Reply #7: Honestly, I think his statement was a floater.

[Tatiana]

Put it out there and gauge the response. If the response was tepid (and we know that the average American doesn't really know or care about FISA), it would have been easier to vote YES. But given the public outcry, from progressives and libertarians alike, I'm sure he's been given a lot to think about of late.

Obama does listen. So I am hoping that by making our voices heard, Obama will try to do everything in his power to kill this bill, or failing that, vote against it. It's a hard sell to get a vote against cloture, but if we can bring aboard Specter and others who are up for reelection, there is an outside chance this thing could be killed. Obama has a good relationship with Hagel. Hagel is retiring. He has nothing to lose. He can afford to do the right thing and vote against cloture.