Snowe melts, Hagel hesitates.

"If some kind of inquiry would be beneficial to getting a resolution to this issue, then sure, we should look at it. But if the inquiry is just some kind of a punitive inquiry that really is not focused on finding a way out of this, then I'm not so sure that I would support that." Bad news for congressional oversight and the rule of law: After an "all-out" campaign of White House arm-twisting, crucial Senate Republicans -- including Olympia Snowe and Chuck Hagel -- appear on the verge of folding up the tent on the proposed NSA hearings. The critical vote will come tomorrow, but it's iffy. "Two committee Democrats said the panel -- made up of eight Republicans and seven Democrats -- was clearly leaning in favor of the motion last week but now is closely divided and possibly inclined against it."