Howard Schultz steps down from Starbucks, stops ruling out future presidential run

**NoDayButToday** · June 4th, 2018, 05:32 PM

So...it looks like Howard Schultz (former CEO of Starbucks) is maybe getting ready for a presidential run. He announced today that he is stepping down from the company (except for an honorary board title), has stopped entirely denying that he will be running, and has started gathering information for "future updates" (including location data and personal stories) on his website. I'm actually pretty certain he is with how political he has been the last few years.

Howard Schultz to Step Down as Starbucks Executive Chairman

By Andrew Ross Sorkin
June 4, 2018

SEATTLE — Howard Schultz, the outspoken executive chairman of Starbucks, will leave the company at the end of the month, bringing to an end the tenure of a socially conscious entrepreneur who turned a local Seattle coffee chain into a global giant with more than 28,000 stores in 77 countries.

Mr. Schultz’s decision to retire, a plan he said he privately outlined to the board a year ago, will most likely stoke speculation that he is considering a run for president in 2020. He is frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for the Democratic Party and has become increasingly vocal on political issues, including criticizing President Trump last year as “a president that is creating episodic chaos every day.”

While Mr. Schultz, 64, typically bats away speculation about his political ambitions with an eye roll or a pithy answer, on Monday he acknowledged for the first time that it is something he may consider.

“I want to be truthful with you without creating more speculative headlines,” he told The New York Times. “For some time now, I have been deeply concerned about our country — the growing division at home and our standing in the world.

“One of the things I want to do in my next chapter is to figure out if there is a role I can play in giving back,” he continued. “I’m not exactly sure what that means yet.”

Asked directly if he was considering running for president, he said, “I intend to think about a range of options, and that could include public service. But I’m a long way from making any decisions about the future.”

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/06/0...d-schultz.html

**Brookie** · June 5th, 2018, 07:48 AM

He's with the Coffee Party?

**NoDayButToday** · June 5th, 2018, 08:41 AM

😂😂😂

Given my connection to the company, and the possibility of it being related to “drinking the Kool-Aid” (I may have shed a few tears yesterday during his web stream to the company), I don’t want to say too much. But, overall he is pretty liberal politically and I am ok with the possibility of him running. Him separating himself from the business sure seems like the first step necessary to do that (unlike a certain entity currently occupying the office....)

He is a genuinely good person and extremely charismatic. Every employee who has had the privilege to interact with him walks away inspired and there were countless stories shared yesterday by people who work for the company about the good things he quietly did for them and their family to make their lives better.

I won’t comment much on this thread beyond this, but there has been a long standing not-really-a-joke about (as we affectionately call him) Papa Howie for President amongst even the lowest level staff for years now.

**OCD** · June 5th, 2018, 11:57 AM

God, please no. These business owners/CEO/celebrities need to fuck off with their political aspirations. No more 1%er presidents.

I mean, Oprah got pounded for even considering running, but it’s ok if Howard does? I’ll vote for whoever runs against Trump, but these prospects just aren’t good enough.

We need a compassionate servant of the people, who will be ready to inspire and create a sweeping vision for the future of America. Oprah and Howard might be great business people, but I want neither as president.

Salt of the earth, that’s what we need. Preferably in female form. Men have had enough chances.

**greysfang** · June 5th, 2018, 04:43 PM

I don't hate this idea. I would hope, given his political leaning statements, that he is more progressive than the DNC in general. I would consider him.

**greysfang** · June 5th, 2018, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by OCD

God, please no. These business owners/CEO/celebrities need to fuck off with their political aspirations. No more 1%er presidents.

I mean, Oprah got pounded for even considering running, but it’s ok if Howard does? I’ll vote for whoever runs against Trump, but these prospects just aren’t good enough.

We need a compassionate servant of the people, who will be ready to inspire and create a sweeping vision for the future of America. Oprah and Howard might be great business people, but I want neither as president.

Salt of the earth, that’s what we need. Preferably in female form. Men have had enough chances.

Because he's not a celebrity. Plus, his "business" experience/success is much more genuine that the Orange Menace's. There really isn't a comparison to be made other than net worth.

**NoDayButToday** · June 5th, 2018, 04:57 PM

I know I said I would try and stay quiet, but....

He also didn’t grow up as a member of the 1%. He grew up in the projects in New York. His father was a truck driver and he was the first person in his family to even attend college-on athletic scholarship. He is a billionaire, but a self-made one.

**OCD** · June 5th, 2018, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by NoDayButToday

I know I said I would try and stay quiet, but....

He also didn’t grow up as a member of the 1%. He grew up in the projects in New York. His father was a truck driver and he was the first person in his family to even attend college-on athletic scholarship. He is a billionaire, but a self-made one.

Fair enough, I’ll dig around and learn more about him, but I still think we need someone that’s not from the business sector. Though like I said if he runs against Trump, he absolutely has my vote.