Doing the people’s business

LAST week Brooklyn-born billionaire barista Howard Schultz hung up his apron and stepped away as executive chairman of Starbucks to contemplate a potential presidential run in 2020.

I think it’s very clear from his statements that America needs more “dignity” out of Washington that he is indeed serious about a run. The problem is, President Trump already is the rough-and-tumble, blue-collar billionaire businessman in the White House.

And in just 18 months, Trump has already checked off a lot of the boxes that matter to people.

Look no further than Trump’s accomplishments, which no other Republicans, or Democrats, or any combination of them, have achieved:

The first major corporate tax overhaul since President Reagan.

Repeal of the health-care mandate.

A halt in nuclear aggressor North Korea’s launch tests, a release of hostages and a planned face-toface meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong- un.

A personal-tax-cut and bonus bonanza. Millions received bonuses of $1,000 and more, and raises, upon the signing of the Trump tax cuts.

The lowest unemployment rate in 17 years.

Massive regulatory relief to energy and finance industries.

A big armed forces rebuild. Would Schultz make a good candidate? Maybe, but the left already has it in for him. Just look at this headline from New York magazine’s Daily Intelligencer column, literally the morning after he announced he was leaving Starbucks:

“Democrats Must Reject Howard Schultz and His Radical Centrist Ideology.”

Quite the oxymoron. But nothing is more unacceptable to the entrenched politician than an aggressive, accomplished businessman or -woman.

But if Schultz can survive the Democrats and make a run at it, at least America will have the choice between two New York-born and -bred businessmen, who both built iconic high-end businesses.