Much has been made by Trump regarding the special gifts and intellectual power of his son-in-law Jared Kushner. His White House portfolio is staggering, something HBO comedian John Oliver has said, even the smartest person on earth will find difficult. This includes "modernizing government," and delivering peace in the Middle East. It borders on absurd the power that someone who has no real qualifications to advise the Leader of the Free World on issues that will affect US citizens abroad and Americans here. How did someone so lacking in intellectual heft (see Kushner's admission to Harvard) get so close to the President of the United States, in terms of professional influence?
Jared Kushner was by all accounts a mediocre student at The Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey, which was a school for Jewish students, a parochial institution similar to Catholic schools in New York, New Jersey, and surrounding areas. Mr. Kushner was academic, but not a stellar student. He was the scion of a wealthy and powerful real estate family in New Jersey, and whose father Charles, founded the Kushner Companies, in 1985. After Jared entered and graduated from Harvard (2003), Charles Kushner pleaded guilty in 2004 to tax violations, illegal campaign donations, and retaliating against a witness. The US Attorney who prosecuted and convicted the elder Kushner was none other than current New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Because of this, the portly governor was slowly removed from the Trump campaign because of the sway and influence of the younger Kushner, Jared. This despite Christie being an effective bundler for Trump's fundraising in the tri-state area and other parts of the country. It was Kushner's revenge of sorts and showed the enormous amounts of influence he wields within President Trump's orbit.
Grigori Rasputin was a legendary and controversial figure during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II and Imperial Russia at the end of the 19th Century, and just before the 1917 October Revolution. He began his life as an unassuming poor wanderer who became deeply religious and cultivated a large following amongst the Russian Orthodox Church and its congregants. This led to some friction and eventually major conflict with opposition to the Tsar and other influential people within the church. Rasputin was believed by many to be a charlatan and a con man. However, Rasputin was eventually able to meet Tsar Nicholas II and become his advisor, and unofficial "healer" for his hemophiliac son Alexei. His influence was so resented by rivals, and some Russians in general, that I believe that he was "allowed" access to Nicholas II in the hopes that his influence would cause his own demise. When the Tsar left St. Petersburg to oversee Russian troops during World War I, Rasputin and Nicholas's wife Alexandra were left to run Russia. As Russian troops took massive losses during the war, Rasputin and his influence waned, and his unpopularity allowed conservative noblemen to arrange his assassination.
Rasputin and Jared Kushner share similarities in that both were not too spectacular in their intellectual capacities. Rather, they were able to gain access to power through proximity: Rasputin through religious sermons and his followers, Kushner through his marriage to Ivanka Trump, and her dad's successful campaign to win the White House.
What makes anyone believe that Jared has what it takes to successfully achieve what he has been assigned by President Trump? From his time at Harvard to his time working for the Kushner Companies, he has not shined at anything yet he has a seat at the table of power and access to influential political leaders around the globe. No one has ever heard him speak, or make a case as to why he advises the president to approve certain methods of governing. He seems to always be standing next to President Trump when he signs Executive Orders and with meetings with heads of state or ambassadors, but it seems weird the never speaks to anyone. Most senior staff in White House administrations at one point or another make the trek to meet on Sunday news shows or cable commentators. Kushner has done no such thing. How does someone like that have immense access and influence to a very powerful elected official?
Rasputin was similar in that he was able to parlay his religious sermons into access to the rich and powerful and eventually meeting the leader of his country. Tsar Nicholas II of the late 19th century to early 20th century is one thing, but the President of the United States during a 21st century with nuclear weapons is an entirely different parameter. It fills me with trepidation that someone who lacks qualifications in the areas of his diverse portfolio can effectively deliver on his assignments.
The year 2017 is a pivotal time in world history. The United States has had 80 years in which it has set the standard for free market capitalism and a foreign policy that protects Western-style democracies with military superiority. In this age, will someone who lacks the perspective and experience in the way Jared Kushner has, have the proper virtues to steer the Trump presidency off the ledge? His efforts will shape who controls the 21st Century in terms of dominance and influence. Because of his light resume, and growing up in privilege, I don't see him having the power he wants. The other elements of the White House brain trust (Steve Bannon, Steve Miller) will shape the direction of the country for the next four years, because of the greater influence of President Trump. Bannon and Miller share views that together are the polar opposite of Kushner, such as globalization is good, etc, and I feel will play better in the mind of President Trump.
All this is a lesson that who you know may benefit a specific person, but the greater good, for either a company or a country, will be negatively impacted by such poor peerage, and lack of meritocracy.
What makes anyone believe that Jared has what it takes to successfully achieve what he has been assigned by President Trump? From his time at Harvard to his time working for the Kushner Companies, he has not shined at anything yet he has a seat at the table of power and access to influential political leaders around the globe. No one has ever heard him speak, or make a case as to why he advises the president to approve certain methods of governing. He seems to always be standing next to President Trump when he signs Executive Orders and with meetings with heads of state or ambassadors, but it seems weird the never speaks to anyone. Most senior staff in White House administrations at one point or another make the trek to meet on Sunday news shows or cable commentators. Kushner has done no such thing. How does someone like that have immense access and influence to a very powerful elected official?
Rasputin was similar in that he was able to parlay his religious sermons into access to the rich and powerful and eventually meeting the leader of his country. Tsar Nicholas II of the late 19th century to early 20th century is one thing, but the President of the United States during a 21st century with nuclear weapons is an entirely different parameter. It fills me with trepidation that someone who lacks qualifications in the areas of his diverse portfolio can effectively deliver on his assignments.
The year 2017 is a pivotal time in world history. The United States has had 80 years in which it has set the standard for free market capitalism and a foreign policy that protects Western-style democracies with military superiority. In this age, will someone who lacks the perspective and experience in the way Jared Kushner has, have the proper virtues to steer the Trump presidency off the ledge? His efforts will shape who controls the 21st Century in terms of dominance and influence. Because of his light resume, and growing up in privilege, I don't see him having the power he wants. The other elements of the White House brain trust (Steve Bannon, Steve Miller) will shape the direction of the country for the next four years, because of the greater influence of President Trump. Bannon and Miller share views that together are the polar opposite of Kushner, such as globalization is good, etc, and I feel will play better in the mind of President Trump.
All this is a lesson that who you know may benefit a specific person, but the greater good, for either a company or a country, will be negatively impacted by such poor peerage, and lack of meritocracy.
The comparison to the Rasputin is particularly apt and your
ReplyDeletecommentary is erudite and brilliant. Bravo!