America could use more of Buffett's cluelessness

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Gov. Rick Perry often demonstrates an uncanny ability to tap into what energizes John and Jane Potential Conservative Voter in Texas.

The wisdom of being center stage at the Aug. 6 prayer rally called The Response was widely criticized by civil liberties groups because of the controversial statements by some of the gathering's organizers.

Some political watchers speculated that a paltry response to The Response might keep Perry from jumping into the GOP presidential fray.

But more than 30,000 people were drawn to Reliant Stadium in Houston to pray for a nation in crisis. They didn't give a widow's mite who was footing the bill.



Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/10/01/3410838/america-could-use-more-of-buffetts.html#ixzz1ZXguQ9u9

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1. I had no idea Buffett had invested so heavily in the Fort Worth area

That's great! That's awesome!

In the decade that Perry has enjoyed a lifestyle made possible by Texas voters and taxpayers, the Berkshire Hathaway CEO has pumped a considerable portion of his company's resources into Fort Worth.

In 2000, Berkshire purchased one of Cowtown's iconic companies, Justin Industries, maker of boots (Justin) and bricks (Acme).

In 2007, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway purchased TTI, a Fort Worth-based electronic components distribution company that employs more than 1,500 people at more than 50 locations.

A Mansfield-based subsidiary of TTI, Mouser Electronics, employed 593 at the time of the deal. Today, it has 980 -- or more. A Sept. 7 Star-Telegram story said Mouser had another 60 openings companywide, including 47 in Mansfield.

In early 2010, Buffett acquired Fort Worth-based BNSF Railway.

That would be the BNSF that announced in February it would spend $3.5 billion this year to upgrade railroad tracks and buy equipment as the company reinvests to keep pace with a growing volume of freight shipments.

The BNSF that is slated to spend $450 million on 227 new locomotives and $350 million on new rail cars that will be built by GE Locomotive, which is moving to Alliance Airport -- with the help of Texas Enterprise Fund money -- in large part because of Buffett's BNSF.

:applause::applause::applause: