General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSorry, Howard Schultz - America doesn't want another billionaire president
Schultz opposes Medicare for All and raising the top tax rate his middle-of-the-road vision is not what America needshttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/30/howard-schultz-starbucks-president-white-house
Howard Schultz, the former Starbucks CEO, has a bold plan to rescue America, and it involves putting another billionaire in the White House to put a stop to dangerous ideas like universal healthcare and higher taxes on the wealthy. Schultz told CBSs 60 Minutes on Sunday that he is seriously thinking about making a run for the Oval Office as a centrist independent. Why? Because, according to Schultz, we see extremes on both sides we are sitting with approximately $21.5tn of debt, which is a reckless example, not only of Republicans, but of Democrats. I dont care if youre a Democrat, independent, Libertarian, Republican. Bring me your ideas. And I will be an independent person, who will embrace those ideas. Because I am not, in any way, in bed with a party.
As a remedy, the billionaire CEO is pitching an utterly unremarkable combination of middle-of-the-road policies and a language of moderation that would fall safely within the corporatist mainstream of the Democratic party. He believes popular, desperately-needed policies like Medicare For All are unaffordable and un-American, and is opposed to raising the top marginal rate of income tax lest people like him be taxed at levels unseen since that heyday of American communism otherwise known as the Nixon era.
He expresses concern that so many have so little money in the bank but doesnt think low-earning workers deserve a raise, a union, free health insurance, or the opportunity to get an education without drowning in debt courtesy of sky-high tuition.
Whatever his superficial gestures towards moderation and inclusivity, Schultz is pledging to be a tribune for the billionaire class to which he himself belongs, over and against the growing current of popular, social democratic policies continuing to gather momentum within the Democratic party and among the wider US electorate. Given that the 2020 Democratic primaries are certain to include several Wall Street-friendly candidates, its unclear what exactly he hopes to accomplish beyond giving a voice to a handful of plutocrats who somehow find figures like Joe Biden and Cory Booker too extreme.
But perhaps thats precisely the point.
snip
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Schultz is GOP-lite.
Yes, he talks about caring, but his positions indicate that he cares about his money.
suffragette
(12,232 posts)up this atrocious idea many times over the years. Its at the core of what he wants to do.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)The rich are entitled to everything, and we are entitled to work for them.
suffragette
(12,232 posts)he oddly emphasized that he plans to run as an American and called policy plans from Harris and Ocasio not American and un-American.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)The racism is more subdued, more nuanced, but it is still there.
Nice observation.
suffragette
(12,232 posts)just as he is backtracking on beginning his campaign. But these were his knee jerk responses about Harris and Ocasio-Cortez and his definition of himself as a candidate and I think that speaks volumes about his views.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)where he explains all of his troubling statements.
C_U_L8R
(45,035 posts)Nothing against billionaires. But electing someone with zero public service experience or record put us in this mess.
oasis
(49,480 posts)marlakay
(11,534 posts)That he doesnt have a chance in hell of winning so if he stays it will only be to help Trump.
Thats how i felt about Nadar, I will never forget the Bill Maher episode where both him and Michael Moore got on their knees and begged him to drop out. He just laughed at them.
People like that sicken me.
world wide wally
(21,760 posts)I don't think he'll get more than 1% and half of those will be Trumpers.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)Ultimately, I'm not even sure he'll run.
world wide wally
(21,760 posts)Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)half of that would be never trump republicans and the other half bernie bros pissing on the dems. I really don't see him as a threat.
What is the centrist position on gun control? Abortion? LGBTQ rights? Health care? Prescription drug costs? The border wall? He starts answering those questions and he won't be viewed as "centrist" by either side.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Baltimike
(4,148 posts)JI7
(89,287 posts)uponit7771
(90,371 posts)... a 100% disaster.
100% opposite of Harris's
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)Another vanity project.