Things I Didn't Know

++Business Insider says we are now at full employment. According to economists, that is 5-5.3%, depending on the inflation rate. Bloomberg is over the moon with the jobs report saying we have had the longest jobs growth since 1997. Of course,Wall Street is lobbying for a Fed hike based on these numbers. 

++In 2002, President Khatami offered a nuclear deal with the West that would have frozen Iran's program to a level far less than the present deal. The Ambassadors of the European Union were amazed at the offer but it was nixed by George W. Bush and Tony Blair. For all the time I have spent on the Iranian issue,I didn't know that.

++Josh Marshall at Talking Points tells us that Bibi's prediction Iran would have a nuclear weapon by 1999 was made in 1991! That means 23 years ago and so far no nuclear device.

++Bibi's audience for his apocalyptic speech was not just Congress and the Israeli public but he gave essentially the same speech to the Iranian people via Israel's Farsi service. He claimed that the nuke deal was bad for the Iranian people and he repeated his message that the Middle east would be a nuclear tinderbox. I'm not so sure what purpose this radio broadcast had or who the real audience is.

++Bloomberg urges our Congress to stay out of the Iranian deal. Mitch McConnell had to postpone his "fast track" on the Iran bill because the Democrats were going to filibuster it.

++I never thought of that. House Democrats have told John Boehner they would protect him against any coup attempt by the right. The Speaker is selected by the full house. With the last few bills the House has passed, it is clear Boehner needs the Democratic votes. 

++There will be no, zip, nada, zilch members of the GOP leadership at the celebration of the Selma March. Amazing!