Valerie Jarrett—Obama's Rasputin

"Jarrett seems to have a 24-hour, around-the-clock detail, with five or six agents full time," Democratic pollster Pat Caddell said in an interview recently with Breitbart news. If Stevens had a similar escort, he'd probably be alive today.

Such protection isn't usually available to senior advisers, but Jarrett is no ordinary adviser.

She almost always seems to be near the president and first lady, and her name keeps popping up at key moments, indicating the power and influence she wields.

Her influence is shown by an account in Richard Miniter's book "Leading From Behind: The Reluctant President and the Advisors Who Decide for Him."