Palin Punked?

Many scratched their heads when it was announced Sarah Palin had been invited to speak in Hong Kong at an investment broker's conference. Huh? As mayor, Palin left her hometown of Wasilla $20 million in debt. Her mastery of finance wasn't tested as governor; during her aborted term, the state was flush with cash.

Finally, the Business Insider explained it: "Hong Kong Broker Pulling a 'Borat' on Sarah Palin":

Her invitation as keynote speaker in Hong Kong is so ridiculous that its absurdity can't be accidental.

CLSA, the Asia-focused broker who invited Mrs. Palin as keynote speaker for an Asian investment conference, is well known for their cheeky takes on investment research.

In the past, they've polled Asian fortune tellers for index targets, hired anime cartoonists to draw Japanese research, and generally love to push the boundaries between entertainment and analysis. They are a real research firm, it's just that they love to sprinkle in some hilarity every now and then as a smart marketing gimmick.

Palin probably doesn't know what she's in for. If you will, she's being "Borat'ed" and doesn't have the Asia knowledge to realize it.

Sarah Palin has a history of pulling a series of "Lucy with the football" for different organizers who have scheduled her to speak. If CLSA's purpose is comic relief in hiring her, they may get their moneys worth... that's if she shows up. The CLSA may want to hire William Shatner as a translator. Asian word salad, anyone?

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Comments

[beyondliberal]

Where was Ashton Kutcher?

[havegonedc]

OMG - Palin's actually going to show up and give her speech to these people...

Looking forward to the smuggled cell-phone video!

[Ron Phillips]

Somewhere in Hong Kong two CLSA employees are arguing over the correct Cantonese translation of "you betcha!"

[tj101]

Great find!

Imagine. The one event she agrees to attend...The irony is just so beautiful.

I needed the laugh, thanks.

[CaptainHowdy2]

She'll probably be a "no show" to this event just like the numerous other events she's flaked on... including her governorship.

[Wallysmom]

I read this article earlier today on Politico and it included an update from Palin's PR manager that she was indeed attending this "serious" venue. It will be interesting to say the least. Most intelligent people can figure out if they are in over their heads. It is the equivalent of Rush Limbaugh being asked to speak at a Same-Sex marriage rally.

[offred]

This woman will self-immolate eventually.

[SharpDressedMan]

The Neiman Marxist material girl will pal around with Communists.

Can't help thinking there is an irony somewhere in that thought.

[Freesia2]

There is. "Neiman-Marxist". (That was funny.) We all get it. Sarah, of course, will not. Goes with being Sarah.

[S1m0n]

It's also a lovely gut check. Having accepted the invite, Palin's only good move at this point is to show up and play it straight. Give them a serious talk about her themes, and then cash the check. The history of suffragette-era feminism is full of accounts of women who did just that. If Palin had the stones, that's what she'd do, too.

[S1m0n]

It's brilliant, devastating, and mean, but given her pretensions to substance, it is entirely fair-ball.

[EatWildFish]

You have to wonder if Palin even realizes she is an international laughingstock ....
Perhaps she doesn't care because it satisfies her lust for the limelight - and of course, she will laugh all the way to the bank. No doubt, CSLA is loving all this publicity also too -
Any wagers that (assuming she shows) Winky will make her ghost written, snappy speech and then depart without speaking to anyone (''cept for social niceties, love Hong Kong, you betcha) ??

[Cat401]

Shannon I love your article about Palin and this is a good piece too. But you should have waited until she got over there to post this article, she might "pull a palin" now and we can't get a good laugh.

[Oregondemo]

EXACTLY what I thought when I heard she was asked to speak! Can't wait to see this! She'll probably stand them up when she realizes - on second thought, her ego would not allow her to realize.


Good stuff.

[Bai]

You still can get a good laugh, Cat401. SP is in a no win situation, thanks to Shannyn's brilliance. SP is now wondering (more like wailing and gnashing her teeth) if she is being set up to be punked in Hong Kong. SP also knows if she cancels her appearance she will undoubtedly be punked again for dereliction of obligation.

SP "knows" (has she ever done it? I can Google it and "know") how to field dress a moose.

Shannyn Moore knows how to field dress SP.

[johnie2xs]

If this speech by Palin actually happens, if I could suggest one thing that the media should do, it would be this; Train your cameras on the audience. The looks on the faces of these movers and shakers in world finance, should be absolutely priceless as they try to make sense of the drivel that Sarah will most assuredly will put forth.

I do pray that it happens.

[santafesam]

Do they use translators? Can you imagine having that job? Translating her gibberish into Chinese?

[ThankGodhesgone]

Like many Bush rallies, the press weren't invited. Just hpoing that someone has a video phone.

[gwashington1776]

A huge wink and a nod to Shannon!!! You are the best Shannon! It would be great to see you hosting Keith's show now and then.....Keep up the great work....

It behooves us all to not allow SP to get away any more with her untruths and dis-information the way she denigrated our president during the campaign

[AlaskaLiberal]

The only good thing that has come about from the Sarah Palin drama over the past year is that the rest of the US now knows that Alaska is not located in the south Pacific Ocean and Shannyn Moore has risen in fame and fortune. I listened to Shannyn on the local station (miss the discussions she brought to the air waves) and enjoyed her participation in local political action events. KUDOs to Shannyn