From what I read now, no money was actually appropriated for the US-Mexico fence. It was only a desperate attempt by the Bushites to curry favor with the giant intellects who have deluded themselves into thinking a fence would do some good.

And even that gambit didn't work--the standard-bearers of such drivel got mostly wiped out in the US voting public's recent attack of good sense.

And the issue split the Republicans but good--which makes it a prime issue for 2008--if the Democrats are smart enough to realize they should push for a path to citizenship for all illegals--without their leaving the US. It's the rare conjunction of good policy and good politics.