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From governor's son to presidential contender, a look at the life of Republican Mitt Romney.
If Mitt Romney had won the presidential election, insiders say, it’s not hard to imagine what he and his number two, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, would have been tackling on this very day.
An extensive preparation plan dubbed the "Romney Readiness Project," pulled together by the GOP nominee’s team and no longer of any use, offers detailed insight into how ready he was to take the reins, the sources told NBC News.
Romney and Ryan each had office space set aside for them at a transition office in southwest Washington, D.C., where former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt led a team of hundreds of advisers tasked with crafting an ambitious agenda for the Republican’s first 200 days in office.
Insiders describe a well-prepared transition that was ready to hit the ground running on Nov. 7, and begin the work of fashioning a Romney government.
Leavitt was in Boston on Election Day, prepared to brief Romney if the GOP nominee proved victorious.
"We built a great ship, and regrettably, in my view, we didn't sail. I think it would have been a crisp transition," Leavitt said in an interview with NBC News. "I got up every morning from the day he asked me to do this — not naively — assuming that we would be elected, and we needed to be prepared."
Charles Dharapak / AP
Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt is seen in this June 23, 2012 file photo.
The extensive and well-prepared operation resembled the inner workings of Bain Capital, the venture capital firm founded by Romney, according to multiple sources associated with the transition, who asked not to be identified to more candidly discuss the process.
“In many ways, it felt like the West Wing,” one transition official said in praise of the professional environment.
The preparations were enabled by a 2010 law, the “Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act,” which afforded Romney (along with any other future nominees) government support and office space to begin the arduous work of planning a handover of government. Officials in the transition team were allowed use of a government email address ending in “@ptt.gov.”
The Romney campaign had prepared for a victory on Tuesday, accidentally publishing their candidate's official transition website, which included a section on how to join the Romney administration. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Romney was the first major party nominee able to take advantage of this law, and in June he selected Leavitt, who served as Utah governor while Romney headed the Salt Lake City Olympics, to lead the effort.
Sources described Leavitt as having taken seriously Romney’s mandate to prepare a new administration. The former Department of Health and Human Services secretary told NBC News that he reviewed books and manuscripts to prepare for his role, in addition to speaking to individuals involved in transitions from the Carter through Obama administrations.
The Romney transition was divided into groups that focused on specific areas of emphasis – the economy, foreign policy, education, for instance – to help shape policy for the early days of a Romney administration, as well as personnel.
Among the plans for the transition included the formation of teams that would begin immediately working with government agencies to lay the groundwork for the new administration.
There were “landing teams” prepared to go into government agencies two weeks after the election and begin the work of handing over to a Romney administration. Separate “beachhead” teams would then be deployed into those agencies immediately following the inauguration on Jan. 20.
“They'd obviously thought about structure and process,” said one transition adviser.
Additionally, plans included the crafting of an agenda detailing what actions Romney would take — mostly to follow through with campaign promises — beginning the Thursday after Inauguration Day.
"We had the first 45 days of the administration scheduled," Leavitt said. "We felt there was a need for crisp and early action. We were literally writing executive orders. It was a federal government in miniature."
According to Leavitt, many preparations involved assembling a menu of options for Romney to enact his plans for government or to make good on campaign pledges, like labeling China a currency manipulator or allowing the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Rep. Raul Labrador, Columnist Tom Friedman, Former White House chief of staff John Podesta, NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell, and GOP strategist Mike Murphy share their views on what the GOP needs to do moving forward.
But Leavitt also emphasized that no decisions were ever made.
The transition’s portfolio also included the early work of approaching potential candidates to head cabinet agencies, along with prospective nominees for other positions that would require Senate confirmation. Those candidates were also vetted at a very preliminary level.
The end result was a list of 10 candidates for each cabinet post, which was pared down by Leavitt and two other campaign confidants: Beth Myers, Romney’s former chief of staff who led the search for his vice presidential nominee, and Bob White, a longtime Romney friend and associate.
The hope was to have Romney name many of his top cabinet nominees by Thanksgiving – this week, in essence. But, according to one transition source, Romney was never made privy to these rosters of would-be administration officials. The former Massachusetts governor was busy setting about the work of campaigning for the presidency.
"To my knowledge, there were no conversations between Gov. Romney and anyone about cabinet positions," said Leavitt, who explained that he opted to exercise tight control of these deliberations once campaign outsiders sought information about the process. "The number of people who knew whose names were on the pared-down lists was probably about four people."
