Republicans have been leading on the immigration bill ever since the Dems and Bush tried to push amnesty:

Following Immigration Debate, Number of Republicans in USA Increases
Sunday, July 01, 2007

“The immigration debate appears to have helped the Republican Party while hurting the President and other supporters of the “comprehensive” reform legislation. Prior to the debate, 47% of voters trusted Democrats more on the immigration issue. Following the failure of the Senate bill, just 39% trust the Democrats more on the issue. In fact, among unaffiliated voters, Republicans are now trusted more than the Democrats on immigration. The only other issue where the GOP can make that claim is national security. ”

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/mood_of_america_archive/partisan_trends2/following_immigration_debate_number_of_republicans_in_usa_increases

Gallup Poll: Drop in Obama’s Approval Rating One Of The Largest In Decades

In fact, the 9-point drop in the most recent quarter is the largest Gallup has ever measured for an elected president between the second and third quarters of his term, dating back to 1953. One president who was not elected to his first term — Harry Truman — had a 13-point drop between his second and third quarters in office in 1945 and 1946

http://www.floppingaces.net/2009/10/21/gallup-poll-drop-in-obama%e2%80%99s-approval-rating-one-of-the-largest-in-decades/

The Obama administration and Democrats lost the publics trust when they attacked ordinary Americans a’la Ailinsky — those of the public who were concerned enough to even think about expressing their concerns — at health care town halls for expressing those concerns.

This changed the political subject with those Americans from health care to “>Bleep< you and the horse you rode in on."

Those concerned citizens, and those who share their views, know they were diss'd and are now outright alienated.

AKA "They ain't listenin' ta ya, laddie."

It no longer matters what Obama, the Democratic Party & the Leftist proponents of socialized medicine say.

Trust and respect have to go both ways. The Obama & the Left wing Democratic party made it plain they do not trust and respect ordinary Americans.

The recent polls you and Instapundit have been quoting now reflect that alienation from Obama and the Democratic Party.

Now it's coming time for the Left to take what's coming to it.