Too bad to check: Palin’s Hong Kong speaking gig some kind of prank?
posted at 6:45 pm on September 1, 2009 by Allahpundit
I am, shall we say, highly skeptical.
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.
Sarah Palin is this year’s big laugh for them.
Her invitation as keynote speaker in Hong Kong is so ridiculous that its absurdity can’t be accidental.
What’s the punchline? They’re going to pay her a hundred grand to come read what I’m sure will be a perfectly serviceable speech on foreign relations — and that’s it? Investment bankers in the audience snickering at the very sight her, in some weird financial industry version of a pig party? Reading the post, I kept waiting for some detail about how they’re insisting on a Q&A period and planning to ambush her there or setting up some elaborate “Carrie” stunt where pig’s blood drops from the rafters, but no. Sure smells like it’s a legitimate offer to have an in-demand political celebrity make an appearance and this — this — is the best the left can do to spin it their way. Exit question: Assuming this turns out to be true, isn’t it horribly bad press for CLSA? The left may enjoy it, but conservative media will have a field day with it.
Blowback
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Yeah aren’t Obama’s collage records sealed?
Sharr on September 1, 2009 at 7:24 PM
A legal agreement is reached when anyone is booked for a commercial speech.
TimeTraveler on September 1, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Please post a link. I would love to see the “seating” and line up of people who graduated that year.
upinak on September 1, 2009 at 7:26 PM
*graduated
crr6 on September 1, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Anyone else get the sense that “crr6″ is in particularly bad mood today?
I guess when your Dear Leader is tanking in polls, his entire domestic agenda is dead in the water, you need to take your frustration out on someone.
Norwegian on September 1, 2009 at 7:27 PM
“…the world is full of educated derelicts….”
Fighton03 on September 1, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Alfonso Borja was the Pope. What is your point?
Limerick on September 1, 2009 at 7:29 PM
c’mon this thread is total troll bait. Grab a bat and have some fun.
Fighton03 on September 1, 2009 at 7:31 PM
You’d think someone with a Harvard education would know the basic theory of economics. You know, the theory most community college educated students understand.
portlandon on September 1, 2009 at 7:31 PM
What’s the difference between Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama?
Jimmy Carter was actually successful in actually implementing his destructive agenda.
TimeTraveler on September 1, 2009 at 7:32 PM
This speech hasn’t even been confirmed by Sarah or even Washington Speakers, why is Allah posting this morbid speculation ?
promachus on September 1, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Whoa, there. Settle down.
My comment about her RSVP being legit wasn’t aimed at you. It was aimed at all the people, AP included, who “report” these invites Palin has supposedly accepted when she never did and then dump on her for poor PR.
I read the post link, but none of the links on that post. Thus far, this seems like it may be legitimate.
conservative pilgrim on September 1, 2009 at 7:32 PM
He has to get his Palin bash quota in, he’s been missing it for several days now.
Enoxo on September 1, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Show me the money.
keep the change on September 1, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Then his classes were set up so EVERYONE gets a free ride?
malclave on September 1, 2009 at 7:33 PM
ahhhh, but that’s not why he went there. I understand this little gem is buried in Obie’s book:
“I would learn power’s currency in all its intricacy and detail … [and] bring it back like Promethean fire.””
Fighton03 on September 1, 2009 at 7:35 PM
lol, honestly I wasn’t being rude. I know I am blunt.. but I am too tired to be totally jerky today.
other then crr (who we all know lies) I was just stating some oddities.
upinak on September 1, 2009 at 7:35 PM
She should say “No” and leave it at that.
newton on September 1, 2009 at 7:35 PM
While you’re at it, please post his transcripts, complete with Instructor information, and stellar papers. Enlighten us all.
conservative pilgrim on September 1, 2009 at 7:35 PM
What are we going to do about the idiot who shall not be named?
