In the end, the Senate failed to bridge the deep partisan gulf on one of America's hot-button issues: immigration.

The bill yesterday failed to win a procedural vote in the Senate, eliminating the hope of accomplishing any meaningful reform, at least until after the presidential election, and perhaps indefinitely. The 46-53 vote weighed heavily on President Bush, who tried but failed to deliver the 14 GOP votes needed to pass it.

The Senate's failure to reach a compromise means enduring a failing immigration system, which for decades has forced millions of illegal immigrants into the shadows and separated far too many families.

The sweeping reform package included a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already here, tighter border security and an attempt to address the staggering backlog of applicants.

The bill wasn't perfect, and there should have been room for compromise.

But the rhetoric — particu-larly on the conservative talk-radio circuit — was venomous. Conservatives claimed the bill would be akin to granting millions of illegal immigrants "amnesty." That's hardly the case: Under the bill, immigrants applying for legal status would have been forced to first clear criminal background checks, pay any back taxes owed and substantial fines and fees totaling as much as $6,000 — hardly affordable for many immigrants often locked in low-wage jobs. And in some cases, they would have been required to return to their home countries as part of the process.

The visceral and often xenophobic debate resulted in some GOP senators saying they received death threats.

That's shameful. If in this country — a nation of immigrants — we cannot debate this issue with civility and respect, then we have much to learn.

Sensible immigration reform has been long overdue. Leadership and compromise on Capitol Hill were needed to make that possible. It's a shame that neither came through this time around.