Oops! Revisiting Steve Jobs by way of Newt!

That's not the forgetful "oops" of a Rick Perry but more of an apology for what I had intended to post and did post previously on Steve Jobs.   For the past two days I've been writing a post on the similarities between Steve Jobs and Newt Gingrich where I focus on their similarities in personality--much too snidely I admit.  I was ready to publish my post but needed some information on Jobs and in a Google search, I happened upon a joint interview of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs at a technology conference in 2007.  I'm still of the view that there's been far too much adulation of Jobs as a product designer and far too little review of his character.  He had some serious character flaws, personal and professional, not the least of which was building on the genius of others without assigning proper credit.

But I would be ridiculous if I did even a superficial comparison of Jobs to Gingrich, thus the "oops."  I was very impressed by Jobs review of the computer industry, where it was and where it's going, and also by his interaction with Bill Gates.  They're both remarkable men, just not Gods (or gods if you prefer).  Jobs was charmingly modest in the interview; Gates was sincerely modest, and both radiated substance, consistency, and passion for their work, qualities which are completely lacking in the egomanic Newt Gingrich.

So, I've decided to give way on bashing Jobs and to recognize that his contribution to technology is more than a few frivolous apps or high-priced iToys  He had an intuitive understanding of what the average user wants from a computer, and he used this understanding (his "magical taste" to quote Gates) to tweak the designs of others to near perfection.  The keypad on my MacBook is one example--I'm a touch typist and I love the soft (almost noiseless) keypad--it's like typing in soft butter. Typing on a Dell is like pounding on cement blocks. More important though, Jobs helped to change the perception of what constitutes good computer hardware and software design.  His was the gold standard for user friendly. So rest in peace Steve Jobs.  You deserve it.

I sincerely wish I could say the same to Newt.  If only he would go away.  Republican conservatives are out in droves since Gingrich came back to life vilifying him far better than I can do, or at least more effectively since they want a Republican to succeed.  George Wills writes that he "embodies the vanity and rapacity that makes modern Washington repulsive;" Joe Scarborough says that Gingrich "is not fit to be President of the United States," and Tom Coburn, the Republican Senator from Oklahoma, that "he's the type of leader that has one standard for everyone else and a separate one for himself."  Of course, the left is not shutting up either. From Maureen Dowd, Newt is "a serial adulterer while trying to impeach another serial adulterer, a lobbyist for Freddie Mac while attacking Freddie Mac."  Perhaps the best comment on Newt's vulgarity and grandiose ego can be found in his own words.  His excuse for cheating on his second wife had nothing to do with sex.  It was "passion for his country."  Last, certainly not least, is his new found friendship with Donald Trump. Remember the adage, "Tell me what company you keep, and I'll tell you what you are."

As Bette Davis's character said in "All About Eve," "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night."