Roy Exum: The Rose Among Thorns

  • Friday, April 17, 2020
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum
President Trump, very wisely, has just announced what is being called the “Great American Economic Revival Industry Group” (GAERIG) and it’s a fabulous idea. In an effort to kickstart our staggering economy in the midst of the coronavirus and swerve away from a recession or depression, the president has assembled a bipartisan group of just over 100 of the greatest business minds in our land to get the United States back on its feet … that is, all except for one “professional politician.” There ain’t no way Tennessee Senatorial candidate Bill Hagerty has any place among these America’s giants – Trump desperately needs “a loyalist wall flower” like Hagerty in the Senate for the next six years and Nashville trauma surgeon Manny Sethi has quickly emerged as a serious and welcomed threat to the Republican Party’s carefully-planned ruse.
Think of it this way: If you were a candidate for any office and could wink as your elitist group provided millions of dollars in relief cash across the state, my goodness, a donkey could get elected.
No, it’s not ethical by any stretch but Hagerty could obviously care less about the stench. Instead, this is his chance to rub shoulders and shake hands – even the coronavirus pales against such a vivacious opportunity for gobs of campaign contributions  – with 100 of the richest men and women in the world.
 
Trump must be a little guarded how he leads such an austere crowd that is all Indian chiefs (minus one) and no braves. (Maybe Trump knows the ages-old trick every thoroughbred owner knows: if you add a mule to the stable, it keeps the high-strung racehorses calm. It really works!) Each of the true tycoons all covet their individual decisions when it comes time to set sail and chart the course, but I candidly believe there has never been a better collection of brain power assembled since World War II. What’s just as good is that the list includes some of the President’s most outspoken critics, others who are the biggest donors to the Democratic Party, and there is even Dallas  Maverick’s billionaire owner Mark Cuban, who is very seriously considering running as a third-party candidate in the November election against Trump himself.
 
Trump created 17 categories for the GAERIG so the top minds in the nation could play at positions they know best. There is Agriculture, Banking, Construction/Labor/Workforce (that includes the Teamster’s Jim Hoffa), Defense, Energy, Financial Services, Food & Beverage, Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Real Estate, Retail, Tech, Telecommunications, Transportation, Sports, and Thought Leaders/Groups. (full list below)
 
The Thought Leaders are fascinating, with Condoleezza Rice, Steve Forbes, and noted physician Scott Gottlieb, the former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (emphasis: drugs, the Covid-19 type). This is also where Bill Hagerty was carefully slipped into the all-star group as its mule among the thoroughbreds, his name second from last in hopes few would recognize the piker. To Hagerty’s credit, he has been dancing the “Potomac Two-Step” for years and is well-attuned to the Washington crowd. Never mind that he’s a virtual stranger among us 6 million in his native Tennessee. The Republicans had parked him in Japan as the Ambassador, a cushy job until Lamar Alexander was finally tripped by age and decided to not run for re-election.
 
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Bill Hagerty is a Washingtonian if ever there was one. There is nothing horribly wrong with that if you have a thirst for swamp water and the same ol’-same-ol’. Sethi, on the other hand, founded ‘Healthy Tennessee’ long before he ever decided to run. It is a nonprofit organization that continues to promote preventative health care across the entire state and has cared for thousands of people in every county in Tennessee.
 
The foundation goes back to Sethi’s roots, where he grew up as the son of two immigrants from India – both medical doctors. They came to middle Tennessee, near Manchester, to provide medical care for rural Tennesseans. His parents were quickly embraced by not just the community, but the entire area and his childhood memories are the reason he is today a foremost orthopedic trauma surgeon in Nashville. (Disclaimer: As a ‘Manny patient,’ I know first-hand the type of person Sethi is, his adoration for those in the state’s smaller towns and their needs, as well as the trauma patients and their families in a big-city setting.
 
“I want to ‘doctor’ all of Tennessee,” Manny once said. “I want to put my efforts into the people of this state and while the coronavirus has cost me campaign time due to a greatly-increased surgical load, I am eager to travel the state because we’ve already visited a good number of places, and every visit seems like it heightens my mission to the people in this state.”
 
