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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."
Leave a Comment:
Thankfully, this "plan" never saw the light of day.
I'm glad to see that some Republicans are still engaged, it shows that you do care and not just in for the Obama bashing. I do want you to consider this, Republicans won the Independent vote and still lost the election by all of Fox News and Rush's estimates a "landslide".
You guys have got to get rid of the nut jobs in your party, it's just that simple. I'm an Independent and have problems with both parties, but at least the Dems don't talk crazy. at least the majority don't.
You guys have to stand up to guys like Limbaugh who calls a young woman a slut just because she has a different opinion. I would ask any of you , supposed that was YOUR DAUGHTER?
We can disagree but when someone is nuts.
Both parties have their crazies if that is a good term. If you have never heard such from a democrat I suggest you do a little research.
Agreed. They need to lose the religious zealots, and the haters. Otherwise they are sunk. That way of thinking is unaccepetable, and will not be promoted, PERIOD.
And simply not saying crazy stuff isnt enough, actions speak louder than words. Like embracing the dream act, giving in on the tax breaks for the wealthy, accepting legalized abortion as the law of the land, not trying to undo SS and Medicaid/medicare, etc.
Yea, the leeching 47% have spoken.
To your last point- where were you when Bill Marher called Sarah Palin a cun@? The list is endless of the insults that Liberals heaped upon conservatives and that is perfectly fine to Liberals. Hypocrisy on both sides need to stop. Republicans are not nuts anymore than Liberals are loony- we see things from different points of view, until we learn to accept that folks have different opinions and that needs to be respected we will never, ever move this country forward and four years from now we will be as polarized as we are now.
Obama got a lot more than 47% of the vote. And the poor dont generally vote anyway. Less than half the population votes. So he was elected by mostly working people. A large precentage being working class. And they have had enough of getting the lions share of the burden. We struggle, while the rich banks record profits. No more.
Dont like it? Tough!
Freedom4Everyone
You're CANADIAN. Stay the F!@# out of American politics. Don't like it? Eat $hit.
Ive never once said I was Canadian, you are simply assuming I am. I will not say where Im from, I dont give out personal info. I live in the north, its a big place. And Ive said more than a few time, that this is my business. Thats all you need to know.
PS: Ill stick my nose where ever the hell I like.
Sorry loser.... you've noted it many times before, while also claiming you came across the border to visit family and conduct business. Of course you never did mention what business. Coke transport must be profitable, eh?
And when you get your nose out of your a$$, do me a favor put it back up there.
Anyone can read my post history. Go ahead, find one time I said I was Canadian. Where I live is irrelevant to what nationality I am, or who im married too. Or where my business takes me.
No matter how much you pry, im not going to tell you specifics.
But what do we believe from you? You've made claims to be a two star or a three star general. To have been tortured... or should we believe your we in Canada like our laws just fine line? Who is Freedom4Everyone.... it's kind of like asking Where's Waldo.
Any torturing is in your mind... you are very twisted.
lol, i have never made such claims... dude, anyone can read our post histories. Your credibility is zero.
3 star general... ROFL
To be quite candid, I have more important things to do than to worry about the ramblings of a loser like yourself. You can't even keep up with your own story line.
Have a wonderful day in what ever world you exist in today.
Always. :D
Name calling wont upset me. But you are likely to get yourself banned for it, if you dont grow up.
Oh, goody -we dodged the Bain bullet, thank goodness.
Idiot lib
Thank you, RL56 - I see you're right on top of intelligent retorts this morning. Have a nice day and enjoy your Obamacare. Cheers.
Racing to put a plan in order, ooppps! Forgot about the plan that counted ! To be honest Romney was the great planner in chief, the numbers guy, the CEO, well they ran their campaign like some second stringers, their administration would have been disastrous
Several people mentioned that Romney was planning slave labor camps for atheists who voted for O, including indoctrination into Mormonism. Isn't Leavitt a Mormon? Do we know who was going to head up the "Re-education" efforts? Is it true that anyone who supports Planned Parenthood would be targeted for an enforced "vacation"?
