A storm is brewing inside the Romney transition

Whereas the presidential campaign has been largely run by a diverse inner circle of pols who are loyal to Romney’s political ambitions, Leavitt’s team consists mostly of men (with the exception of Leavitt’s assistant, there is a shocking absence of senior female leadership within the readiness project) who are Leavitt “retreads,” business leaders, outsiders, and/or LDS members (described by two different sources as the “Mormon mafia.”)…

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Leavitt, for example, has brought in former Utah Sen. Bob Bennett, who was ousted from office over his moderate positions. Bennett has publicly said Leavitt “would make a great chief of staff in the White House.” (This emphasis toward a business philosophy of governance fits well with Romney’s recently stated goal of bringing “corporate order to the West Wing” — and bringing a lot of private-sector people into the administration.) One source says he’d be more comfortable with a few more “Haley Barbours” involved…

Many on the transition team have little or no political experience (concerns about an “experience gap” have already been expressed regarding Romney’s foreign policy team), and what is more, many are politically inexperienced technocrats who also have the problem of having been associated with Bush-era bailouts.

In short, they are invested in the system as it exists, and would be unlikely to push for any ambitious reforms.

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