I have long had faith in the readers of JacoBLOG. And that was confirmed this week by some of your best work.
Last weekend, the winner of the Presidential race was announced on every cable news network, from CNN to MSNBC to Fox News. Former VP Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris are in the winner’s circle. And by now, they should be all recovered from any number of Zoom celebratory parties, ready to start selecting their cabinet.
And since then, things have pretty much ground to a halt.
As we know, the lawsuits, recounts, and spin doctoring have been operating at Mach 2. And as a result, there’s been no concession, no briefings, and no cabinet appointees. It’s political gridlock at its worst.
But we’ve been busy. On Monday, I submitted my cabinet for our own Rock N’ Roll administration, featuring the venerable Dave Grohl as POTUS, and rough-and-tumble Joan Jett as his VEEP. (For my other choices, click here.)
And we then posed this question to all of you:
If Rock N’ Roll was a country, who would be the President, VP, and the cabinet secretaries?
And here are your picks, many of which are far more clever than mine.
Chris Grindrod of Chris Grindrod PR/ Springfield, Ohio
|
President |
Tom ” I Won’t Back Down ” Petty |
|
Vice President |
Chrissie ” I’ll Stand By You ” Hynde |
|
Secretary of State |
Johnny “I’ve been everywhere ” Cash |
|
Secretary of the Treasury |
Jimmy “Warren” Buffett |
|
Secretary of Defense |
Axl “welcome to the jungle” Rose |
|
Attorney General |
Bobby ” I fought the law” Fuller |
|
Secretary of the Interior |
Timothy “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out” Leary |
|
Secretary of Agriculture |
Robert “Rock N Roll” Plant |
|
Secretary of Commerce |
David “The Man Who Sold the World” Bowie |
|
Secretary of Labor |
Huey “Workin’ For a Livin'” Lewis |
|
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
Bret “Open Up and Say Ahhhh” Michaels |
|
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
Joe “HUD-2-3-4” Strummer |
|
Secretary of Transportation |
Jerry “Trucking'” Garcia |
|
Secretary of Energy |
Mark “Workin’ in a Coal Mine” Mothersbaugh |
|
Secretary of Education |
Gordon “Sting-that book by Nabakov” Sumner |
|
Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
Barry “Green Berets” Sadler |
|
Secretary of Homeland Security |
John “Small Town ” Mellencamp |
Keith Hastings of CMG’s KISS/KTKX/San Antonio, Texas
|
President |
Joe Walsh – ran a failed campaign in the past, his time is now. |
|
Vice President |
Dave Grohl – will be groomed and ready for 2024 |
|
Secretary of State |
Stevie Nicks – If she can still be in Fleetwood Mac after failed relationships with at least two band members, she can make nations get along. |
|
Secretary of the Treasury |
Jon Bon Jovi – Everything he touches turns into money. |
|
Secretary of Defense |
David Byrne of Talking Heads – because Life During Wartime |
|
Attorney General |
Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine – committed to justice, always. |
|
Secretary of the Interior |
Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers – knows all US states and cites them in lyrics |
|
Secretary of Agriculture |
John Mellencamp – because of Farm Aid |
|
Secretary of Commerce |
Lars Ulrich of Metallica – because he crushed Napster and made millions |
|
Secretary of Labor |
Bob Seger – because of “Makin’ Thunderbirds” |
|
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones – because he will never die. |
|
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith |
|
Secretary of Transportation |
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top – because of that sweet Eliminator car |
|
Secretary of Energy |
Angus Young of AC/DC – because Alternating and Direct currents are electricity, which is energy…. |
|
Secretary of Education |
Bruce Springsteen – he learned more from a 3 minute record than he ever learned in school |
|
Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
Ozzy Osbourne – he’s been through all the rock and roll wars and survives to this day. |
|
Secretary of Homeland Security |
Ted Nugent – because, guns. |