Actually, northlite. it's your beloved hussein who has been predicted to move toward labor camps, indoctrination into shiria law, etc. I don't think you would have found Mr. Romney in favor of that, since he was in favor of better education for all, better training for all, etc.
What you will find is that the black muslim in the WH will dumb down every American who still thinks for himself, and with his Napolean attitude (very little man with big man attitude) you will see it sooner than later, as he is already squelching anyone who has a different opinion or view point.
Patricia,
lay off the crazy pills. Please? We're really hoping your whole party will do the same now that we all realize that behavior will not help you win.
And to think, Romney won 100% of the hillbilly I'll-only-vote-fer-ya-iffen-yer-white vote! That amounts to millions of impoverished white people voting against their own self-interest in the name of making the White House, white again. So, imagine if in the next presidential election the race is between two white candidates! The poor Republicans won't have the race card to play and will lose by a landslide! Whatever you right wing nuts do, keep Karl Rove and the Tea-baggers in charge of your party. That way you will slide into the oblivion you deserve!!!
EAT it and enjoy Santa's higher taxes on everyone idiot lib
Obama got 95% of the black vote-can you explain that? what is that not racist? Your Hillbillies comment is exactly what I am talking about- Liberals can throw out terms like that which are insulating, nary a word of rebuke from the left,typical
Celtic, you are assuming they voted for Obama, simply because hes black. And not because he was the better candidate. Thats in itself is racist.
You cant even see how racist your thinking is.
I don't have to assume, I know it, example some wards in Philly recorded over 19,000 VOTES for Obama - 0 Romney. I talked with many black folks who plainly told me that they voted for Obama because he was black. Stating the obvious does not make one a racist. I know that is one of the Liberals favorite buzz words to toss out to stop a conversation.
Celtic
Add on to it how disingenuous Freedom's comments are. The left is incapable of seeing truth for what it is. I think that is one of the primary (far from only) problems I have with leftists - the love to stand on some false moral high ground preaching down at the mere mortals below them. Such hypocrites.
Im sure some black people may have voted for Obama because of his race. But to say ALL did, is racist. And Im going to assume that area in Philly is traditionally a Dem area anyway. Dems are mostly working class and middle class, and are voting for the party that supports their needs. So there is nothing special about that area voting all for a Dems. How many Repub areas voted all Romney? I certainly wouldnt call them racists for all voting Romney, just stupid.
I did not say all, but many did, just as some voted for Romney because they did not want a black man (really mixed race) President reelected, not many but some to be sure. I reject your claim that people who voted for Romney are stupid, check your exit polls on the education levels of Republicans you may learn something
Education level has nothing to do with stupidity level.
You cant teach wisdom.
Wow! you just summed up in a nutshell what is wrong with Liberals and the education system in this country. Now,. if you will excuse me I have a small company to run, people on welfare are depending on me .. Well Sorry that was mean.
Tom, not sure where you live, but outside Philly we have crowded malls and restuarants. My friends are telling me that they are busy at work. I just heard this morning on the news that online shopping for Christmas has already begun. Long lines at the register. I don't need the news to tell me what my eyes are already seeing....the economy is going in the right direction. Turn off your Faux News and have the happiest of holidays!
They think obama claus is going to bail them out.
Republican Governor - creates jobs left is so right!!
Tuxx - yep, but can you give me specifics on how Corbet did this? I am pretty sure it was Obama's stimulus package that got it going.
yes,obozo the clown was elected again by the mental midgets. after 4 more yrs of Obozo the national debt will be $22-$27Trillion ( low estimate ) the way Obozo spends money for his socialist programs and Michelle swipes her taxpayer funded unlimited Diamond encrusted Gold card on her endless shopping sprees.
Libs are like kids, thinking the money never runs out.
