Despite Bipartisan Opposition, Democrats Filibuster, Protecting The President's #BadIranDeal

Today in Washington, D.C. - Sept 11, 2015:

The House reconvened at 9 AM today.
The following bill failed today prior to the article.
H.R. 3461 (162-269-1) — "To approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran" with 25 Democrats joined 244 Republicans to defeat this bill.
The following bill was passed today prior to this article.
H.R. 3460 (247-186) — "To suspend until January 21, 2017, the authority of the President to waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran."

No further bills are expected today for consideration. On adjournment, the House will reconvene again at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015. No bills were passed yesterday.

Today, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Commented on the anniversary of the attacks of 9/11 and the response of the American people:
"Americans again bow their heads in solemn commemoration of tragic loss, resolving never to forget the thousands of innocent lives taken 14 years ago. Americans again raise their hearts in remembrance of uncommon heroism, resolving never to forget fearless bravery high above white clouds or selfless compassion deep within dark tempests of paper and glass.

“Americans saw the worst of humanity in the attacks of 9/11, but they also saw the best of their country in its aftermath. We should never cease to remember both -- just as we should never fail to honor ‎the men and women, many in uniform, who endeavor so selflessly to bring justice to those who would do us harm."The Senate reconvened at 9:30 AM today for a pro forma session and will convene again on Tuesday at 1 PM.

At 6 PM on Tuesday, the Senate will vote again on cloture on the McConnell substitute amendment to H.J. Res. 61, which is the resolution of disapproval of the Iran deal. Democrats will have the opportunity to drop their partisan protection of the president and let the Senate have an up-or-down vote on the resolution of disapproval.

Yesterday, 42 Democrats locked arms and blocked a final up-or-down vote on a resolution disapproving of the president’s agreement with Iran. A cloture vote on the McConnell substitute amendment to H.J. Res. 61 fell two votes short of succeeding by a vote of 58-42.

The Senate Democrats in reality decided that protecting President Obama from using his veto pen was more important than giving the American people an up-or-down vote on a resolution disapproving of the president’s unpopular deal with Iran.

Even though some Democrats like Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware said, “As a caucus that was opposed to games with filibusters over the last four years, I would think it would be really regrettable if we didn't ultimately go to the floor and cast our votes for or against this deal,” all but four voted to filibuster the resolution of disapproval.

The Wall Street Journal editors excoriated Democrats for their obstruction. The write, “The Senate held its first showdown vote on the Iranian nuclear deal Thursday, with 58 Senators having declared their opposition, including four Democrats . . . . The American public is also overwhelmingly opposed, with a Pew poll this week finding 21% approval for the agreement versus 49% disapproval.

“So it says something about President Obama’s contempt for Congress that he browbeat and threatened 42 Democrats to filibuster the vote so he can duck having to veto a resolution of disapproval. The President may think he can spin 42 Senate votes into political vindication, and we’re sure he’ll get media support for that view. But Americans should read a filibuster as a tacit Democratic admission of no confidence in an agreement they fear voting on.”

In his column today, Charles Krauthammer admonishes the president for how he handled this deal. “As a matter of constitutional decency, the president should have submitted the deal to Congress first. And submitted it as a treaty. Which it obviously is. No international agreement in a generation matches this one in strategic significance and geopolitical gravity. Obama did not submit it as a treaty because he knew he could never get the constitutionally required votes for ratification. He’s not close to getting two-thirds of the Senate. He’s not close to getting a simple majority. No wonder: In the latest Pew Research Center poll, the American people oppose the deal by a staggering 28-point margin.”

The Journal editors pile on: “[T]he Administration’s bad faith here is a fresh reminder of why nobody in Washington trusts Mr. Obama, who is again proving his disdain for the rules of constitutional government. He is also setting a dangerous precedent. . . . These columns have always favored wide latitude for Presidents of both parties on foreign policy. But a strong executive does not mean a lawless one. Nor is it a recommendation for future Presidents to treat a bipartisan majority in Congress with the disdain shown by this one. Mr. Obama may have the votes he needs to block a vote of overwhelming disapproval, but foreign policy legacies are flimsy when they’re built on parliamentary tricks.”

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