OMAHA -- More than 30,000 roared when executive compensation consultants were called prostitutes. It was similar when libertarian former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan was caricatured as believing that any axe murder must be good if it occurs in a free market.

There was funny video featuring the cast of Glee, tennis icons Roger Federer and Billie Jean King and a cartoon in which the character of Herman Cain was voiced by, yes, Herman Cain. Then there was badmouthing of graduate business schools, most any new stock issue and even those who say we must seek "energy independence."

But the stars on stage weren't left-wing comics but two laconic octogenarian investors of rock-solid Midwest bent. And their adoring audience waved butterscotch lollypops, not cell phone cameras, with a revival meeting air laced with opportunities to enjoy fat price breaks on high-end jewelry, cocktail tables, peanut brittle and running shoes.

Throw in the presence of Bono and Bill Gates, huge parties at a furniture mart and a jewelry store and games ranging from ping pong to newspaper tosses and you've got much of the weekend-long annual shareholders gathering of Berkshire Hathaway, the pride of Omaha.