I, like a lot of people might of voted for a republicans, if the party would of put forward a candidate that might of made a good president. The truth about Romney is that if you actually looked, really looked at all of his 'qualifying past achievements' you would realize what a terrible president he would of made. At Bain, he made money by taking out massive amounts of debt on companies, at the Olympics he saved it by spending more tax dollars then ever before, by a massive amount too, as governor he failed on almost all accounts and help get a democrat elected to replace him, though he was the 4th republican governor, and finally his 'community' charity was almost exclusively for his church and church members. Romney only cared about people already in his circle.
Thank you America, for voting for a guy that cares for 100% of America!
The guy only cares about his group of backers and not the country
Right RL56, he does. But that's one of the many reasons why we didn't make Mitt Romney president.
Regrettable for the country Romney's ship didn't sail. No straight answers from the White House on why our Ambassador was not defended or aided, but allowed to be murdered. The Financial cliff looms large and the President is off spending millions to visit enemies who he thinks to call friends. Nearly 50,000.000 people in Poverty, Huge Layoffs happening now, Unemployment rate has likely gone to 10% since the election....
Very sad day for the country when sense turned to nonsense. Hostess is PRIME example what Unions do for folks....Lose your job and because you were out on strike, no "unemployment for you"....Quick apply for Food Stamps...that's the Government's answer. The Administration has NO answers for Job creation...you have become the disillusioned stuckees. Good Luck with that.
Yeah, it's so surprising that when the CIA is involved we don't get straight answers! From now on, I want daily press releases of all of our intelligence activities! Oh and let's ignore the fact that republicans voted to slash security for our embassies.
As for Hostess, you might want to look at the massive increases in pay for each of their CEOs and top executives, the unions didn't drag the company down.
The main reason that the Libyan Ambassador did not have any security and was denied when he requested it is because the President Obama has a Mulsim agenda in by denying security and allowing the attack to take place he basically eliminated the emerging government that started taking hold in Libya after the over throwing of Ghadafi. Now the extreme Mulsim factions control most of Libya and they were covertly supplied weapons by the CIA who took their orders directly from President Obama. Since the majority of northern Africa is Mulsim dominated now by the changes in the governments it will be easier for the Mulsim to wipe out the remaining Christians in the middle and southern parts of Africa. Once all of Africa is controlled by Muslim extremists they will all align themselves with the Chinese in orchestrating the down fall of America since the Chinese owns all of the U.S. debt.
Yup, your so right, all security requests go across the desk in the Oval Office, for all of our hundreds and hundreds of embassies and consultants and we know that Obama has always had an issue with spending on security for those offices, it's why he was able to get all those republicans to vote against funding for security, Paul Ryan votes however Obama wants him to.
what the hell is a mulsim? is that a new computer game-mulsim city?
YOU are why they lost.
YOU are why this country will fail
On what day after his inauguration was he planning to tell us any campaign specifics? (You can only go so far on "We're Not Obama")
It's transition readiness to impose his govt paid for our tax dollars. Is that why he lost? He imposed something rather than finding out what was needed. Did he look around him and see that 47% were in need and not just living off the govt. Also, If this is supported by tax dollars isn't he living off the govt. How much did "Bain" get from the govt, not including tax loop holds to do their business. This guy is not trustworthy and neither were his backers. Too sneak for me. And this gov was on the Bain model, which means was he planning to outsource America. This is all to strange to me and hidden. I noticed that not much was said about his religion which in historic times the Mormons had it in mind to have a Theocracy under them. Did his plan include any of his religious ideology? And all this at tax payers dollars. Glad he wasn't voted in. Maybe someone else like Snow would've been a better candidate. I think his right wing deal really showed his true colors. I think he is right wing and pretends to be middle. I don't think we need to consider America as merely a business venture. I think that's what I didn't like. If it goes belly up then who cashes in? Does the president get bonuses for charging more and giving less as the CEO's have gotten in many of the cooperations. I think this guy and the Republicans many of them need to know people are not can's of soup, but people. That's what they forgot
convenientliesyoubelieve, you are not telling the whole story. For instance, Hostess's demise is a result of poor management and grossly inflated earnings for the top dogs in the company. For many of the companies you have listed, top management pay increases, bonuses, perks are the reasons people are being laid off. In other cases, an unwillingness to temporarily reduce profit margins to keep employees in jobs is the reason. In others, reduced demand (you know, that side of capitalism big businesses wants to go away so they can continue to only show more profits, an unrealistic expectation) and reductions in workforce through natural things like retirement, etc. are factors. To place it all at the feet of President Obama and say it is all his fault is asinine.