TimeTraveler on September 1, 2009 at 7:35 PM
No problemo. All is good.
conservative pilgrim on September 1, 2009 at 7:36 PM
All the “cool kids” on Twitter must have been giving him crap.
thomasaur on September 1, 2009 at 7:36 PM
If this is what we get from a Harvard grad then I don’t get why you guys act like it’s such a necessary criteria. University of Idaho seems just fine to me. You keep trying to make that a bad thing though. Bush graduated from Yale and he’s the dumbest president evah! right?
Ampersand on September 1, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Two words: GRADE INFLATION.
newton on September 1, 2009 at 7:38 PM
I’ll bet crr6 knows where Abraham Lincoln went to college.
Jim Treacher on September 1, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Magna cum laude means he graduated in the top 10%, so even if grades were inflated he was still brilliant relative to the other students.
crr6 on September 1, 2009 at 7:40 PM
You are as dense as a cement block.
upinak on September 1, 2009 at 7:40 PM
I’ve not read anywhere, either on her facebook or at the Washington Speaker’s Bureau that’s she’s accepted this invitation.
And if she has, I doubt the organization is pranking her. The article, which is clearly from a liberal loon, doesn’t mention this organization “pranking” prominent political figures… only that they have fortune tellers and anime cartoonists come–not as keynote speakers.
I simply think the liberals can’t understand why this organization wants her to talk, and is trying to flail around an explanation.
Enoxo on September 1, 2009 at 7:42 PM
It means that he was in the top 10% of a bunch of morons. Were you there too?
thomasaur on September 1, 2009 at 7:42 PM
You accidentally quoted me instead of newton.
crr6 on September 1, 2009 at 7:42 PM
That’s why I put that in.
newton on September 1, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Posts on Romney only manage to draw 50-60 posts per day, and end in 240-320 before they fall off the page. Huckabee about the same. Pawlenty doesn’t even manage to draw 150 posts in all that time.
Palin is the comment thread winner just behind Barry’s Communist Circus posts.
portlandon on September 1, 2009 at 7:43 PM
So if the top 10% at Harvard Law are morons, where do the smart people go to school? The University of Idaho for communications?
crr6 on September 1, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Assuming his grades weren’t doctored.
And, Obama himself has stated that if he were to compete athletically, he would be in the Special Olympics. So, by his own words, consider the group in which he qualifies as the top 10%.
malclave on September 1, 2009 at 7:44 PM
lol I know!
upinak on September 1, 2009 at 7:45 PM
LOL. I forgot I’m arguing with the birther crowd.
TRUST OBAMA.
crr6 on September 1, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Obama got an A- in INFLATION 101. It was his best subject behind COMMUNISM AS A WORLD VIEW (He got an A+).
portlandon on September 1, 2009 at 7:46 PM
yeah that is right. You think Trig isn’t Sarah’s.
*sighs*
upinak on September 1, 2009 at 7:47 PM
If it’s a prank, it’s not much of one. It is an odd choice by CLSA, though, compared to some of the previous speakers:
They’re probably trading on her notoriety for some press. NTTAWWT.
RightOFLeft on September 1, 2009 at 7:48 PM
We don’t trust liars.
TimeTraveler on September 1, 2009 at 7:48 PM
The perfect statist answer.
Sharr on September 1, 2009 at 7:48 PM
crr6 on September 1, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Please show us the proof that he graduated in the top 10 % of his Harvard Law Class. And don’t use Newsweek Managzine either.
kingsjester on September 1, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.
http://myapologies.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/30law_600.jpg
… as for understanding relationships built on self-interest, I’d have to say Obama-Jarrett-Emmanuel is fairly illuminating.
Doorgunner on September 1, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Considering that I believe that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, and that your sole response was to try to change the topic, it’s obvious that you cede the point that Barack Obama is developmentally challenged.
malclave on September 1, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Looking over the liberal blogs, they’re all attached onto this article like glue.
It’s hilarious to see them grasping onto such foolish writing. Sad thing is they don’t understand who is really pranked–themselves.
