UPDATE . . .

National Review Online blogger John Derbyshire has been attacking what he sees as a false and dangerous myth in post-election Republican thinking — that McCain lost because he frightened off Latino voters by being "insufficiently enthusiastic about mass illegal immigration."

Derbyshire argues that theory is baloney because McCain is an immigration moderate, if anything.

An NRO correspondent in Utah — which is apparently the gold standard for red states — offers our enormously popular governor — and upcoming party leader — as proof that GOP leadership is anything but anti-immigration.

In Utah our governor, the silver-spoon-fed Jon Huntsman Jr., sought to delay an impending law that he signed last year that would require the State of Utah to help enforce immigration laws. . . .

In fact, the GOP-controlled Utah Senate passed a resolution asking the feds to allow the state to create its own guest-worker program to bring in the immigrant workers they believe the state needs. The unnamed correspondent tells Derbyshire:

Plainly there is no unemployment problem in Utah. The state has jobs to spare — so many, the governor and legislature are exercised over how to prevent illegal immigrants from leaving.

It would seem the Republican Party's base and its pro-business leadership have a difference of opinion on immigration reform to iron out before the 2008 elections. If you want to read more about the Utah Lege's wrestling with immigration laws, go here.

UPDATE: According to a Rasmussen Reports poll of GOP voters:

• More than 40 percent say their party has been too moderate over the past eight years.
• 55 percent think it should become more like Sarah Palin in the future.
• Only 24 percent think McCain is the best future model for the party.
• Only 17 percent say their party has been too conservative.
• 30 percent say its actions and positions have been about right.