Here's the thing: growing up during the 60's and entering the workforce in the 70's, MOST private sector employers offered health insurance as a standard benefit for their employees. They knew a healthy workforce was a productive workforce. Many offered standard vacation time because they understood EVERYONE needs to be able to take a break and spend time with their families or have the availability of time off for unexpected things. Many offered compensatory time for those willing to work overtime, and they allowed it to accrue, not use-or-lose. In short, those employers understood people have lives outside of their jobs, and wanted to ensure mutual longevity.
Enter greed. Yep, plain, old-fashioned greed. Business owners began to care less about the well-being of their employees and more about profit margins. They reduced or eliminated benefits; they hid behind the minimum wage and said, "we may have to pay you this much, but we don't have to pay you any more". They began making overtime mandatory with the ever-present threat of termination, and they did all of these things in the name of PROFIT. How could a worker be expected to take pride in their work, or want to do more for the company they worked for, when what the worker saw was a check that didn't keep up with the cost of inflation, more hours spent working just to keep a roof over their head or hold onto what generations before had enjoyed as job security, the means of being able to ensure their families were healthy and mutual loyalty?
Businesses should be at the forefront of efforts to take on the insurance industry, the healthcare industry, etc. and demand those industries be a part of responsibility and a happy, healthy workforce. There were some companies recently in the news who refused to lay workers off, and set profit margin expectations lower so that they could take care of their employees. This is the kind of stuff that builds loyalty, and they should be commended for their efforts to do the right thing.
Yeahhh!!!! Send the Hostess Jobs to Mexico! Maybe we can get some decent products since American Union workers are lazy and no different than Americans on either welfare or food stamps. They all want everyone else to pay for them. $20.00 an hour is too much let them make minimum wage!
geesh ryan, even Henry Ford knew if you paid your employees fairly, they would go out a buy cars.
Ryan, who buys hostess Twinkies anymore? The last time I ate a Twinkie was probably packed in my lunch box over 40 years ago. And with Carbs being a bad word, we don't buy the bread and snacks like we used to. Maybe they should have seen the writing on the wall and changed things a long time ago. Times are changing. Do you pay bills online, or do you still put a stamp on the envelope? Government Post Offices are hurting. Do you wait in line for the cashier at the grocery store, or do you go through the self-check -out line? Do you use an easy-pass when you go through the toll roads or wait and use a person? Do you shop online? WE are changing the economy and businesses have to adapt and we all have to find balance.
It breaks my heart that Romney didn't become President, we could be on our way to a real recovery soon, but now we are stuck with an angry black man who has a chip on his shoulder against AAmerica, and loves to spend trillions of dollars a year.
Don't forget, Angel, he's pledged REVENGE! That is in the form of the increase to 1.6T dollars in taxes instead of the 900B for obummercare. He is quite an angry black man, so much for any change during the next 4 yrs. He intends to "get even" any way he can.
Hahaha. I hope he gets revenge on douchebags like you. You people are the reason our country's been held back so long.
Romney/Ryan Administration, LOL! This rich guy had his head up his, you know. Go away!
No more than Obama swallowing what comes out of his.
$16,000,000,000,000.00 debt
$2,100,000,000,000.00 in revenue
$3,600,000,000,000.00 projected 2013 budget
Solution: Create additional incentive for wealthy Americans to move their wealth outside the USA by raising their tax burden.
