The Iran Letter - Outside the Lines, Outside Good Sense

There are many reasons that the letter from 47 US Senators was a bad idea, maybe outrageous. Here are a few worth considering, if only to reinforce the need to call them out.

Regarding the Constitution -  Senate will have to ratify any agreement before it becomes effective, especially if it is a treaty (under Advise and Consent clause) - Contrary to the spirit, and perhaps the letter of the Constitution

Congress imposed sanctions on Iran and only Congress can remove them

Condescending toward a sovereign power – unnecessary and likely to stir up nationalist feelings in Iran, make the negotiators more inflexible

Senate seems to take the same position as Iran’s hard liners, making it harder for Iran moderates to make a deal

Plays into Iran’s hand as it makes the US look divided, not speaking with one voice

Former military Sen. Cotton broke the chain of command – is that what he learned in the US armed forces?

If the Senate doesn’t like where the negotiations are going, meet privately with the executive branch to redirect or express concerns

Maybe the Senate wants to preempt any deal (a la Netanyahu) – they won’t have to vote up or down and take political flak; but as Roger Cohen wrote, the likely result of no deal is military action by someone, and Iran’s development of nuclear weapons

Edmund Burke, the great conservative, said government is for effectively managing the affairs of the nation, and should not be a platform for ideology. 

 What is the purpose of undermining executive office efforts?  A political stunt?