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BUFFETT: I WAS 'DUMB' (sends 21 page letter to shareholders)
NY POST ^ | 3/2/08 | RICHARD WILNER

Posted on 03/02/2009 5:38:55 AM PST by Liz

IN LETTER, ORACLE ADMITS TO ERRORS IN WORST-EVER '08

Warren Buffett admitted to doing some "dumb things" in 2008 - the worst year for Berkshire Hathaway in the 44 years he has run it. A brutal stock market decline amid a teeth-gnashing recession pushed Omaha-based Berkshire to a 96% drop in profits, its fifth straight quarterly earnings decline. Buffett, known as the Oracle of Omaha for his decades-long record of picking value investments, said buying ConocoPhillips shares when gas and oil prices were at their peak was perhaps the dumbest move in 2008. Berkshire bought 84.9 million shares at $82 a share - it closed Friday at $37.25, Buffett's paper loss was $2.6B. "I still believe the odds are good that oil sells far higher in the future than the current $40-$50 [per barrel] price," Buffett wrote... "But so far I have been dead wrong." ......Buffett explained to shareholders his investment philosophy - ".....pessimism is your friend, euphoria the enemy"......... in discussing Berkshire's buying and selling of derivatives, the seemingly indecipherable risk insurance product, Buffett told shareholders: "I expected these contracts to show a profit at expiration. Now, with the recession deepening at a rapid rate, the possibility of an eventual loss has increased." Buffett chided private equity firms, mortgage brokers, non-banks converted into banks to gain low-cost federal financing, monoline bond insurers and a host of other companies that helped bring about or are, in his view, gaining an unfair advantage during the recession.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News
KEYWORDS: 2008electionbias; billionaires; billionaires4obama; buffett; buyersremorse; howtostealanelection; obamanomics; obamavoter; usefulidiot; warrenbuffett; zogbyism
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1 posted on 03/02/2009 5:38:55 AM PST by Liz
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To: Liz

He was dumb alright. And his dumbest mistake was throwing his support behind zero.


2 posted on 03/02/2009 5:40:00 AM PST by jersey117
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To: jersey117

He’ll be ever dumber,when the market tanks today.


3 posted on 03/02/2009 5:41:10 AM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: Dr. Ursus

Why is the market tanking today?


4 posted on 03/02/2009 5:44:29 AM PST by villagerjoel ("Gun control is a prerequisite for genocide." - Unknown)
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To: Liz

Number 1 on his list of dumb things in 2008 was his support for the person and the party that is in the process of intentionally destroying the very system that allowed him to create, and maintain, his wealth in the first place. For a financial genius, he sure is stupid.


5 posted on 03/02/2009 5:46:21 AM PST by frankiep (Ron Paul was right)
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To: villagerjoel

A.I.G.


6 posted on 03/02/2009 5:46:31 AM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: Liz

Warren Buffett warns America of 'onslaught of inflation'

Christine Seib in New York

The multibillion-dollar bailouts handed out by the US Government will bring on an “onslaught of inflation”, Warren Buffett, the legendary investor, said in his keenly awaited annual letter to shareholders.

Mr Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway company last year reported only the second year of negative returns in its 44-year history, predicted that the economy would remain a shambles this year and “probably well beyond”.

President Obama signed off a $787 billion (£550 billion) stimulus package to revive America's economy this month. The President has also said that he expects to spend more than the $700 billion allocated to bail out the ailing banking sector.

“Economic medicine that was previously meted out by the cupful has recently been dispensed by the barrel,” Mr Buffett said. “These once unthinkable dosages will almost certainly bring on unwelcome after-effects. Their precise nature is anyone's guess, though one likely consequence is an onslaught of inflation.”

7 posted on 03/02/2009 5:46:32 AM PST by Lady GOP
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To: villagerjoel

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2197124/posts


8 posted on 03/02/2009 5:47:48 AM PST by A.Hun (Common sense is no longer common.)
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To: Liz

I think he still IS dumb. So are the people who voted for zero because Buffet said to vote for him. I really cannot tell you how many people threw Buffet’s words in my face during the election. He is a pathetic POS. He loaded the gun for the LIBERAL, COMMIE takeover.


9 posted on 03/02/2009 5:48:27 AM PST by USA means Freedom
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To: villagerjoel

NIKKEI 225 03/02 - close

7,280.15 -288.27


10 posted on 03/02/2009 5:48:37 AM PST by Lady GOP
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To: villagerjoel

The market will tank today and every day until someone comes forth to kill the socialization of the American economy. Is there a brave soul alive who can do this?


11 posted on 03/02/2009 5:50:37 AM PST by Lowcountry (RIP: Peterdanbrokaw)
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To: villagerjoel

Why is the market tanking today?

Foreign Markets took a big hit overnight.


12 posted on 03/02/2009 5:51:02 AM PST by Lawdoc (My dad married my aunt, so now my cousins are my brothers. Go figure.)
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To: Lady GOP
Warren Buffett warns America of 'onslaught of inflation'

Since he supported the big Zero, he shares in the blame of what is to come.

13 posted on 03/02/2009 5:53:32 AM PST by NeoCaveman (hey who ordered the trillion dollar crap sandwich? FUBO)
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To: Lady GOP
NIKKEI 225 03/02 - close 7,280.15 -288.27

I remember when he Nikkei was at 40 grand. That was 1989.

14 posted on 03/02/2009 5:54:27 AM PST by NeoCaveman (hey who ordered the trillion dollar crap sandwich? FUBO)
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To: Liz
Reading this guy, I'm reminded of a scene from the movie Alien where Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) confronts Ash (Ian Holmes) and she asks him about "their guest" (the alien on Kane [John Hurt]'s face). He goes through all the scientific explanations and she asks what does he mean by all of it.

ASH: Well, it's an interesting combination of elements, making him a tough little son-of-a-{bleep}.

RIPLEY: And you let him in.

15 posted on 03/02/2009 5:54:43 AM PST by Sister_T (The Obama Administration = EPIC FAIL!)
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To: Lowcountry
Is there a brave soul alive who can do this?

I'd volunteer for jury duty ...

16 posted on 03/02/2009 5:54:45 AM PST by clamper1797 (FUBO ... The Kenyan Lincoln)
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To: villagerjoel

I don’t think the downward tread is going to stop until Obama shuts his trap and Congress stops “fixing” the problem.


17 posted on 03/02/2009 5:56:24 AM PST by Psycho_Bunny (ALSO SPRACH ZEROTHUSTRA)
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To: NeoCaveman

did he admit that was his biggest mistake?


18 posted on 03/02/2009 5:56:30 AM PST by gusopol3
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To: Liz

Another Obama zomby who bought into the commie left.


19 posted on 03/02/2009 5:56:55 AM PST by hgro (Jerry Riversd)
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To: Liz

ANYONE who voted / supported FUBO is either a dupe or a traitor ... which one are you


20 posted on 03/02/2009 5:57:46 AM PST by clamper1797 (FUBO ... The Kenyan Lincoln)
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