Ken West of Beasley’s WBOS/Boston, Massachusetts
|
President |
Frank Zappa |
|
Vice President |
Taylor Swift |
|
Secretary of State |
Bob Geldof |
|
Secretary of the Treasury |
Gene Simmons |
|
Secretary of Defense |
John Lennon |
|
Attorney General |
Tom Morello |
|
Secretary of the Interior |
Adam Yauch (MCA) |
|
Secretary of Agriculture |
Tom Petty |
|
Secretary of Commerce |
Jay Z |
|
Secretary of Labor |
Eddie Vedder |
|
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
Sting |
|
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
Chuck D |
|
Secretary of Transportation |
Bruce Dickinson |
|
Secretary of Energy |
Dave Matthews |
|
Secretary of Education |
Neil Peart |
|
Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
Johnny Cash |
|
Secretary of Homeland Security |
Ted Nugent |
David Manzi, happily retired in San Diego, California
|
President |
Frank Sinatra–because of his experience as Chairman of the Board |
|
Vice President |
Ice-T, because of his experience working vice |
|
Secretary of State |
Anyone from Kansas or Alabama |
|
Secretary of the Treasury |
Charlie Rich |
|
Secretary of Defense |
Carl Douglas for his experience with “Kung Fu Fighting” |
|
Attorney General |
Anyone with the last name “Public,” just so we can call him General Public |
|
Secretary of the Interior |
Brian Wilson, for his work “In My Room” |
|
Secretary of Agriculture |
John Denver–because we really need a “Country Boy” for the position |
|
Secretary of Commerce |
Randy Bachman, because he’s best suited for “Taking Care of Business” |
|
Secretary of Labor |
Dolly Parton, because she knows what it’s like to work “9 to 5” |
|
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
Anyone from Human League–because they know what it’s like to be Only Human |
|
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
Keith Urban…duh |
|
Secretary of Transportation |
I appoint co-chairs from members of the Beatles, The Who and Steppehwolf, for their respecitive contributions to transportation in the areas of Yellow Submarines, Magic Busses and Magic Carpets |
|
Secretary of Energy |
AC/DC…duh |
|
Secretary of Education |
The Jackson 5–for their foundational work teaching us our ABC’s. |
|
Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
Coven, for their ongoing work with “One Tin Soldier” |
|
Secretary of Homeland Security |
The Bee Gees–for their efforts in keeping us “Stayin’ Alive, Stayin’ Alive” |
Mo Kapila of Septentrio/Redondo Beach, California
|
President |
Jackson Browne |
|
Vice President |
Barbara Streisand |
|
Secretary of State |
John Legend |
|
Secretary of the Treasury |
50 Cent |
|
Secretary of Defense |
Henry Rollins |
|
Attorney General |
Missy Elliot |
|
Secretary of the Interior |
Blake Shelton |
|
Secretary of Agriculture |
Neil Young |
|
Secretary of Commerce |
Gene Simmons |
|
Secretary of Labor |
Tom Morello |
|
Secretary of Health and Human Services |
Dr. Dre |
|
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
NAS |
|
Secretary of Transportation |
Sammy Hagar |
|
Secretary of Energy |
Shakira |
|
Secretary of Education |
Graham Nash |
|
Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
John Fogerty |
|
Secretary of Homeland Security |
Ted Nugent |
Footnote: Dave Manzi asked about the “prize” for the best entry. You be the judge. You can use our feedback loops. You can also select your own cabinet right up to Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021 – assuming someone is actually inaugurated.
In the meantime, I’m not conceding anything. You’ll have to forcibly remove me from writing this blog.
Send your late submissions here, and we’ll add them to this august group.
And the prize? A Starbucks with me at the next convention we each attend. You pay for the refills.
Thanks to all who submitted.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
- Traveling At The Speed of CES - January 10, 2025
- The One Thing Missing At CES? - January 9, 2025
- AI Your Commercials - January 8, 2025
Coffee with YOU, Fred???
I will NEVER concede!!!
Persistence matters, Dave. Meantime, it’s the end of the year, and we’re out of marketing dollars. I knew you’d understand.