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?