Joe Conason: My Last Cup Of Starbucks

[babylonsister]

http://www.nationalmemo.com/my-last-cup-of-starbucks/?fbclid=IwAR0jr0Rxpd-i49GLEEcD79SM0oqt1y9w0myMrAnXhYqaJpm-2EmfkoMxV4M&cn-reloaded=1


Joe Conason
My Last Cup Of Starbucks
February 1, 2019 2:54 am

snip//

Now that Schultz plans to participate in politics — and go straight to the top — he might be expected to tell Americans why they should elect him and what he wants to do. Whenever he is asked to offer a rationale for his candidacy, his responses sound vacuous — as weak and lukewarm as a bad cup of brew with an unpleasant hint of bitterness. If he has any fresh ideas, he isn’t pouring them.

Only one policy issue truly appears to animate Schultz: the progressive Democrats’ call for billionaires to pay higher taxes, which makes him angry. At the same time, he complains about the country’s ballooning deficits and national debt as if he doesn’t understand the math. Everyone else knows that tax cuts for the rich, imposed by Republican regimes, have depleted the Treasury and starved public services.

The most troubling aspect of Schultz’s vanity campaign is, of course, the possibility that he will spend enough money to become a spoiler, and thus, help re-elect Trump. Evidently, a few self-serving political consultants have persuaded the rather dull Schultz that he is compelling enough to win on a third-party line. They know very well that he is far more likely to join the ranks of Ralph Nader and Jill Stein, third-party losers who drew just enough votes to elect George W. Bush and Donald Trump.

It was ominous to watch the “progressive” Stein blathering on Fox News Channel this week with white nationalist host Tucker Carlson, both thrilled by a candidacy that could destroy Democratic hopes. All the Trump sycophants on Fox are urging Schultz forward with their usual subtlety. Let’s hope he is smart enough to take that hint — and cancel this asinine project.

Until then, I’ve tasted my last cup of Starbucks.

[lark]

1. Absolutely, boycotting Starbucks is a good move as a general practice while Schultz is in play.

I've got a Starbucks gift card from Christmas and I'm in a quandary. I don't want to support his organization, but if I don't get the coffee that's already paid for, their profits increase. What to do? Does anyone have any creative effective ideas?

[MLAA]

4. If only we knew what their least profitable item was....you could load up on that

[lark]

5. Hmm, my daughter manages a Panera which competes with Starbucks but is 100% better.

I'll ask her about that.

[MLAA]

6. Great idea! 🙂

[oberliner]

28. JAB Holding Company is pretty bad too

[Flaleftist]

13. I seriously doubt they sell anything at a loss.

Least profitable is still profitable.

[crazycatlady]

10. wait until after his candidacy ends

[we can do it]

11. Your card is already paid for. You could hold it until he drops out.

I made my displeasure known here.
https://customerservice.starbucks.com/app/contact/ask/

[csziggy]

12. The money for your gift card is already in Starbucks' hands

So you might as well spend it.

One year my husband was given a Starbucks gift card. He doesn't drink coffee, I used to but hate the burnt taste of Starbucks coffee. His mother had just been given a Keurig so we bought a gift box with a variety of Starbucks coffee pods and gave that to her.

That was the second time I was in a Starbucks. At a different point I was at a hotel for a conference and all their coffee was supplied by Starbucks. That was my only complaint about the facilities. The first thing we did the morning we checked out was to go to a local restaurant for breakfast so I could have a drinkable cup of coffee!

[MurrayDelph]

17. I don't drink coffee, but

I have a Starbucks card that Starbucks gave me as a promotional thing, so using it (for sandwiches when traveling) costs THEM money.

Once it's empty, then I'll never darken their towels again.

[csziggy]

26. The one time I went to Starbucks for coffee and breakfast

The coffee was undrinkable and whatever pastry I bought for breakfast was inedible. My husband and I stopped at a convenience store after leaving the Starbucks to get something that qualified as food and drink.

