Buffett is one of the great investors, is he the saint folks think he is? I rather doubt it.It; s hard to deny the genius of a Soros or a Steinhardt, either but they are, IMHO, sonsabitches...

Look, I don't want to name the Company but Buffett made a big investment in a Company I am close to that has a nominal dividend, a good balance sheet and decent FCF and he has been putting BIG pressure on them to raise the dividend meaningfully, .yet his rhetoric is the opposite ie "this div tax cut is so bad, blah, blah, blah", also, as a corporation, the div's he received were taxed at a FAR lower rate than you and I would have paid. Hopefully, one day this story will be told but it is the height of hypocrisy as I see it, of course, it is viewed as almost un-American to question the guy, but someone should. Look too at his argument on when he should file positions. Everyone else has to file fast but he used the argument, which the Gov't bought til recently, that he has such a big reputation that he should be exempted from this because it would get in his way, gimme a break!!! talk to people who have dealt with the guy when bidding against him in bankruptcy court for assets a la Conseco etc...the guy isn't the angel he would lead you to believe, just my opinion, of course...






-- Modified on 3/31/2004 7:17:24 AM

-- Modified on 3/31/2004 3:03:40 PM