Romney tapped Leavitt at a point in the election cycle that was comparable to Obama’s selection of John Podesta to lead his transition project four years earlier. Podesta served as White House chief of staff under Bill Clinton.
“The president asked me to do that in June after Sen. (Hillary) Clinton dropped out of the race, and I began organizing that with a group of people in early July. We had a fairly elaborate process working by late summer,” Podesta said of his experience. “By the time Election Day happened, we were fully engaged in the process of thinking through both the security transition and the economic crisis in fall of that year.”
In this archive video from before the election, Mike Allen discusses Romney campaign transition preparations on "Morning Joe."
Like much of Romney’s campaign, the transition team folded following his loss on Nov. 6. But future nominees — Democratic or Republican — might be well-served to study the work of the “Romney Readiness Project.”
Because of term limits, America will have a new president in 2016, and a transition of some kind will be necessary.
“I think it's highly appropriate,” Podesta said of the new transition process sanctioned by Congress. “It normalizes the transition, so you don't get all the political garbage about 'measuring the drapes.' It's a very complicated process, and having been on both ends of it, I think it's very important for the country to make it as seamless and professional as possible.”
Said Leavitt of the experience enabled by the new law: "One of the best things the law did was that it created an expectation that people would plan. Because you can't just become president of the United States in 77 days, and do it well."
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Did anybody catch that this "transition readiness" fantasy was paid for in part by YOUR tax dollars ? And WHAT was the price of this pipe dream to the taxpayers ? It sounds allot like an ENTITLEMENT to me !
Dr. Mirabilis, actually, sir, I'm afraid you're right; there really are that many people who would rather that this President fails and the entire nation falls with him just so they can be proven right! Does anybody else here remember Rush Blimpaugh saying "I hope he fails!" less than a month into the new Administration? I, for one, will never forget or forgive that remark- and anybody who listens to that loathsome, drug-addicted pedophile is, in my book, just as guilty as he and his media cohort are of actively conniving at the collapse of America's economy, and the final failure of popular democracy.
Hunter S. Thompson was right: "These people are swine, and they should be f****d, broken, and driven across the land." Res ipsa loquitor.
Your a f***ing teabaggin' moron.
Wow Brenda what a vocabulary.
Brenda-1255880, you are suspended for a week for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
Just think the candidates of both parties will get to take the same tax advantage in 2016. In the name of preparation.
what else could these political parasites do. both parties are like turkey vultures feasting on the carcas of the nation. talk about whores. i always wonder if these pukes could get a real job as a pipefitter or a plumber. They are all like Jack Abramoff. Total con artists.
If someone attempts to insult someone else, and they do so by starting their tirade off with the word "your," instead of the proper contraction of "you're"...as in "you are", then they have already proven that they aren't very bright themselves. Just an observation.
how the hell did that worthless pos ryan hold on to his seat in the house?the people who voted for him are really out there,or was the fix in?
A heavily gerrymandered district, a couple of million bucks in the bank and a Democratic challenger who was unknown 90 days before the election. You can go back to the 1950s and see the Ryan's district has always gone back and forth between D & R. But the redistricting turned it into a reliably Republican enclave.
Romney's VP choice made McCains VP choice look like an intellect and we know that ain't so!!!And another thing, Mrs Romney stated "Mitt don't lose." Well Mittens does lose and I am so greatful that he lost. I can't imagine an America w/someone of his moronic views would govern. Thank you Mr President!!
Okay, folks. Fun's over! Time to get with the President and help him drag the House of Representatives, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century. With any luck, they'll be weakened from all the foot-dragging and record setting filibustering they accomplished in the last four years. It's not easy to move the country forward when the House's only agenda is to make you look bad.
We all dodged a bullet with this Romney/Ryan scourge!
Maybe he should have told people what he was going to do. He said nothing! I don't want to hear what this wannabe was going to do, because I'm sure it would have hit me in the pocketbook. Down with the plutocrats!
Such passion, devotion and energy expended on charting a new course for America, yet all of it crashing down in the land of broken dreams. It almost makes you feel sorry for Mutt and his Repugnican cohorts.
Almost.
Had Mitt won, like any gameshow host, he'd have been promoting the bipartisan game while his tax-payer paid transition team supplied him with an agenda. As per usual, his party is blaming the POTUS for a lackluster term under their absolute refusal to cooperate. Would it be unconstitutional to make them pay for all the wasted time consumed by filibusters?
I just said a short prayer, thanking God and the voters ...... that romneyland will not take over our lives.
It does seem there were real policy details. I wonder how badly he would beaten had he shared them with the voters.
