I'd like to give a huge shout out to Starbucks!

[EnviroBat]

The free coffee was a nice thing to do.

[louis-t]

1. Goin' to get mine in a bit.

Didn't get any advance notice here.

[AllegroRondo]

2. Krispy Kreme has free donuts too!

yummo.

and with red white and blue sprinkles

[doc03]

3. Thanks Starbucks, I got my free one n/t

[NYC_SKP]

4. Fuck Krispy Kreme and Starbucks, and big fucking chains like walmart.

Where am I, the fucking mall of America???

I prefer the local donut shop around the corner and the independent java shops scattered around town.

I'm sorry if that's divisive, but we also vote with our pocketbooks.

[GDAEx2]

5. uhhh

it's free

[NYC_SKP]

12. Indeed, take all the free stuff from them you like.

But as a corporation, they are still turds and I dislike turds.

I voted, I'd get a free coffee if one was anywhere near me.

[EnviroBat]

6. Well bud, THIS Obama supporter voted straight dem party ticket, went to Starbucks

a got free coffee.

[NYC_SKP]

11. Cool by me...they didn't get any money from you, but Fuck them nonetheless.

[Shakespeare]

8. Does the independent coffee shop offer the same benefits Starbucks does?

It's not an evil corporation, NYC. Support the local guy if you like (I go both places here--CyberJava on Hollywood Blvd., and the Starbucks at La Brea & Sunset), but it's dumb (bordering on ignorant) to slam Starbucks.

And anybody who does anything to encourage GOTV efforts is doing a good thing, be they a monster corporation or the little guy next door.

[NYC_SKP]

14. My rant also has to do with the retail landscape of America...

Starbucks at the airport, in my hotel, in my hotel room. I prefer variety and a level playing field for all businesses.

They also have a history of using less than savory means of driving out small businesses.

They and others also exhibit the unsustainable attitude that if your business isn't growing year by year, then it's failing.

I just don't like the general trend, sure I am happy that they are doing something nice that may promote GOTV.

Voting felt good today, let's not get personal on the board, I'm neither dumb nor ignorant, nor bordering.

:toast:

[Captiosus]

15. I'd love to vote with my pocketbook, but come down here

And show me a local independent java shop.
Or a local donut shop.

You can't, because there are none.
They've all been squeezed out by big box stores.

You want a coffee? You get to go to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, 7-11, or any fast food joint.
You want a donut? You get to go to Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts or.. ugh.. WalMart.

There are no "mom and pop" stores where I live. Only big box, "major chain" shops.

On edit: I realize this is probably where your rant intersects with mine, and we agree that the big box stores have trashed our small retail businesses. Sadly, far too many people prefer the perceived "convenience" of big box stores and the few mom and pop retail shops that have popped up in recent years have gone bankrupt in less than two years.

[NYC_SKP]

18. Yes, great intersection...In some regions it's already gone that far.

If only people would fucking think.

We can bring it back, just try your best!

:toast:

[Athens30603]

17. I agree 100%! n/t

[Clio the Leo]

7. Be a good citizen and BUY something to go with your coffee....

.... as a way of saying thanks.

[EnviroBat]

9. Blueberry Coffee Cake!

YUM!

[Catherine Vincent]

21. Well, that's probably their goal.

To get you in there and purchase something.

[tilsammans]

10. When I mentioned I had voted and got my Pike Place Roast cuppa . . .

. . . the barista said, "Well, all right!"

:woohoo:

[MrScorpio]

13. We got free cups from the mom and pop bakery

Hot and fresh from ex-schoolmates

Yummy!

[NYC_SKP]

19. WOOT!!! I hope you bought something too!

Thanks!

[MrScorpio]

20. Yes, I did

Got some donuts and stuff, was going to head over to Starbucks for the coffee when we found out that the mom and pop was giving put free coffee to voters too.

There was no need to make the extra trip

[MassLiberal]

16. Thanks, Starbucks!

We went straight from the polls to Starbucks and had the same happy feeling in both places.

[RamboLiberal]

22. Local chain in Pittsburgh & some of WV/Ohio also offering free coffee

Eat n' Park. If Obama wins tonight I'm going to see if I can buy some of the blue and red smiley cookies to reward the few Dems here and gently rub it in to the mostly Repukes I work with.

A lot of the Repukes are off on an incentive trip this week, I'm secretly hoping they forgot to get absentee ballots.



Actually maybe I should go to the other local chain King's and get the Repukes Frownie cookies.

[NYC_SKP]

23. Yes, Buy Local, Buy Local, Buy Local, Buy Local, Buy Local, Buy Local, Buy Local,

Starbucks and Krispy Kreme displace the mom and pop stores, clueless consumers make it possible.

I fucking hate them.

I vote everyday with my pocketbook.

:toast:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

24. Thanks, I appreciate it.

Oh, sorry, I thought you meant me. :rofl:

[budkin]

25. Love em!

[Catherine Vincent]

26. Just picked up my free cup.

But it wasn't my usual latte. They were only giving out their regular coffee but whatever, it was free.