Howard Schultz inserting himself into the presidential race of 2020 is suspicious to me.

[no_hypocrisy]

There may be hidden facts that have determined his "candidacy".

Such as who is funding him. Yeah, yeah, Starbucks, billionaire. But who got to him with promises that he won't lose a cent of his own money? Who persuaded him to announce on a national news show that he is considering jumping in?

The Koch Brothers? ALEC? Republican donors to make sure their boy Trump doesn't leave until January, 2025?

This device of having an Independent be a spoiler has worked for too many elections (2000, 2016) for me not to believe this is a republican strategy to garner Independent and democratic votes, thus allowing a minority in the country to win elections and to make policy for the rest of us.

[vlyons]

1. His ego persuaded him

It would be a vanity campaign, if at all. Any Dem, who runs as an independent ain't really a Dem. If he really cared about making a contribution that had a shred of a chance, he would run for mayor, congress, senate, or bankroll a viable candidate. But with him, it's just vanity.

[monmouth4]

2. I don't know if it's important or not, but he does have many stores in Russia. Just sayin'..n/t

[JI7]

4. getting involved with Russia would hurt him more. he isn't like Trump

and desperate for money.

he could easily make more money without running for president.

it's nothing but EGO for him.

[octoberlib]

3. No Labels which means Joe Lieberman and the Koch brothers.

I bet Lieberman and Mark Penn are encouraging him behind the scenes.

Link to tweet

Haven’t been hanging in every word but in the last 48 hrs of his pre-campaign I’ve heard @HowardSchultz attack Medicare 4 All, higher marginal rates, attack social security, embrace fiscal austerity. I’ve heard him say he doesn’t support a wall. He’s running as an anti-Democrat.

[DeminPennswoods]

5. Serena Maxwell described him as a vanity candidate

But there is also at least some desire for a "centrist" candidate who can "bring people together". Sort of Obama-lite I guess. That's probably Schultz' intended audience plus the Dana Milbanks', Bill Kristol's, Chris Clizza's, David Brooks' and other opinion-makers pining for the same kumbaya.

[vlyons]

6. He's a corporate oligarch

who runs a company that sells way too expensive coffee for old yuppies. He would just represent Wall St and corporate greed in general. Is it any wonder that he doesn't like the Dem party moving left. Has he offered anything other than empty platitudes?

[whathehell]

7. I'm inclined to agree..

but you might want to lose the ageism...Those "old" yuppies are more reliable voters than the under 35s.

[Achilleaze]

9. You can expect a sternly worded letter from the GYDL*

* Geezer Yuppie Defense League

[Vinca]

8. It shouldn't be a mystery. Most of the billionaires got the vapors when people started talking

about taxing them a couple of per cent. God forbid the government goes where the money is to get the money.

[apcalc]

10. I saw a yesterday that Trump talked with him, don't remember the source.

[dalton99a]

11. Howard Schultz is about more money for Howard Schultz

Just like Trump

[bullwinkle428]

12. Steve Schmidt got exposed as one of his top backers. It's pretty clear

that Steve Schmidt is enjoying the best years of his life as a "never-Trumper". What better way to ensure yourself of 4 more years of Trump than backing a 3rd-party candidate that would tremendously help Trump's chances of re-election to a 2nd term?