CLOSELY WATCHED CHUCK – AT 9:21 A.M. ET:  One of the most influential Democratic members of Congress has come out against the Iran nuclear deal.  From CNN:

Washington (CNN) New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, an influential Jewish Democrat who's poised to assume leadership of his party in the Senate, will oppose President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, he announced on Thursday evening.

"After deep study, careful thought and considerable soul-searching, I have decided I must oppose the agreement and will vote yes on a motion of disapproval," Schumer wrote in a 1,600-word post on the website Medium.

"I will vote to disapprove the agreement, not because I believe war is a viable or desirable option, nor to challenge the path of diplomacy," he added later. "It is because I believe Iran will not change, and under this agreement it will be able to achieve its dual goals of eliminating sanctions while ultimately retaining its nuclear and non-nuclear power."

Schumer's thinking on the deal has been closely watched since the plan to loosen sanctions on Tehran in exchange for access to potential nuclear sites was announced in early July.

He said in public comments over the past several weeks he was going through the deal with a "fine-tooth comb" and received briefings from top administration officials to digest the deal's inner workings.

His decision quickly provoked criticism from several former White House aides.

Former speechwriter Jon Favreau tweeted: "Chuck Schumer, who said it was a mistake to pass Obamacare, now comes out again the Iran Deal. This is our next Senate leader?"

COMMENT:  Schumer's vote was the most closely watched in Congress.  He has clout, at least for now.  There is already a rebellion on the Democratic left, led by the mental cases in moveon.org, to depose Schumer as heir apparent in the Senate.  Whether it succeeds may depend in part on whether Obama now tries to destroy Schumer.  If he were smart, and he's not, he'd show some graciousness toward a man who presumably acted on principle.  It's a good novel.

Of course, there's also the cynical interpretation – that Schumer's announcement was coordinated with the White House itself, that Schumer waited until enough Dems declared their support for the deal to insure that a presidential veto of a rejection would be upheld, then announced his opposition, giving him protection in New York while leaving the deal intact.

My own gut sense, and nothing more, is that Schumer did in fact act out of conviction.  Occasionally political people do.  If so, and if it costs him the Democratic leader position in the Senate, he will become a profile in courage.

August 7, 2015