And you thought President Trump was all over the map!
Word is that Howard Schultz's exit from Starbucks may be a precursor to an entry into politics . An entry into the political arena would certainly mean a run for the Presidency of the United States in 2020. Guys like this do not just run for a local congressional seat. Here's a link to a summary of the situation. (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-06-05/howard-schultz-says-he-cant-be-nailed-down-presidential-bid)
While he is not officially committed to politics, this would be a wild ride indeed. Even the speculation and discussion might get zany so buckle up. While Starbucks is a wildly successful business venture, some of the "leadership" emanating from Schultz in recent years suggests he would have been better sticking to focusing on making profits. A couple of the classic Schultz flops that always come to mind for me are:
- #racetogether - You will recall that the 2015 campaign to spark a meaningly dialogue around race in America in the aftermath of events in Ferguson, MO and elsewhere. The aim was noble but the method was horrible. Take front line workers and ask them to promote the discussion of a tension-filled topic by having them write a hashtag on the side of a cup of scalding hot beverage...just before handing it to a customer. Wow! That was not awkward at all. What an utterly stupid idea. It had to be cancelled rather quickly. Schultz and Co failed so miserably with #racetogether that they had to bide their time for another few years to top it.
- 2018. Enter: Starbucks, the homeless shelter! While I've got no problem with Starbucks trying to help the homeless and supporting a more inclusive environment in its stores, this was a ridiculous attempt to overcompensate for the arrest of two black men who were accused of loitering in a Philadelphia area location when they were indeed just waiting for a third friend to show up. This story was terrible but Starbucks miscalculated its response by saying anyone (and they meant ANYONE) could use the bathroom in their facilities. It was not long before this policy managed to produce moments like the one depicted below. They made a statement May 19th of this year stating in part: "We want our stores to be the third place, a warm and welcoming environment where customers can gather and connect...Any customer is welcome to use Starbucks spaces, including our restrooms, cafes and patios, regardless of whether they make a purchase." The problem here is that a CUSTOMER is by definition someone who makes a purchase. When you take the purchase requirement away, you're essentially inviting uncontrolled chaos through your doors. Bad times.
These are just my two favorite examples. They do certainly represent a willingness to think outside the box but also a willingness to think in a way that is devoid of logic or self-criticism. If this gentleman gets into politics, he will have a lot to bring to the table but these judgment issues will be a constant point of questioning.
Trump might have called an entire culture of people rapists. I say "might" because I think he was misinterpreted in that instance. This guy might take a convicted rapist and put him in charge of criminal justice reform. Or maybe he'll send weapons to foreign enemies as a sign of good faith. Who knows. My suspicion is that if he runs for president or even explores a run, that will REALLY get the creative juices flowing. Stay tuned!