Video: Carney says Contraceptive Mandate 'Virtually Identical' to Romney's

If you accept the premise, as I do, that Obama's preferred Republican opponent in the general election is Mitt Romney, we may have uncovered another reason that the recent contraceptive mandate was an overreach.

When asked to respond to criticism from Mitt Romney about the HHS rule which mandates that Religious institutions offer contraceptive services, to include the "morning after" pill, White House press secretary went after Romney for implementing a 'virtually identical' program when the latter was governor of Massachusetts.

Obama's rule has clearly become a campaign issue because of its controversy; it's an issue that Romney must address with Republican voters, though he probably would rather not have to based on his own record. Nonetheless, he did and Carney appears incapable of withholding his criticism of Romney, despite it being the most advantageously strategic thing to do if Mitt is the administration's desired opponent next November.

CNS News has the VIDEO

Iran and Turkey have a Syria-ous Problem

The 'Arab Spring' that has been ongoing for a year now is as much (if not more) about the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan) as it is about removing dictators. The Ikhwan seeks a return of the Ottoman Empire, which was centered in what is today Turkey. To varying degrees, the Muslim Brotherhood has gained control of the countries on the map that have red arrows pointing to them. This benefits Turkey tremendously.

Over the last several years, Iran and Turkey have had an alliance of convenience but the situation in Syria is putting great strain on that alliance. Syria, which borders Iraq to its east, Lebanon to its west, and Turkey to its north has essentially been an arm of Iran under the Assad regime. Assad has allowed his country to act as a funnel for weapons and Hezbollah fighters into Lebanon. Prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, those efforts were more difficult.

With the removal of Saddam Hussein and the subsequent withdrawal of American troops from Iraq more than eight years later, Iran has essentially gained control of Iraq. At least one high-ranking cabinet member inside the Iraqi government is also a high-ranking Quds official with loyalties to the Ayatollah; his name is Hadi al-Ameri. That someone like him would hold the position of Transportation Minister in Nouri al-Maliki's government is a serious red flag that signals Iran has already annexed Iraq.

In this behind-the-scenes struggle between Turkey and Iran, the latter has control of Iraq, which also shares a border with Turkey to its north. This makes Syria all that more important for both countries. If Assad is removed from power, the Brotherhood will most assuredly attempt to wrest control for the larger Ottoman movement. Despite its public stance, Turkey is licking its chops over the possibility of acquiring Syria. It would be a huge victory for the Ikhwan and a huge defeat for Iran, which will not give this up easily, however.

As long as Assad is in power, Iran's guy is running the country. When and if he ultimately steps down or is removed, Iran will do all it can to ensure Syria does not come under the control of the Brotherhood.

At that point, Israel could take a back seat in the minds of Iran and Turkey. Syria is that important. As both nations fight over Syria, the mask that has been hiding much of the geopolitics in the region could slip significantly. Turkey's desire for stealth could be more difficult to maintain. In either case, Iran has far more to lose relative to Syria than does Turkey but the latter country has far more to gain if it gets control.

In this game of chicken, Syria is like a piece of meat Iran desperately wants to keep on its plate. Conversely, the Muslim Brotherhood desperately wants to gobble it up for its master - Turkey.

h/t Shoebat

Romney has now taken a Proverbial Pop to the Chops

Remember the scene in the first Rocky movie when Rocky Balboa finally entered the ring against reigning champion, Apollo Creed? The outcome was a foregone conclusion. Creed's overconfidence against Balboa's serious doubts that he could even go the distance. The first round went the way most expected; Creed toyed with Rocky and the challenger looked small, until....

....sorry, this is the best version I could find....



Romney may have encountered a similar surprise with Rick Santorum's victories in Colorado, Missouri, and Minnesota. In this metaphor, however, while Romney and the Republican establishment is represented by Creed, Santorum isn't the one represented by Balboa (neither is Ron Paul); the American people are because the four-man field is making things difficult for Romney in a way almost opposite from the way it was supposed to help him.

Via John Fund at NRO:

Mitt Romney’s campaign will have lots of explanations for their man’s poor showing tonight. Yes, Colorado and Minnesota were caucus states — the turnout is skewed in such contests toward a more conservative electorate. Yes, Missouri’s primary was a “beauty contest” and didn’t award any delegates. 

But what Romney won’t be able to explain away is just how much more poorly he did tonight in those three states than in his 2008 showing — when he lost the GOP nomination for president. 

In 2008, Romney crushed John McCain in the Minnesota caucuses by nearly two to one. Tonight, he was sent into a humiliating third-place finish, trailing both Rick Santroum and Ron Paul. In Missouri, McCain held John McCain and Mike Huckabee to something close to a three-way tie, winning 29 percent of the vote. This year, with fewer opponents, he won only 25 percent. In Colorado, Romney outperformed John McCain by three to one in 2008. This year, albeit with only early returns in, he is trailing Santorum. Results from Denver caucus sites will likely boost Romney’s overall showing, but it’s tough to see him winning the state with Santorum performing as well as he is in Colorado Springs and the rural areas.

We're seeing a trend develop that has the establishment quaking in its boots. The 'flyover country' so frequently mocked by the elites is a real threat now.

Here is Santorum's victory speech in Minnesota:

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