Enoxo on September 1, 2009 at 7:50 PM
There you are wrong. All we ever get is the Ivy League’S view of the world. Washington is full of Ivy Leaguers passing policy like we are some bugs in their social experiments. I say the best thing for America is an American that has never taken a breath of their putrid echo chamber air. An American with callous’ on HER hands from hard work. An American who finds the joy that a down syndrome baby can bring. An American with real compassion instead of those that want to throw more middle class money at the poor and call it compassion.
tessa on September 1, 2009 at 7:51 PM
I do, I trust him to FUBAR every situation he deals with.
Fighton03 on September 1, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Ah, yes. Haahvahd economics:
http://zipline.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/plan.jpg
Doorgunner on September 1, 2009 at 7:52 PM
it is kinda sad. A little like them getting all wee wee’d up over Beck forgetting the c in Oligarchy…
Ampersand on September 1, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Now that I’m thinking about this, maybe the liberals are trying to get Palin to cancel out of fear that it may be a prank, as they know she responds to “blogger rumors.” That way she won’t speak at an otherwise perfectly acceptable speaking platform.
Enoxo on September 1, 2009 at 7:54 PM
It makes perfect sense for Palin to be invited to an Asian investment conference. With its material resources and strategic location, Alaska is a very important part of the Pacific Rim economy. She can talk about the wonders and economic opportunities of Alaska to a bunch of Asian investors with billions of dollars (or yens, or whatever) in their pockets looking for places to make a profit. And since Asian businessmen have this … thing for hot western women, who knows how much money she can convince them to spend in Alaska.
AaronGuzman on September 1, 2009 at 7:55 PM
>>>knows where Lincoln went to college.
tessa on September 1, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Hmmm
Fox news
YET…at the very bottom:
upinak on September 1, 2009 at 7:56 PM
Obama should release his College records, papers, thesis etc. and let the world view the work of his oh so proud Harvard education.
If he & you are so proud of his Harvard Education,….show it to the world?
crr6 **crickets**
portlandon on September 1, 2009 at 7:56 PM
yeah but… uh…. you know she didn’t go to Harvard right?
Ampersand on September 1, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Maybe you’d like to actually quote the AP story re: this speaking engagement, in the interest of actually informing people rather than working the angles to get attention –
IndieDogg on September 1, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Looks like she’s confirmed to go to Hong Kong.
That says to me that it’s not a prank, and liberals are idiots as ever.
Enoxo on September 1, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Most memorable thing 0 did in Cambridge was to wrack up 17 parking tickets which he left unpaid for 18 years, and paid the week before he announced his presidential candidacy.
tessa on September 1, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Which is another point in her favor. William F. Buckley said it best about Harvard.
AaronGuzman on September 1, 2009 at 8:06 PM
There is nothing so much heavy-hitters in the asian markets would like to see so much as the the passage of Waxman-Markey. That prospect, however, seems a little iffy right now. So, there’s two ways of looking at Palin/CSLA:
1) She makes a lefty-wet-dream ass of herself and damages the political right in the US making passage of various economy-killer bills easier. This seems mightily unrealistic as a. she isn’t actually a conservative heavyweight at the moment and b. the moment is prematurely timed.
2)CLSA, like pretty much the rest of the planet, is sensing a US political tide-change of tsunami-like proportion. And Sarah Palin, especially as drill-favoring sort, whose potential/future office-holding would probably lead to lower energy costs world-wide, won’t be a bad friend to have.
Doorgunner on September 1, 2009 at 8:07 PM
I don’t see how this could possibly be a negative. Why would you waste your time coming to an even just to laugh at someone when you could stay home? Why would CLSA pay at least $100,000 to waste their clients time? I don’t buy that booking a psychic is considered a prank, either. Not that they’re always right, but the audience obviously enjoys it and it’s thought-provoking, not to mention that some psychics command enormous rates.
Why didn’t AP link the WaPo piece last night? Why some fat blogger from Tufts instead? Is he trying to replace Meghan McCain?
J
alliebobbitt on September 1, 2009 at 8:07 PM
crr6 on September 1, 2009 at 7:46 PM
I have met many Harvard grads when I worked in Boston, some could not even tie their shoes.
tessa on September 1, 2009 at 8:07 PM
Obama sure grasped the Cloward Piven strategy as taught at Columbia.
alliebobbitt on September 1, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Ted Kennedy- didn’t he leave Harvard ‘Magna Pinguis Balatro’?