That's why, when he was given the Starbucks gift card, we didn't even consider using it for anything for us. If his mother didn't like the Starbucks coffee, she was polite enough to never tell us.

[LiberalBrooke]

20. Use your gift card

It’s already paid for and if you don’t use it Starbucks has the money without delivering any product. By using it, you make them spend money on actual coffee at least.

[seaglass]

22. I have $73 worth of Starbucks gift cards that I'm cashing out today. I really like Starbucks coffee

Last edited Fri Feb 1, 2019, 02:03 PM - Edit history (1)

and will be stocking up on Keurig K cups and then finding other places to buy my coffee (not the dishwater sold as coffee at DDs!).

Usually when I'm in the grocery store I buy either Peets or Starbucks depending on which one is on sale, so now switching to Peets only.

On edit: FYI for anyone who reads this - the stores no longer sell K-cups

[blue-wave]

29. Ask for a cash refund

Might work, might not. Never hurts to ask.

[True Blue American]

47. Use it. Schultz

Is not assciated with the company any more.

Ihave had 2 cups. Both in Airports. The second one, Hulk Hogan was in line. i hope he liked it better than I do!

Joe is my favorite. Followed him since the Clinton years. He had heart surgery so should not be drinking too much because of that crap.

[aggiesal]

49. Buy a homeless person a cup of coffee ...

especially in the mid-west!

Bigbucks already has the money.
The card gets used and you didn't drink a drop.

[evemac]

58. Give it to a homeless person

[Brainstormy]

2. Never had my first cup

My friends say I'm the only one in the free world who hasn't, but there it is. No regrets about that now especially.

[Butterflylady]

3. Yeah, that too!

Also extremely expensive. I think people go there for a status symbol. It's like " look at me I'm drinking Starbucks coffee."

[panader0]

8. You're not the only one.

I've never had a Starbucks either. There is one at my grocery store. I can
get a cup or walk to the coffee aisle and buy enough coffee for a month
for about the same price.

[aggiesal]

53. I don't drink coffee, so I've never bought Bigbucks coffee, ...

[deurbano]

18. Never had my first cup, either, but that applies to all coffee, since I could never get beyond the

first taste. I do give Starbucks gift certificates to Starbuck junkies, so I can stop doing that at least.

[True Blue American]

59. You are not missing a thing

But you have more money in your pocket!

[dem4decades]

7. For the first time I'm not buying the Starbucks Dark Roast for 3 bucks off at Costco.'

There's other choices, I'll buy one of them.

Maybe Newman will sell coffee there, a business I approve of.

[Major Nikon]

9. Costco's store brand is quite good

I haven't shopped there in a long time. Some stores used to roast on location, but I don't think they do that anymore.

[True Blue American]

52. I stock up on

Maxwell House HazelNut every time it goes on sale at Meijer. 5 cans, $10.

[cilla4progress]

34. Yep,

me last night. Bought San Francisco Bay brand.

[MoonchildCA]

65. My husband and I used to get the Starbucks Dark Roast there.

I guess I'm in the minority here of people who like Starbuck's coffee (except Pike Peak...yuck).

We switched a year or so ago to the Jose's Organic Dark Roast at Costcos. We really like it, and we get compliments on our coffee from friends.

[dem4decades]

66. I'll give it a try. Thanks

[Danascot]

14. Starbucks is the

Papa John's of coffee.

[BaileyBill]

16. Took the words right out of my mouth.

[oberliner]

25. What is your favorite coffee place?

[Maru Kitteh]

50. I would think most areas have more local businesses. We have Montana Coffee Traders and

Copper Mountain Coffee, among others, and this is a small valley.

Support local!

[oberliner]

61. Very cool

Sadly, it is hard to find places to get coffee that aren't chains in my neck of the woods.

[Perseus]

15. "he might be expected to tell Americans why they should elect him and what he wants to do."

