Grim

++The Senate could not make cloture on two bills to extended Unemployment Insurance. One bill called for a 1 year extension. Another 3 months. Almost all Republicans opposed.

++During the weekend, Negotiators reached a deal to practically implement the interim agreement with Iran,which will call for the destruction of many of their facilities and the watering down of the enriched uranium that have. 

++While this would be considered welcome news in the real world, The Senate is creeping close to a 60 vote margin to vote on adding sanctions on Iran and to make it a zero oil export economy. Too many Democratic Senators have sheepishly either supported the bill or have remained silent. The Administration is right that this would skuttle a diplomatic agreement and pave the way to war. The House with the support of Eric Cantor want to use the same language of the Menendez Bill.

++Those who oppose the agreement says it doesn't prohibit Iran from enriching uranium. And they claim that the sanctions bill is pragmatic insurance and that Tehran will blink. 

++Paleoconservative Pat Buchanan today wrote an op-ed blasting this bill because he claims it would mean another Mideast War based on disinformation. He cites the National Intelligence Estimates from both the Bush and Obama years claiming Tehran does not have a nuclear weapons program. Buchanan managed to zero-in on his archenemy AIPAC as the primary mover of this legislation, which is an open secret.

++On another matter, the Israeli Defense Minister accused John Kerry being "messianic" in his pursuit of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. The Obama Administration blasted him and he later retreated.