Bush Comes Up Empty

David Espo writes for the Associated Press: "One Republican widely viewed as a potential convert, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, said he was not yet persuaded. 'At the end of the day, I've got to be able to sit down and know myself that we are going to secure our border,' he said. 'Today, I do not feel that way.'"

Stephen Collinson writes for AFP: "Asked whether Bush had made any breakthroughs, Republican Senator Bob Bennett said simply 'No.'"

David Gergen told NBC's David Gregory: "George W. Bush has reached the point where he's neither loved nor feared by people in his own party. And that leaves him in a very weakened state."

Kinder, Gentler, Less Effective

Susan Milligan writes in the Boston Globe: "The president, often accused of dominating the conversation when lawmakers in both parties are summoned to the White House to discuss policy, was gracious and open to hearing senators' concerns, according to those who attended the luncheon yesterday.

"Instead of using threats or demanding the loyalty the president prizes, Bush used charm, allowing them to vent their objections and answering a few questions."

Jay Newton-Small writes for Time: "Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions stood up at Tuesday's lunch for Senate Republicans and baldly told President George W. Bush what was wrong with his immigration proposal: it would give amnesty to 12 million illegal immigrations, it would reduce illegal immigration by only 13%, and it doesn't go far enough to enforce border security. Bush acknowledged that Sessions, like many conservative Republicans, has serious issues with the immigration bill, but he also managed to diffuse the tension over the issue that has split his party for the last two years. 'Even though we disagree on this bill, I look forward to being in Alabama,' Bush joked to Sessions, whose fundraiser the President is due to attend in Alabama on Friday, and the room burst out laughing."

But did Bush bring anything new to the table? Evidently not.

Newton-Small writes: "Bush spent half his time at lunch listening to senators like Sessions complain and the other half making an impassioned plea, telling senators that the immigration problem has become one of national security. He also told the room about Marc Mares, the president of the Coast Guard Academy class of 2007, where Bush delivered commencement remarks on May 23. Even though Mares' grandfather might well have entered the country illegally, his grandson was well on his way to a life of distinguished public service. (It is a story Bush has mentioned in several speeches about immigration since.)"

Changes in the Making?

Dave Montgomery writes for McClatchy Newspapers: "A bipartisan group of senators who produced the bill met later Tuesday to discuss a package of amendments that they hoped would break the deadlock and persuade Reid to reopen debate.

"Several leaders of the group, known as the 'grand bargainers,' expressed optimism that they were closing in on agreement and could get the bill back onto the floor before Congress leaves for its Fourth of July recess."

Stephen Dinan writes in the Washington Times: "One idea that seemed to gain immediate traction among the Republicans was for Mr. Bush to send up a new emergency-spending bill to fund border security.

"'If we're really going to get support for this bill from the American people there's got to be some restoration of trust,' said Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Georgia Republican, who sent a letter with fellow Georgia Republican Johnny Isakson proposing the spending bill. 'There's got to be some effort shown on the part of the administration before I think there's going to be a sufficient number of folks deciding to move this bill forward.' . . .