1. Conspiracy theorists who can’t let go of the fact that one of the world’s richest men probably has some advantages and influence that others don’t have. To which I say grow the f— up, this is how the world works, read a book about the Roman Empire or the Renaissance or even the elitist philosophy of Confucianism circa 500 BC. Did not Nathan Mayer Rothschild have runners and messengers in boats speeding word to him of Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo? And did he not engineer a panic on the London bond market, first dumping consols and then scooping up everyone else’s before the official news arrived at the marketplace? Did Buffett’s viewpoint on rescuing the banks weigh on the TARP vote? Probably. Maybe. But it’s not like Warren made it a secret that he was expecting this outcome. The New York Times op-eds about betting on America might have been your first clue, Sherlock.

2. Hardcore right-wingers and libertarians who are incensed at Buffett’s ideas about making the tax system more progressive and eliminating absurd loopholes like carried interest. They also despise Buffett’s general views on the government’s role in capitalism, his support for President Obama and his photo ops with Jay-Z. They’ll impugn the man’s business and investing record when they can find no rational arguments against the Buffett advocacy for smarter and more equitable tax laws. They’ll call him a hypocrite and slime him for his investments in banks and derivatives. But it’s about politics, they can’t see past it. And they’ll never bring up his charitable contribution of just about the entire fortune he’s amassed. (more…)