Hey Ronald, Welcome to the Party

You know the economy has taken a turn for the worst when you can't afford a cup of coffee.

Just as McDonald's was ready to take a final run at the severely crippled and seemingly clueless Starbucks (in the midst of all their troubles, the coffee company has taken time and money to introduce a new, printed newsletter - the Good Sheet), Bank of America steps in (or out as the case may be) and says "no" to the loans the hamburglars so badly want to fund their 14,000 franchise coffee bars.

So now the franchisees are scrambling to find other banks with money to support their java jitters. But of course, now is not a good time for lending or borrowing. So, the golden arches are suggesting that franchisees use available cash. So maybe it will happen and maybe it will not. Maybe in the spring, maybe in the summer, maybe never. And how do we plan all our marketing support amidst all this uncertainty? Maybe McDonald's should quit clowning around and stay with what it knows best - fast and affordable burgers and fries.

Yeah, like that's gonna happen.

For my money, this scenario begs the question: Just how much does McDonald's hate Starbucks (and/or Howard Schultz)? Apparently more than it once hated Pizza Hut, unless of course the grand plan behind all of this is to eventually purchase Starbucks.

McBucks.