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Financial 'Pearl Harbor' Is Past, Says Buffett

Oracle confident as he prepares to be buffeted by shareholders

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted May 1, 2009 2:05 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Oracle of Omaha still sees tough times ahead for the US economy, but he says he thinks the worst is in the past, CNCBC reports. “We’re at a war now to some degree, but Pearl Harbor was September,” Warren Buffett says. “There was a strike at the heart of the American system, the financial system. And we got past that.” But “the war isn’t over,” particularly for Buffett, who will face antsy shareholders tomorrow.

Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway investment firm had its worst year ever in 2008—share values were off 9.6%—and some say “he took his eye off the ball,” the Financial Times reports. “The hard questions will be asked this year,” a watcher said of the usually laudatory annual meeting. “There will be people who always stand by him and others who will ask: ‘Have you lost your way?’”

Last year's annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting, in Omaha, Neb. Those were happier times.
Last year's annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting, in Omaha, Neb. Those were happier times.   (AP Photo)
Warren Buffett.
Warren Buffett.   (AP Photo)
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett.
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett.   (AP Photo)
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There was a strike at the heart of the American system, the financial system. And we got past that. Some of the right decisions were made then, so I give people great credit for doing that. The war isn't over, though. - Warren Buffett

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Robert_Dada
May 2, 2009 12:23 PM CDT
Yeah I wish my financial advisor was off just 9.6%
Assassin
May 2, 2009 2:18 AM CDT
Warren Buffet is at least Man enough to admit mistakes & take responsibility unlike those Punks & Whores in the Banking system.
Observer
May 1, 2009 9:48 AM CDT
Warren Buffet has one bad year in a lifetime and he gets skewered. The pundits are low paid wage slaves heckling a legend. Cheers to the great Mr. Buffet.
 

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