June 28, 2007 6:00 AM

Table for One
The president isolates himself.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OD ... YxNWM4YTQ=

By The Editors

The comprehensivists have one last argument for passing an immigration bill that even they concede is flawed: It is important for Republicans to “pass something that takes immigration off the table“ before the next election. Needless to say, they would not take their own advice if an enforcement-first bill were on the table. But they seem sincerely to believe that after this bill is passed, the party’s divisions will heal.

Dream on. The comprehensivists are right to say that the passionate opponents of amnesty are a “vocal minority“ of Americans; no side of any political debate enlists both the allegiance and the passion of a majority of Americans. But this minority is passionate, large, and a crucial component of any winning Republican coalition. It will interpret passage, not to mention the insults that have come its way in recent weeks, to mean that the party is throwing away its support, and it will not forget.

There will, after all, be constant reminders. If the bill passes, illegal immigrants will almost all soon get their “probationaryâ€