He already did, he wants to fight against the Democrats' proposed tax, he wants to be the shining knight of the billionaires to protect his and their money, he wants to make sure there is no "Universal Health", he will fight for charter schools, he will fight for the oligarchs. So far, I have not heard him say anything where he wants to improve the country, its all about him, his money and his pals.

He already told Americans why he wants to run, and I am hoping "the American people" heard him and understand that he is not doing it to better the country, he is doing it to protect his money, nothing else.

[blue-wave]

19. 110% Agree

Boycott everything Starbucks. Schultz obviously understands only one thing: MONEY. Therefore, let's explain his misguided thinking in those terms.

[JDC]

21. Is he still the CEO of Starbuck's? No. Kevin Johnson is

He's not even in the board any longer. So what exactly does this boycott do?

[seaglass]

24. Think he has any stock in Starbucks? n/t

[MarvinGardens]

39. He is the largest shareholder. It hurts his wallet.

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/insights/052416/top-4-starbucks-shareholders-sbux.asp

[ProfessorPlum]

40. He owns a ton of stock

Lower his wealth by hurting Starbucks stock

[MrsCoffee]

42. Who is the biggest stockholder?

That’s right, Mr. Billionaire.

[JDC]

48. He has 3 billion dollars. If it affected the shares by $1 a share

It would knock off ~ 35 million. Only leaving him with 2.99 billion dallars. He spends 35 million to maintain his plane and his yacht each year.

How much will it hurt the folks working at Starbuck's on an hourly payroll? A few dollars in tips matter to those people.

The guys is a dick. He could care less about a boycott. He has real F U money.

I think more people just want to boycott Starbucks because it is Starbucks. This gives them an excuse that feels righteous.

I should note, I think Shultz is a horrible human being. Even before his book tour announcement, which is what all of this is, a selling books campaign.

[oberliner]

23. What about Jamba Juice?

[Fuzzpope]

27. Not much to walk away from there.

That Starbucks crap taates like it's already been filtered by at least one pair of kidneys before it's sold to the consumer.

Blech.

[randr]

30. I plan on going to the drive through just so I can give them a piece of my mind, politely

[vlyons]

31. I don't shop Starbucks

It's too expensive. I don't think that he will get many Dem votes. Maybe some Indy votes, but if anything, he will take disaffected GOP votes. He doesn't worry me. He candidacy is so shallow, offering nothing but platitudes, that he will be debunked many many times over.

Would he even get invited to any of the debates? That won't happen. He will rely on paid advertising. Let's see how many Russians will fund his campaign?

[MagickMuffin]

37. Well right now the media is giving him FREE airtime

Just like they did for this current pResident!!!

[Pobeka]

32. This seems naive

Schultz is not the CEO of Starbucks. I don't know how many shares he owns, but I suspect he's diversified like anyone with market assets. So a boycott on starbucks may just be punishing other shareholders with 401k's just as much as punishing Schultz.

I am NOT a fan of Schultz running for president -- even if I liked his current positions (which I don't), he's not qualified because he has no government experience. I just don't see how boycotting Starbucks hits Schultz more than it hits Starbucks employees and shareholders.

If it turns out Schultz has an inordinately high % of his personal portfolio in Starbucks, then I'll stand corrected.

[MarvinGardens]

43. He's the largest shareholder by far.

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/insights/052416/top-4-starbucks-shareholders-sbux.asp

[Pobeka]

55. I stand corrected.

at approx 35 million shares owned, current trading price of $68, that's approx 2.4 billion dollars of shares he owns. That's got to be a very large portion of his personal wealth.

Thanks for the link!

[malaise]

33. I have never had a single cup of Starbucks

by choice.
Why would anyone with access to Blue Mountain Coffee drink that rubbish?

[Initech]

35. Don't punish Starbucks because you hate Howard Schultz.

That would be like punishing Boston because you hate Curt Schilling. If he's that much of an ass, it will work itself out naturally. I hope this is the last we'll hear about this.

