Thune stumbling; Biden's Iraq partition prediction bearing fruit

President Obama took his case to enter a pact with Iran directly to an American Jewish audience today.

The president's remarks come during a period of deep tension in an already prickly relationship with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly over Obama's bid to strike a nuclear deal with Iran. Obama's appearance coincided with Solidarity Shabbat, devoted to showing unity by political leaders in Europe and North America against anti-Semitism. [Associated Press]

Remember this? "Senator John Thune agrees with President Obama that U.S. boots on the ground are not an option in Iraq. Thune says the U.S. needs to explore other ways to help the Iraqis, short of sending in ground forces:" KELO teevee.

The advance of Islamic militants across Iraq has brought fresh criticism for the Obama administration — but may also deliver a grim measure of vindication to one very prominent White House official: Vice President Joe Biden. Recent events in Iraq call attention to his prediction nearly a decade ago that the war-torn nation was heading toward a breakup along sectarian lines — and to a prescription he offered to try to manage that reality by granting Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds greater autonomy over various parts of the country. In other words: While Biden may have taken a beating repeatedly in recent years for some foreign policy calls he’s made, his judgment on Iraq’s capacity to stay united now looks almost prescient. The president added that the way forward in Iraq would require accommodating the different populations there, something Biden was stressing seven years ago.

Read it here.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are struggling to remain relevant.

This letter is to express my total disappointment in the actions of our two Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds, when they signed on to the letter to the leaders of Iran. What in heaven’s name were they thinking? Rounds looks like he is playing “follow the leader.” From the minute he took the oath of office as a member of the U.S. Senate, he has shown his dislike of our president and what he is trying to do for our country. Are neither of our senators, along with most other members of the Republican party, not able to at least show some respect for the office of the presidency? [Phyllis Karolevitz]

Phyllis is the widow of South Dakota author, Bob Karolevitz and the mother of two old friends.

Ms. Karolevitz is not alone in her criticism of GOP mutiny.

How We Know AIPAC Wrote The GOP's "Treason" Letter To Iran

The New York Times has called for the prosecution of members of Thune's treacherous political party for crimes of torture.

Thune recently flip flopped on the human impacts on climate change, too now acknowledging his donors are helping to destroy the planet.

He was once considered a vice-presidential contender but cannot pass the vetting process because of his ties to criminals. Some say his marital infidelity is also a factor in being turned away from higher office.

His speech on the Senate floor today seeks to renew efforts to raise money from the GOP war machine.

Pres Obama today signed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act," giving Congress the right to review and possibly reject an Iran nuke deal.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 22, 2015