On a per-share basis, the company lost 13 cents a share, slightly wider than the Street consensus forecast of 11 cents, with share count the primary swingfactor.
Notwithstanding the nasty asides at Grover Norquist, Buffett has been quite expansive on the complex tradeoffs inherent in investment decisions, and how taxes can be a pivotal swingfactor.
Factor in some freshmen Democratic senators elected from swing states in Obama's 2008 wave (the last time this batch of seats was contested), and Republicans could run competitive challenges in 10 or more Democrat-held seats.