ANOTHER IMPORTANT ELECTION – AT 9:56 A.M. ET:  Let's not forget another upcoming election of critical significance to Americans.  Iran votes Friday on a national parliament.  From AFP:

Iran’s former president Mohammad Khatami and his predecessor have urged voters to back reformists and moderates in Friday elections, saying a big turnout is needed to stop hardline conservatives.

Khatami, who is subject to a domestic media ban because of his support for defeated reformist leaders in a disputed 2009 presidential election, took to YouTube late Sunday to send a message to voters.

“After the successful first step in 2013, this coalition should take the second step for the Majlis (parliament),” he said in a four-minute video, dubbing a joint ticket of reformists and moderates as “a list of hope”.

He was referring to incumbent Hassan Rouhani’s 2013 presidential election victory which led to a nuclear deal that ended a 13-year standoff with world powers.

In this week’s election, Rouhani is looking to overturn the majority in parliament of conservatives who resisted the nuclear deal and have also opposed his broader outreach to the West.

Despite the ban on use of his image or words in Iran’s print and broadcast media, Khatami, who served as president from 1997 to 2005, remains an important figure in the pro-Rouhani coalition, the Alliance of Reformists and Government Supporters.

“I suggest that all blocs agree to present the list as the list of hope to the people,” he said.

COMMENT:  We'll follow the Friday election in Iran.  If the moderates win, better for us.  But if the hardliners win, it will be even more difficult to get the Iran nuclear deal to stick.  Betting is on the hardliners, who currently control the parliament.

By the way, this "election" isn't the kind the grownups have.  In order to run you have to be approved by the government.  Not exactly democratic rule.

February 23, 2016