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THE GREAT AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIVAL INDUSTRY GROUP
President Donald J. Trump announced many of the esteemed executives, economists, scholars, and industry leaders who together will form various Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups on April 14, 2020.  These bipartisan groups of American leaders will work together with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future of unparalleled American prosperity.  The health and wealth of America is the primary goal, and these groups will produce a more independent, self-sufficient, and resilient Nation.
AGRICULTURE
American Farm Bureau Federation – Zippy Duvall; Sysco Corporation – Kevin Hourican; Tyson Foods, Inc. – Dean Banks; Perdue Farms, Inc. – Randy Day; Cargill, Inc. – David MacLennan; Archer-Daniels-Midland Company – Juan Luciano; Corteva Agriscience – Jim Collins; Tractor Supply Company – Hal Lawton; Seaboard Corporation – Steven Bresky; Grimmway Farms – Barbara Grimm; and, Mountaire Farms – Ronnie Cameron
BANKING
Bank of America – Brian Moynihan; JPMorgan Chase – Jamie Dimon; Goldman Sachs – David Solomon; Citigroup – Michael Corbat; Wells Fargo – Charles Scharf; U.S. Bancorp – Andrew Cecere; Morgan Stanley – James Gorman; Grand Rapids State Bank – Noah Wilcox; and, Southern Bancorp – Darrin Williams.
CONSTRUCTION / LABOR / WORKFORCE
International Union of Operating Engineers – Jim Callahan; North America’s Building Trades Union – Sean McGarvey; Laborers’ International Union of North America – Terry O’Sullivan; International Brotherhood of Teamsters – Jim Hoffa; National Electrical Contractors Association – David Long; Bechtel – Brendan Bechtel; Fluor – Carlos Hernandez; National Association of Home Builders – Jerry Howard; Associated Builders and Contractors – Michael Bellaman; Associated General Contractors – Stephen Sandherr; AFL-CIO – Richard Trumka; GH Palmer – Geoff Palmer; and, American Council of Engineering Companies – Linda Bauer Darr
DEFENSE
Lockheed Martin – Marillyn Hewson; Honeywell – Darius Adamczyk; Northrop Grumman – Kathy Warden; Raytheon – Gregory J. Hayes; and, General Dynamics – Phebe Novakovic.
ENERGY
ExxonMobil – Darren Woods; Continental Resources – Harold Hamm; Chevron – Mike Wirth; Southern Company – Tom Fanning; Alabama Power – Mark Crosswhite; ConocoPhillips – Ryan Lance; Occidental Petroleum – Vicki Hollub; Kinder Morgan – Steven Kean; Hess Corporation – John Hess; Perot Group and Hillwood – Ross Perot Jr.; National Mining Association – Rich Nolan, and, Valero – Joseph Gorder
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Blackstone – Stephen Schwarzman; Paulson & Co. – John Paulson; Citadel LLC – Kenneth Griffin, Elliott Management – Paul Singer; Vista Equity Partners – Robert Smith; Fidelity Investments – Abigail Johnson; Mastercard – Ajay Banga; Visa – Al Kelly; Chubb – Evan Greenberg; Sequoia Capital – Doug Leone; Stephens, Inc. – Warren Stephens; Charles Schwab – Chuck Schwab; FIS Global – Gary Norcross; TD Ameritrade – Todd Ricketts; and, Intuit – Sasan Goodarzi.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
National Restaurant Association – Marvin Irby; McDonald’s – Chris Kempczinski; Darden Restaurants – Gene Lee Jr.; Coca-Cola – James Quincey; PepsiCo – Ramon Laguarta; Chick-fil-A – Dan Cathy; Subway – John Chidsey; Bloomin’ Brands – David Deno; YUM! Brands – David Gibbs; Papa Johns – Rob Lynch; Wendy’s – Todd Penegor; Waffle House – Walt Ehmer; Starbucks – Kevin Johnson; Wolfgang Puck; Thomas Keller; Jean-Georges Vongerichten; Daniel Boulud; M Crowd Restaurant – Ray Washburne; Jimmy John’s Founder – Jimmy John Liautaud; Kraft – Michael Mullen; National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors – Dirk Van Dongen; International Franchise Association – Robert Cresanti; and, Inspire Brands – Paul Brown
HEALTHCARE
New York-Presbyterian – Jerry Speyer; HCA Healthcare – Sam Hazen; Ascension Health – Joseph R. Impicciche; CommonSpirit Health – Lloyd H. Dean; Community Health Systems – Wayne Smith; Trinity Health – Benjamin Carter; Cardinal Health – Mike Kaufmann; McKesson – Brian Tyler; 3M – Mike Roman; Procter & Gamble – David S. Taylor; Abbott Laboratories – Robert Ford; Johnson & Johnson – Alex Gorsky; Merck – Kenneth Frazier; Pfizer – Dr. Albert Bourla; Eli Lilly and Company – Dave Ricks; Thermo Fisher Scientific – Marc Casper; Gilead Sciences – Daniel O’Day; AbbVie – Richard Gonzalez; Regeneron – Len Schleifer; Biogen – Michel Vounatsos; Roche Diagnostics – Matthew Sause; Anthem – Gail Boudreaux; UnitedHealth Group – David Wichmann; Aetna – Karen Lynch; Cigna – David Cordani; Humana – Bruce Broussard; and, Centene – Michael Neidorff
