[fight_truth_decay]

In an earlier editorial, Weidner writes:

'Act of war'

The most glaring of Buffett's transgressions occurred six days after Sept. 11, 2001. Earlier that year, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway had agreed to pay more than 70% of face value for $500 million in bonds issued by bankrupt finance company Finova Group. He broke the contract after 9/11 by invoking an "act of war" clause in his contract, citing the World Trade Center attacks less than a week earlier.

It was that decision, to not honor an agreement at a time when the country needed to come together, that for me solidified the notion that Buffett was not, after all, an outsider, but the coldest of Wall Street operators to the core. As Roger Lowenstein once wrote, "Wall Street's modern financiers have got rich by exploiting their control of the public's money: their essential trick has been to take in -- and sell out -- the public at opportune moments."

Warren Buffett did that in the days following Sept. 11. That was not the only time Buffett has been ruthless in his business dealings. From his early years in the 1960s, Buffett has favored managers who slash costs, often through layoffs, to shine up his investments.

Does Buffett have any primary allegiance other than make money for his "upscale" investors? Should Buffett be just a "businessman, not a saint"(unlike George Soros? sarcasm light blinking)

[Cicero]

Oh, I don’t know. The liberals needn’t worry about their hero, Warren Buffet.

When he kicks the bucket, billions of dollars will go to work killing babies, destroying economies, and reducing populations all around the world.

That should warm their little hearts.

[fight_truth_decay]

"Shareholder Judith Porter stood before 27,000 investors at the company's annual meeting in Omaha, Neb., and told Buffett that dumping the Berkshire stake "will send a signal to China and to the Sudan that there are costs for continuing this destruction," according to reports. Buffett defended the investment by arguing that it's the Chinese government that's condoning the actions in Darfur....."

.."PetroChina in no way tells the Chinese government what to do," Buffett was quoted as saying. "We have no disagreement with what PetroChina is doing." He could see "no effect whatsoever in Berkshire Hathaway trying to tell the Chinese government how to conduct their business."

"Hey, if you could make a few bucks dealing with someone you know is helping hide a serial killer, why say anything? It probably wouldn't help, right? --Weidner--http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/buffetts-charity-belies-times-ruthless/story.aspx?guid=%

[Ancesthntr]

I own a very small stake in Berkshire Hathaway, and I admire Buffett as perhaps the best investor in modern history.

However.

He should stick to business. I’m sick & tired of brilliant people (in one area) sounding off like they’re experts in another area that they know little or nothing about.

[montomike]

Wasting away in Marguerita-ville!

Oops...wrong Buffett

[NordP]

Yo...fellow Christmas Baby - GIVE WAR A CHANCE. Let our guys take the gloves off, untie their hands, and let ‘em WIN!