What politicians could learn from Steve Jobs

By Tom Quiner [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUxBJ7n0T8U&feature=player_embedded] Steve Jobs was a genius because he developed products that not only did cool things, they were easy to use. “Elegant” is the word consistently used to describe the MacIntosh computer, iPods, iPhones, and iPads. Do you remember the first iPod? It had one button. One button! It seemed like it would…

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Mitt Romney’s adamant pro-choice position

By Tom Quiner [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_w9pquznG4] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxV-QNXoRIc&feature=related] Today, Mitt Romney says he is pro-life. In earlier campaigns this decade, me maintained he was adamantly pro-choice. See the videos above. In the early 90s, it is suggested that he was pro-life. We’re left with the impression that he didn’t just flip-flop on the issue, he flip-flop-flipped. There is…

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Health insurance implosion continues in Iowa

By Tom Quiner Here’s what is happening in Iowa: health insurance companies are pulling out of the Iowa market. Thirteen companies have pulled out of the the market here in the past sixteen months. These companies are victims of Obamacare, according to the CEO of the latest company to pull out of the market, Des Moines-based…

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The rise and fall of Herman Cain

By Tom Quiner I like Herman Cain. He is an American success story. A guy like that inspires others to be all that they can be. His 9-9-9 tax plan has sparked a vigorous debate on one of the critical issues facing America: how do we tax a nation in a way that is constructive,…

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A little civility goes a long way

By Tom Quiner I respect Susan Sarandon as an actress. She’s made some great films. I disagree with her politics, but that’s America. But she made a crack yesterday that made me lose respect for her. She referred to Pope Benedict as the “Nazi” pope. For Ms. Sarandon, who was raised Catholic, to turn on…

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What kind of people want to “occupy Wall Street”?

By Tom Quiner You can’t help but glean some quick reactions to the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) crowd. They’re profane. They like to copulate in public parks. The women like to display themselves in a state of undress. Impressed so far? But what is really on their minds? Democratic pollster, Douglas Schoen, had a senior…

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How do we create opportunity?

By Tom Quiner Some of the folks participating in the Occupy Wall Street protests have a good point: they need a job. The official unemployment rate continues to hover above nine percent. That number doesn’t reflect another group, the permanently unemployed. These are the folks that have given up looking for a job. When you…

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The skewed view from the Left

By Tom Quiner This morning’s Des Moines Register’s letters to the editors showcased the skewed vision of America from those on the Left of the political spectrum. One writer called Herman Cain “un-American.” “Herman Cain said recently that the protesters from the 99 percent movement outside Wall Street and now outside the capital in Iowa’…

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