I thought we were going to be Greece by now? I was looking forward to the ancient architecture! And who really cares about plans that the losers had? We voted for our president because we didn't like loser plans!
All I can say is: hahahahahaha!
"We built a great ship, and regrettably, in my view, we didn't sail. I think it would have been a crisp transition," Leavitt said in an interview with NBC News. "
Well as Pacino so eloquently put it, what you were building was a "Rat Ship". A Rat ship fulla Oligarch C@%&$&%$. Yeah you had your cutthroat operatives in place, ready to go into the Medicare administration, the Social Security administration, the Dept of Education, and every other worthwhile government program office, and basically wreck the joint. Just like Bain (your OWN people said) fully prepared to attack and destroy our government social programs, cut them up piece by piece, loot them, and then hand the money over to your plutocrat scumbag buddies.
You and Eddie Munster, just out there running around like a couple of little crazed monkeys trying to grab all the bananas. Yer such a freakin' tool I still can't believe that there were people who actually VOTED for your lying thieving @SS.
Well no matter, and we really don't need to hear about your little "F$%& America" organization (well maybe the blind @ss fools who voted for you do), we already know what you were about. and what was that “@ptt.gov” (Plutocrat Takeover Tactics dot Gov?)
Since you obviously don't get it, I'll remind you once again...it's O V E R! You lost, now GO AWAY.
After 4 years of 0bama's failed policies I didn't think anybody could be stupid enough to give him another term. Boy, was I wrong. You people ARE that stupid. I hope you enjoy your tax increases as much as I will enjoy mine.
The only "Stupid" one is YOU. Obama's policies have brought this country BACK from the precipice of economic collapse, and baggers like you are just too stubborn and bigoted to give ANY credit where credit is actually due.
So you can EAT IT! Obama IS that president and yer TOOL of a plutocrat is still what he always was...a NOTHING! And as for your taxes, I hope you take it up the @ss your rich prick.
You are the stupid one thank you.
Fearful of IGNORANCE? Man you must scare the S#!T out of yourself every time you look in a mirror...
An example of Republican arrogance. Right after the RNC, when Romney called the press off the on again to catch him un-docking his boat to take a short excursion and no cares -Arrogance and no sense of urgency to campaign. Anyway, it's reflective of the GOP attitude and their glandular stupid representatives Republicans have, finally are changing guard. The extreme right is not working. The addage of the (Great White Hope) is definitely gone. Then to try and dwell on Benghazi, and want to call anotehr comittee -waste of time to deal with issues. The American people have spoken to Congress to get it together! You are on notice.
Ad from Anchorage News Sentinel Classifieds:
"Room for rent. Failed politicians welcome. Great view of Russia.
Call Sarah @ 1-800-FOX-GIRL"
I hope, they run Sarah, in 2016. That, would be more fun, than this was.
Palin running in 2016 would put the final nail in the GOP's coffin.
What a fantastic, fanatical, freaky, fiend. WOW & all this Great bovine excrement While fireing on 4 of 8 cylinders.
Here is some reality 4ward you.... I'm sure you will find this awfully amusing....Gopisex....
How Many Businesses Have Announced Closings or Layoffs Since Obama Won A Second Term?
Michael Snyder: Can you hear that sound? It is the sound of the air being let out of the economy. Since the election, there has been a massive tsunami of layoffs and business failures.
Read more at http://marketdailynews.com/2012/11/18/economy-hostess-adds-to-the-massive-tsunami-of-post-election-layoffs/#cs5FcFGdZhxz4SPx.99
#5 According to the Blaze, the following major corporations have all announced layoffs in just the past two days...
Energizer
Exide Technologies
Westinghouse
Research in Motion Limited
Lightyear Network Solutions
Providence Journal
Hawker Beechcraft
Boeing (30% of their management staff)
CVPH Medical Center
US Cellular
Momentive Performance Materials
Rocketdyne
Brake Parts
Vestas Wind Systems
Husqvarna
Center for Hospice New York
Bristol-Meyers
OCE North America
Darden Restaurants
West Ridge Mine
United Blood Services Gulf
Posted below is a list of layoff headlines from the past few days that was posted on AmericanThinker.com...
#6 The following is a list of companies that will be laying off workers just because of Obamacare that was compiled by FreedomWorks...
So if your company trims the number of workers to just under 50 or starts going to "29 hour work weeks", then you will know who to blame.
All of this is complete and utter insanity. We are committing national economic suicide.