All those who think this is a good idea please raise your hand. Oh, never mind, you already did on November 6th.
Can we please stop talking about the past and focus on what we are going to do about 'OUR' future?
Already have... Obama's in charge...
The gap is due to those *&%$ rich millionaires and billionares...
Once he gets his tax increase, it will close the budget gap by $64,000,000,000
Then the $1,700,000,000,000 gap
-$ 64,000,000,000
Becomes $1,636,000,000,000!!!
Problem solved!!!
wilman, First, check your math, you are short a few zeros. Second, the premise of your solution is that the rich will keep their money in the US economy to be taxed. Why do you think Gov. Romney had investments in the Cayman's, Switzerland, and China? Because the US Tax Code told him to put his money there.
America is still one of the lowest taxing countries in the world. Go ahead and move, the grass is not greener elsewhere. And the quality of worker in cheap labor markets, is no bargain.
Those tax havens are going to soon disappear, btw.
Freedom4Everyone, I would ask you to check your facts. The US has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. High labor costs can be justified, high material costs can be justified, high logistics costs can be justified, high taxes are just money out the window to a business. High taxes send a very clear message to companies, that message is "DON'T DO BUSINESS HERE!!!!"
Calm down Libs, we took the Bush heat for the last 4 years, we're well prepared to take the Congress heat for the next four. I'm sure the majority of the public are tired of hearing it and will continue to tune it out.
"....We built a great ship....." No, you built the Titanic and you broke apart and sunk on your maiden voyage as well. Blub.....
Blub.....
Blub......
Yeahhh Fiscal Cliff collapses America and the citizens suffer! Too bad so sad LOL. The only ones who will be hurting are the idiots who were too stupid and voted for the idiot Democrat closet Muslim.
You know, Romney was pretty arrogant. He just assumed he was going to win. He didn't have a concession speech made out even and now this guy too. WOW. I am a former law enforcement officer and I have a little lesson for Mr. Romney and his people. We were taught that the word ASSUME meant, ..makes an ASS out of U and ME. Romney has certainly proven that!
that is not called arrogance, it is called self assurance. you may try it sometime. I think talking about being an ASS should be left out since you seem to be talking about yourself. Talk fact not ASSumptions.
he lost, get over it.
Republicans can do better than Palin in 2016. Absolute comic relief but the millions spent to try and control or win back the White House, I beg to differ. The GOP will change to adjust to America -they have to. The movie Game Changer was a good message of how not to be -really foolish to repeat history so close and fail again. Hint guys, vett qualified and proved politicians if you want to win or be be a respected party again. Stupidity doesn't work, and alienating women's right or any group's rights -check yourselves and listen. We are ethically challenged and this country need leaders of good morals and a demeanor to stand for what is correct (not the politically correct seeker as Romney played-flipp'in). That means boldness but not arrogance or stupidity. The words -HUMILITY-WISDOM-SELFLESS-GOVERNANCE.
Well that shows that he was a very well organized and focused person and knew how to start working. We are at a loss he did not win people. You will find out this in enough time. The current administration cannot even own they screwed up with Bengazhi and has constantly lied. I guess you all like being lied to and made to be thought you are dumb for not knowing the difference between lie or truth..Those poor families who lost their loved ones and the administration lied to their faces about the alleged mob and video.It is a shame that most of you wanted President Jay-Z celebrity on the White House instead of a man who actually knew what he was doing before coming to run for President . It is the loss of all of us. You will all now see what is coming up in his agenda and what the Hope and Change agenda will do in the next few years. You all better wear helmets and be prepared for a bumpy ride my friends...
There is just so many things that could have been...millionaires and billionaires would no longer be up at night worrying about a three cent per dollar tax increase, big time money managers would continue to enjoy their special hard won special tax breaks, 70 year old seniors with diabetes would be on the road to buying their own health care plan from a profit making institution, young folks would be taught not to rely on the government for Pell grants for school money and turn to their parents instead..oh! the sadness of what might have been!