ANOTHER ONE – AT 11:44 A.M. ET:  Another Democratic senator has announced his support of the horrible Iran nuclear deal, just as a veterans' group is starting to run ads opposing the agreement.  From USA Today: 

WASHINGTON — Sen. Sherrod Brown announced Friday he will support the Iran agreement, a multilateral deal aimed at preventing that country from getting a nuclear weapon.

The Ohio Democrat's decision is significant because it puts President Obama closer to thwarting GOP efforts to kill the agreement.

Brown said the deal, brokered by the United States and five other countries, is "the only viable option" to curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"I have studied the details, listened to Ohioans on all sides of this issue, and consulted with nuclear experts," Brown said in a statement Friday. "This deal is not about trusting the Iranian regime, but instead working with our allies on comprehensive, verifiable restrictions to block Iran's pathways to a nuclear bomb without precipitating another war in the Middle East."

Brown is the 20th Senate Democrat to publicly endorse the deal, which will keep Iran from producing enough material for an atomic weapon for at least 10 years.

COMMENT:  Brown is one of the most left-wing senators, and his comments simply reflect the White House talking points.  I'm guessing, judging by the shallowness of his remarks, that he gave the subject about ten minutes of thought. 

His announcement is important.  There is a "narrative" floating around that the Iran deal will fail in legislation passed in both the Senate and House, but that Obama will veto the legislation, thus allowing the deal to go through.  That is probably true in the House, but "iffy" in the Senate.  In the Senate the deal will never win a majority, but opponents must get 60 votes to head off a Democratic filibuster.  If they don't get the 60, the bill will fail and will never reach the president's desk.  Right now opponents only have about 55 votes, and I'm far from certain they'll reach 60.  If would mean peeling off Democratic senators.  Thus far the only Democrat to announce opposition is Chuck Schumer, although Bob Menendez of New Jersey will probably follow.  Other Democrats will be more difficult, and one Republican, flakey Jeff Flake of Arizona, may go with Obama.

August 15, 2015