But perhaps we deserve this. After all, Americans willingly chose their leaders on election day. It is getting harder and harder to deny that our politicians are truly a reflection of who we are as a nation.
The American people chose this path, and now we get to see where it leads us.
You are where you are because you wanted it...
SO. "Get used too it"
"AmericanThinker" and "Freedomworks". Dude, you have fallen over the Fox cliff.....Seek help.
thepeople laid off thosetwo clowns on election day,deal with it.
So if you do not like the sources Gov. find some of your own . ...
You are where you are because you want to be...
SO. "Get used too it"
I will be SURE then to BOYCOTT ALL THE above mentioned Businesses!
And here we are with Bumbling Barry Obama! No plan only an agenda. To lead the country into total chaos. His Buddy George Soros is smiling as he orchestrates the fall of America!! Good luck Obama supporters! Whatever dream you have will surely be a let down when 4 more years passes!
You are correct. There is no Hope. You should find yourself a nice length of rope. No reason you should have to suffer through the next four years.
"We built a great ship, and regrettably, in my view, we didn't sail." And the name of that ship was Titanic, and if it HAD sailed the result would have been the same. Disaster!
I know most commenters here are still obsessed that their Rock Star guy won and continue the venom that got him elected, but this is how an administrator administrates an Administration. And the week following the election shows what you are going to get for the next four years -- while a Romney would have been getting real talent together to help ALL American's economic lives, our President is taking photo ops in "Myanmar".
When you say "All Americans", you don't mean the 47% right? You dont mean Mexicans, women, gays or students? You don't mean union members? How bout disabled vets? Black people?
Venom? The RW INVENTED venom. Do Birthers ring a bell? How bout terms like socialists or brownshirts?
Asia is critical to our future for a variety of reasons. And BTW, the Presidents FIRST duty was meeting with the OBSTRUCTIONISTS to start drafting plans for deficit reduction.
Go back to FOX.
we're not obsessed with the president... though some like myself are obsessed with keeping republicans out of the oval office... the last one just about did the country in
The only guy who could have beat Romney was Romney. And damned if he didn't do just that.
Politicians #1 priority is to try to be mindful of what come out of their mouths.
Get over it. He lost. Romney is old news, let's move forward! (Hooray for our president, a true leader.)
This isn't news. Of course it looked like Bain: an office bureaucracy fetishizing the efficient destruction of lower-class lives.
This after the fact lionizing of "Romney the Competent Manager" is as hilariously myopic as it is revolting.
Good riddance.
We should HONOR Americas WORKING CLASS HEREOS!!!
I lived in Utah when Leavitt was governor. He was a loser too. Take a look at the balance of money from Utah that goes to the federal gov't, and much more, a heck of a lot more returns to Utah. They keep public servants on low pay, and with their large families, qualify for food stamps, etc, etc. Utah is a parasite.
Seconded. And the public persona was only that. Salt Lake City in many ways still a small town and the stories of Leavitt are hair-raising. Perfect that Romney chose him to build his empire. Two dangerous, sanctimonious phonies.
Nothing so chilling as this. The vision of what it would have been like, had Romney actually won. Waking nightmare. Our country stepped back from the brink. Merciful heaven.
Lucky for us. They, could not fool, everyone. We need to stay vigilant. And, remove the Tea people, permanently. 2014, should finish the job. I have no problem, with Conservatives. The Tea people, are right wing extremists. And, need to go. We have, enough problems. Without them, obstructing things. Just remember, to vote, in every election. And, we will be OK
convenientliesyoubelieve
So if you do not like the sources Gov. find some of your own . ...
The facts are and will be found Ir-refutable, no matter where you look save,for, move on dot org. or the sugar coating of NPR....
You can live in denial like the ostrich, with your head in the sand and posterior exposed...
However the fact remains and the truth will be told no matter if you listen or not....
4ward thru the fog "Hope it does not hurt when you run in to that wall"
You are where you are because you want to be...
SO. "Get used too it"
Buddy, I already told you, seek help. Check into RW rehab. Here.....let me help you get started on your way back to reality:
...
Take two asprin and step away from the ReplubliNazi websites.
....http//factcheck.org....
Ha! Romney supporters talking about the truth. As if they had ever seen or heard it.
unrealized... thank you voting public!
"We built a great ship...."
Nice to hear that Mitt got to build that Navy he was talking about....
At least Romney had a plan, the empty chair is still only offering 4 more years of bubbling incompetence but its ok because he sounds good. I've never heard a man talk so much a say so little.
Romney plan = protect the rich, the military, coal mines, and Israel