AMERICANS REJECT IRAN DEAL – AT 9:28 A.M. ET:   Americans aren't buying the Iran nuclear deal, according to a new Pew Research Center survey: 

More Americans disapprove than approve of the deal struck last week by the U.S., Iran and five other nations to limit Iran’s nuclear program: Among the 79% of Americans who have heard about the agreement, just 38% approve, while 48% disapprove (14% do not offer an opinion).

There is widespread skepticism about aspects of the agreement, particularly the Iranian leadership’s commitment to the terms of the deal: Most of those familiar with the agreement say they have not too much (35%) or no confidence at all (38%) that Iran’s leaders will uphold their side of the agreement. And while there is greater confidence in the U.S. and international agencies’ ability to monitor Iran’s compliance, 54% are not too (33%) or not at all (21%) confident, while a smaller share (45%) express at least a fair amount of confidence in their ability.

Views about the agreement’s effect on U.S.-Iranian relations also are split: Though a plurality (42%) of those who have heard about the deal say there will be little change, about as many think relations between the two nations will worsen (28%) as think they will improve (25%) as a result of the agreement.

COMMENT:  I suspect that approval numbers will drop even further as Congressional hearings expose more of the defects in the agreement.  Obama has been unconvincing, and Iran's continued spewing of anti-American vitriol will not help drive approval numbers up. 

If both houses of Congress vote the agreement down, Obama will veto their action.  Overriding that veto will be a long shot, but even basic Congressional disapproval of the pact, by a simple majority, would be a devastating comment on Obama's foreign policy.

July 22, 2015