The story of the moment assures us that the sponsors of the immigration bill, secure in the knowledge that the Decider supports their tireless work, intend to soldier on despite a notable lack of enthusiasm for compromise in the legislature. The more interesting story is the right wingers' continuing separation from their fearless leader.

[T]hey now think they see in Bush the heart of a man who thinks he is morally superior to them even as his own incompetence drags them over a political cliff.

Bush infamously said, on two separate occasions, that opponents of the immigration bill are deliberately trying to "frighten" the public, that they "don't want to do what's right for America," and other calumnies - all while his Cabinet secretaries, former chief speechwriter, and other close allies have called the opponents "bigots," "nativists," "anti-Hispanic," and other insults.

There will always be Bush loyalists, but their numbers are dwindling toward insignificance. Reasonable conservatives abandoned Bush because of his fiscal irresponsibility, his incompetence, or Iraq. His newly-revealed contempt for non-monied conservatives has peeled away more supporters. More Bushies will walk away if Bush doesn't show reciprocal loyalty to the conservative cause by saving Scooter Libby from imprisonment.

Poor George. Do you think his mom still loves him? Do you suppose he cares?