Obama could lead the Party in this fight over FISA...

[kentuck]

If he would lead, I believe they would follow. If he would stand up and ask not only the Democrats but also the Republicans to stand up for the Constitution over fear-mongering, then I believe he could get enough support to prevent the FISA bill from getting "cloture" tomorrow. As it now stands, the filibuster will lose once the FISA bill gets over 60 votes, which it probably will, unless someone leads the charge against it. This is a good time for Obama to lead, in my opinion.

[Donnachaidh]

1. It's something that would very likely get the fencesitters OFF the fence

This is a VERY important fight - and would trigger the CHANGE that we have been promised. I think that Obama's people need to let him know that THIS is something that needs to be done NOW.

[EFerrari]

2. They'd kill him as being soft on terra and people would buy it.

I hope he stays on the fringes of this. He didn't cut this deal, he shouldn't have to try to fix it.

[kentuck]

3. It's more important than that...

It is about our Constitution and rule of law.

[EFerrari]

5. Ya think? How will either fare under McMore?

He can't win this one and it would be a waste of his capital to go there, imho anyway.

[tabasco]

9. Obama must take the hard right over the easy wrong.

ENOUGH! of the lily-livered pandering to the fearful and weak!

[EFerrari]

11. No. He just has to vote no and keep the momentum going.

If he manages more, cool. If not, there are other strong Democrats in the Senate that can better take this on.

[tabasco]

12. Yeah, that'll do.

But he can't vote yes.

[EFerrari]

13. If he votes yes, I will personally flip him off.

:)

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. I think the party is waiting for someone to lead it

If Obama came out strongly against this bill and urged his fellows Senators to vote it down, it would be a couageous gamble. Because a failure by Obama might be significant if the bill passes, would any party members except Lieberman dare to contribute to an Obama failure in an election year? Obama could force their hand by giving his fellow Democrats the choice of becoming Pariah in the party or heroes. It would take courage for Obama to do this but I think it's a gamble that would pay off big. Obama would come out of this with the image of a strong leader. And would fellow Democrats really dare to go against him, the new de facto leader of the party in an important election year with Obama the biggest fundraiser in party history?

[kentuck]

6. Good question:

"And would fellow Democrats really dare to go against him, the new de facto leader of the party in an important election year with Obama the biggest fundraiser in party history?"

I think it would be a courageous move also. And a very principled and important one too. Either fight to defend the law and the Constitution or submit that some people are above the law and need not to be held accountable.

[dailykoff]

7. He just needs to vote no.

He loses nothing and gains everything if he votes no. If he votes yes, Cheney and Hoyer win, but Obama loses.

[grasswire]

8. na ga da (eom)

[orleans]

10. shoulda woulda coulda n/t

[liberalla]

14. Weird. I was thinking this very same thing Monday. No kidding!

In the coming weeks and months, the Obama surge will become a tsunami. Lawmakers will be fighting for position to be 'with' Obama. I could see him leading in this FISA battle, and others wisely deciding to join in.

I'm going to work with that visualization. :)

[Hubert Flottz]

15. Too Scared...