[MarvinGardens]

44. Schultz is the largest shareholder by far.

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/insights/052416/top-4-starbucks-shareholders-sbux.asp

A Starbucks boycott is entirely appropriate.

[Initech]

45. I feel like since 2016 though that the boycott has become an empty gesture.

And Starbucks is definitely no stranger to the boycott. There's plenty of other ways to derail Schultz' campaign though is what I am getting at.

[MarvinGardens]

51. Sure, I'm all for other ways too.

If his people are collecting ballot signatures, don't sign the petition, and tell your friends to do likewise. If a pollster calls you, don't give a positive answer for Howard Schultz.

[TwistOneUp]

36. Eff him, dat greedy bastid

I bet he voted against minimum wage hikes, too.

$10 for a latte made of $1 worth of ingredients *and* labor. 900% markups. And he thinks peeps will elect him? Why, we're not being abused enough now?

[sarge43]

38. My question: Just how hard can it be to make money selling coffee?

That really isn't difficult. Trump could screw it up; otherwise, it's the equivalent of selling space heaters in the Midwest.

So Schultz, what else you got?

[HelenWheels]

41. Primary him

Best way to take him down

[MarvinGardens]

46. He's running as an independent.

So he won't be in a primary. He'll have to jump through some expensive hoops to get on the ballot in all the states. Even then he might not be on everywhere. Even Perot in '92 was only listed in 48 states, I think.

[joc46224]

54. The Starbucks employees will be the ones hurt by a boycott

I don't begrudge anyone who feels it important to boycott Starbucks in protest of Schultz. In fact, that was my very first reaction too. But then I started thinking about who would really get hurt in this situation and it would be the employees. Yes, Schultz is a shareholder and I'm sure he is a very large shareholder. But he's a billionaire who is bound to have a ton of money divested all over the place. If stock goes down too much he'll just sell--at this point it's unlikely to hurt his wallet all that much. Starbucks has some of the best benefits for part-time workers, including full health care. I don't want to hurt employees who are simply doing their job.

Guys like Schultz are ego maniacs filled with their own self-importance. I worry that boycotting Starbucks will just keep his name in the news and make him feel all that more important. Dipshits like him love media coverage and can spin it to their advantage.

Like I said, I don't begrudge anyone who wants to boycott; these are just my thoughts after musing on this for a bit.

[Hangdog Slim]

56. I just pulled into Sloatesburg

I drive a truck and I frequently pull into the Sloatsburg rest area on the New York Thruway heading up to Middletown New York. This is been one of my favorite stops for a long time. They have clean restrooms and of course a Starbucks. Today I'm going to use the restroom but I am not going to get my usual cup of coffee from Starbucks. I probably drink too much coffee anyway. No I'm not getting my coffee today, Nor will I in subsequent stops until or unless Howard Schultz gives up any idea of running for president. Read my lips: no new billionaires!

[japple]

57. I support Caribou Coffee. Back when I drank, coffee, I had reason to be in

Minneapolis and tasted Caribou for the 1st time. It is rich, great-tasting, smooth coffee that doesn't have the burned beans flavor that made Starbux famous. I was pleasantly surprised to find several outlets in the Atlanta area.

[FSogol]

62. Except that Schultz is still the major shareholder. Whether he is CEO or not, he wields power over

the company.

PS Try reading DU's TOS!

[octoberlib]

64. Howard Schultz is the biggest shareholder of Starbucks ,so yes, it would affect him.

[wishstar]

63. Their exorbitantly high prices are enough to make me not purchase from Starbucks

Starbucks is an addiction for many despite the high cost. Yesterday I was out with a friend who insisted on going in for a Frappaccino and cake pop that came to $7.00 I think that's ridiculous so as usual I didn't order but just sat and visited with my friend who talked about how she despised Schultz and his possible third party run.