HOSPITALITY
Las Vegas Sands Corp. – Sheldon Adelson; Marriott – Arne Sorenson; Carnival – Micky Arison; Hilton – Christopher Nassetta; Hyatt – Mark Hoplamazian; Wyndham Hotels & Resorts – Geoff Ballotti; Intercontinental Hotels Group – Elie Maalouf; Royal Caribbean – Richard Fain; Norwegian Cruise Lines – Frank Del Rio; and, Treasure Island Hotels – Phil Ruffin
MANUFACTURING
Caterpillar – Jim Umpleby III; Deere & Company – John May; Cummins – Tom Linebarger; Dow Inc. – James Fitterling; Emerson Electric Company – David Farr; General Electric – Larry Culp; Tesla – Elon Musk; Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – Mike Manley; Ford Motor Company – Bill Ford;  General Motors Company – Mary Barra; National Association of Manufacturers – Jay Timmons; Pernod Ricard – Ann Mukherjee; and, Nucor – Leon Topalian;
REAL ESTATE
Simon Property Group – David Simon; Caruso – Rick Caruso; Vornado Realty Trust – Steven Roth; Related Companies – Stephen Ross; Blackstone – Jon Gray; Irvine Company – Don Bren; Starwood Capital Group – Barry Sternlicht; Witkoff Group – Steve Witkoff; and, Greystar – Robert Faith
RETAIL
Walmart – Doug McMillon; Home Depot – Craig Menear; Home Depot – Ken Langone; Home Depot – Bernie Marcus; The Kroger Co. – Rodney McMullen; Lowe’s – Marvin Ellison; Target – Brian Cornell; CVS Health – Larry Merlo; Rite Aid – Heyward Donigan; Walgreens – Stefano Pessina; Amazon – Jeff Bezos; Menards – John Menard; Best Buy – Hubert Joly; Life Time – Bahram Akradi; and, National Retail Federation – Matthew Shay
TECH
Apple – Tim Cook; Google (Alphabet Inc) – Sundar Pichai; Oracle – Larry Ellison; Oracle – Safra Catz; Salesforce – Marc Benioff; SAP – Jen Morgan; Microsoft – Satya Nadella; Facebook – Mark Zuckerberg; IBM – Arvind Krishna; Intel – Bob Swan; Qualcomm – Steven Mollenkopf; Cisco – Chuck Robbins; Advanced Micro Devices – Lisa Su; Broadcom – Hock Tan; and, Micron – Sanjay Mehrotra
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Liberty Media – John Malone; Verizon – Hans Vestberg; T-Mobile – Mike Sievert; Charter Communications – Thomas Rutledge; Comcast – Brian Roberts; and, Altec – Lee Styslinger
TRANSPORTATION
FedEx – Fred Smith; United Airlines – Oscar Munoz; UPS – David Abney; J.B. Hunt – John Roberts III; YRC Worldwide – Darren Hawkins; Crowley Maritime – Tom Crowley Jr.; Uber – Dara Khosrowshani; DHL – Scott Sureddin; LDJ Global Strategies – Louis DeJoy; and, American Trucking Associations – Chris Spear
SPORTS
National Basketball Association -- Adam Silver; Major League Baseball – Rob Manfred; National Football League – Roger Goodell; UFC – Dana White; Professional Golf Association – Jay Monahan; Ladies Professional Golf Association – Mike Whan; United States Tennis Association – Patrick Galbraith; Major League Soccer – Don Garber; WWE – Vince McMahon; NASCAR – Lesa Kennedy; National Hockey League – Gary Bettman, New England Patriots – Bob Kraft; Dallas Cowboys – Jerry Jones; Dallas Mavericks – Mark Cuban; Women’s National Basketball Association – Cathy Engelbert; and, National Women’s Soccer League – Lisa Baird
THOUGHT LEADERS / GROUPS
John Allison (former CEO of Cato Group, Washington), Kay Coles James (Former Director of the United States Office of Personnel Management under George W. Bush), Condoleezza Rice (the first female African-American Secretary of State under George W Bush,)  Art Laffer (a 79-year-old economist who gained prominence during the Reagan administration), Steve Moore (as senior economist of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee under Chairman Dick Armey of Texas, Moore was said to be "instrumental in creating the FairTax proposal,)" Steve Forbes (the Editor-in-Chief of Forbes, a business magazine, with an estimated net worth of $430 million in 2017),  Larry Lindsey (an economist, he was an assistant to President George W. Bush on economic policy.) Catherine Reynolds (philanthropist), Jim DeMint (former Senator from South Carolina who heads Heritage Foundation), Bill Hagerty (the pretender), and Scott Gottlieb (a physician who is a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.)
 
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