Assuming that Donald Trump loses the election, the people who work for him will soon be looking for employment. Jennifer Rubin writes that they might have trouble finding their next jobs:
First, members of this administration probably acquired bad habits (ignoring gross misconduct, lying for their boss, etc.), practiced a great deal of willful ignorance and rationalized unethical conduct. The administration, aside from its corruption and moral rot, was also grossly incompetent in its day-to-day operations. Staffers coming out of Trump’s orbit would likely have to unlearn misconceptions about how functional workplaces operate.
Second, those seen as ethically obtuse and tolerant of racism pose a business risk. Clients and customers might not want to be associated with a firm that features someone who just months ago promoted their boss’s ludicrous lies or remained silent as he winked at QAnon conspiracy theories. Alumni of the Trump administration do not suffer from a political association but rather from their willingness to enable someone who betrayed his country’s highest ideals.
In other words, these ex-Trump figures do not bring desirable skills or valuable experience; they come more as a potential liability.
Human Resources professionals operate under one basic assumption: Past performance is the best predictor of future performance. There are exceptions. But it's not wise to bet on an exception.
If the Trump alumni are seeking jobs, you might think they'd spend a little time in rehabilitation:
These Trump alumni might seek to make up for perpetuating racism and xenophobia, for their attacks on democratic institutions and norms, and for their efforts to sow division and undermine objective reality. They might consider community service. They might donate time or money to groups fighting racism, helping immigrants, defending press freedoms and teaching good citizenship.
But don't bet on that either. Because -- like their boss -- they're both incompetent and obtuse.
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6 comments:
Bah! Ignoring the boss' gross misconduct, racism, misogyny and lies is valued in most organizations I've worked for. Let's not kid ourselves, it's a rare company that doesn't demand unquestioning obedience. White House staffers will be in high demand - they've demonstrated they can work for America's worst boss!
Cap
Shades of 2016. KellyAnne, Steve Bannon and the rest of the misfits were busy in the runup to that election shopping around their resumes and lunching with prospective next employers in the certain knowledge that Trump would not prevail over Hillary Clinton. So certain were they of this that, when the upset win occurred, they all had to scramble to correct "errors and omissions" on their sworn disclosure statements. Some, like Jared, are said to have made over a hundred "clarifications" over a period of many months.
It's unfair to Icarus to use him as a metaphor for Trump but, by almost every account, the giant orange bloat has truly flown too near the sun this time. I suspect KellyAnne factored that in to her surprise early resignation. She knows that, when he falls to Earth, he's taking the hangers-on with him.
What about the real whackos such as ex-Stanford prof, Peter Navarro, or Larry "Wrong Way" Kudlow? Perhaps they'll retire to some lovely country place to tend their gardens as they await the Reaper. Navarro was always considered a weirdo by his colleagues at Stanford and he hasn't distinguished himself by his antics at Trump's side. Kudlow has also made an ass of himself. Their former slots have long been filled by others and their stature and credibility is seriously sagging.
Then there's Stephen Miller. There's always a place for his like. There will still be a contingent of lunatic right in the GOP congressional cadre who value a guy without conscience, decency or integrity. Yes, I think Miller might be the exception. He will survive not for his qualities but for his complete lack of them. It wouldn't surprise me that he already has his next paycheque lined up.
The good ones are now names from the past. James Mattis, Dan Coats, H.R. McMaster, John Kelly (to some extent), Rex Tillerson - that crew.
Now, Owen, I have something fun for you. It's a complete list of the seemingly endless list of dismissals and resignations within the administration. The men and women who became Trump's collateral damage. Before you open this link, get yourself a fresh cup of coffee. You're going to be a while.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Trump_administration_dismissals_and_resignations
And, as has been the case in many corporations, these folks will help their bosses run their organizations into the ground, Cap. That's Trump's claim to fame.
An old retired teacher I knew in my early years had a phrase for this kind of thing, Mound. "Like shit through a goose," she used to say.
.. 'visions of lollipops, danced through their heads'
That would be cashing in via ghost written 'tell all's' airing the dirty laundry. The big toxic tuna of course is Trump.. What his book rights are worth is ludicrous.. but might land him in prison. And so on down the line, Yes.. past Mueller, Melania and the Rose Garden diaries, Barron, Ms Mcawhatever, Barr q biggie (prison, client confidence) right down to the kitchen staff who spit in the Presidential burgers and fries.. All deserve their 'say'.. We shall see, we shall see.. those trains chug down the tracks
No sign of Lorne lately.. do hope he's A-OK.. will check his Twitter.. but say hi if in touch thanks
A footnoter, poor Babel On the Bay thought Jason Kenney gave up the chaste life got hitched and had a child in 2016.. and became a world class cyclist .. Had to help him .. and that Laura Trott was the bodacious lucky one.. and mom.. I was gobsmacked I tell you.. He was running Alberta from Post Brexit Britain by gawd ! But all is well & our dear boy Jason is content to reinvent Albertawa in the Reform Evangel way o th Lord.. Praise be !! Hellelujah !!
Lorne's last post said that he was dealing with family matters and nursing home residence for a brother, sal. Having had a little experience with that sort of thing, I can testify that it's complicated and can be an emotional minefield. I hope he's successfully working his way through the challenges.
It sounds like -- rumours to the contrary -- Jason is in much the same state he was in awhile ago.
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