senate Bill.
Basically, the drubbing Tuesday is what you get when you refuse to hold rigorous primaries. (That's on the local GOP parties, btw.)

People are very conflicted about immigration. No one wants to be seen as xenophobic, but then again, there is a large level of frustration out there. I think it boils down to law and order as well as use of government social sevices. I mean, if you become too much of an "open borders" advocate, you essentially are not much different than a government big spender because of all the obligations that become imposed on the taxpayer. In addition, localities are faced with "unfunded mandates."

If we recall, the GOP got in trouble this past year (as did the Democrats in 1994) over uncontrolled spending. IIRC, "unfunded" mandates were a big source of frustration in '94 as well. Then again, if the Republicans are not providing an alternative, they don't give their voters a reason to come out, and can't even articulate to independents why they can do a better job dealing with an important issue (except screw it up). Bush's approval rating goes down and drags a lot of people down with him.

As an immigrant, I oppose all illegal immigration. A country must secure its borders and control the incoming flow of people (especially a country as prosperous and successful as the US) for its own security.