Warren Watch: Buffett is a 9 of hearts in the game of Washington politics

By Steve Jordon
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU 
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WASHINGTON — Warren Buffett, Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin and former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel are among the 54 key figures in presidential politics, judging by a souvenir deck of playing cards on sale here.

Buffett, who backed the candidacy of President Barack Obama and offered advice during the 2008 campaign, wears his characteristic suit and is labeled as a “businessman, philanthropist” who pledges, “My Money is on Obama.”

Democrat Harkin holds a poster showing an outline of his state and the words, “Iowa Votes Obama,” while maverick Republican Hagel wears a pair of overalls and stands next to a farmstead with the words, “Heartland Votes Obama.”

The deck's queens are first lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and media empress Oprah Winfrey.
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Obama's face appears on all the aces and kings.

Former President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain are the jokers. Others in the deck include TV personalities Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, actor George Clooney, newspaper columnist Maureen Dowd, former President Jimmy Carter, former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker and dozens of politicians.

Card values appear random: Harkin is the four of spades, Hagel the seven of clubs and Buffett the nine of hearts.

Case study earns visit

Former Nebraskan Todd Finkle won a spot for his students in the annual Buffett college visitation scramble in part by writing a case history of the Omaha investor and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. chairman.

The Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal reported that Finkle, an associate professor and director of the Fitzgerald Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Akron, called two years ago to request a visit, but the waiting list was so long that an invitation was unlikely.

He wrote the case study, which has been accepted for publication in a journal, sent Buffett a copy and, surprise, got an invite for a Nov. 6 visit.

Finkle is an Omaha Central High School graduate who received his bachelor's degree and Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree at the University of Wisconsin.

He recalls eating lunch at Central with Buffett's son Peter, who is two years older, because they had friends in common. Finkle occasionally has attended Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meetings and talked briefly with Peter Buffett last year.

Case histories often are used as teaching tools at business colleges, and Finkle said his is the most thorough on Berkshire. In notes to potential teachers, he writes:

“The case allows students to follow Buffett's path through life from his entrepreneurial endeavors at a young age, through his teens, college years, Wall Street, partnership, and the purchase and growth of Berkshire Hathaway. The case serves as a benchmark for students to follow in their own careers.”

Finkle is taking applications from students for the 27 slots open for the Buffett visit, which will include lunch and a question-and-answer session.

The case study includes a list of Buffett quotes, including:

“Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.”

“A public-opinion poll is no substitute for thought.”

“If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians.”

Helzberg shake-up

The new CEO is shaking things up at Helzberg Diamonds, the Berkshire jewelry subsidiary based in Kansas City, Mo., according to Jewelers Circular Keystone.

Since Beryl Raff took over, four or more key merchandisers have either retired or left, the industry magazine reported, and Helzberg has hired others from well-known jewelry firms.

“This has led observers to wonder where the company is headed,” the story said.

“One thing is for sure,” the article stated, “Raff's abrupt replacement of former CEO Marvin Beasley in April was a big shock to the company's corporate culture. Generally, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which owns Helzberg, does not interfere with its companies, and tends to promote from within.”