Doorgunner on September 1, 2009 at 8:13 PM
I’m enjoying watching him flail about uselessly, rail against the world and whistle in the dark. Too bad this troll will have thrown in the towel or been banned by 2010. I’d really enjoy watching his head explode in the midterms.
alliebobbitt on September 1, 2009 at 8:15 PM
Speaking of tying one’s shoes, it’s good to see that Meg Stapleton appears to have her act together. Finally.
A great time was had by all. Unfortunately, Sarah isn’t running for Wasilla City Council, is she?
victor82 on September 1, 2009 at 8:16 PM
Are you kidding? They’re more capitalist than we are. Palin will be thick as thieves with those damn profit-mongers.
blankminde on September 1, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Really. If he was so academically brilliant, why would he (figuratively speaking) stuff his transcript down his underpants? I’ve had to show my transcript several times. I wasn’t a brilliant student, but I’m not ashamed of my record either.
ddrintn on September 1, 2009 at 8:26 PM
I think she can count better than Obama can, for starters.
ddrintn on September 1, 2009 at 8:28 PM
You are definitely wrong here. I was gainfully employed tying the shoes of Harvard grads for years before I made my fortune in pork belly futures and no longer needed to bend over for others. It was thrilling work, requiring skill, coordination, bunny-ears… If you pay the money, you have the capability the money buys, right?
unclesmrgol on September 1, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Apparently it was just confirmed on Fox the trip is real.
heshtesh on September 1, 2009 at 8:37 PM
This is chock full of liberals, that’s because only Dems have had political celebrities till now. Sarah is the first Republican to have attained that status and jealous Dems will do anything to put skids under her.
BTW, Sarah has lot of Clintonista connections, so don’t be surprised if this transpired through them.
promachus on September 1, 2009 at 8:37 PM
You mean someone hastily released bad info on Sarah Palin in order to marginalize her?
Get. Out.
blankminde on September 1, 2009 at 8:38 PM
I don’t get this post. Why not write that Palin received a big honor to be asked to speak in front of this group. Why post not about that but an asinine liberal blogger’s BS? What a joke…
CCRWM on September 1, 2009 at 8:44 PM
Stop with the Meg bashing. You Putz. and yes I am going to post your comment over at C4P. because you are a assh*le.
Clyde5445 on September 1, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Shocka
crr6 on September 1, 2009 at 8:48 PM
Where did Abraham Lincoln go to school, genius? You can Google it if need be.
Jim Treacher on September 1, 2009 at 8:50 PM
If Sarah was a 5 foot bleached blonde with a 65-inch a$$, Allah would love her.
bw222 on September 1, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Here is the text from the C4P post.
http://www.conservatives4palin.com/2009/09/palin-to-deliver-keynote-address-at.html
Allah a update would be nice.
Clyde5445 on September 1, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Even better, from what college did Harry S Truman graduate?
The Monster on September 1, 2009 at 9:09 PM
Please don’t threaten me. I post over there as “Section9″. My feelings about Meg are quite known over there. To put it mildly, Meg needs help.
You do Sarah Palin no favors by enabling her with loyal but not ready for Prime Time help. There have been too many instances of Palin not being in control of time and message, when the “campaign”, such as it is, ends up in fights it shouldn’t end up in with people like the Simi Valley crowd and the latest dustup with with Star Parker and the RTL people in Anchorage.
Sarah Palin is the hottest commodity in Republican Politics. Her time needs to be handled professionaly and it needs to look as if it is being handled professionaly.
Dan Riehl has spoken to this issue, as well as other friendly, pro-Sarah voices on the Right. It’s not just Allah trying to put in his two cents for Teh Mittens.
Part of being a Palin supporter is recognizing that you are not part of a Personality Cult, you are part of changing the country for the better. I know bad message management when I see it, and speech screwups and stuff that could have been handled better by staff get in the way of getting Sarah’s message out. Sarah’s done a bang-up job with her Facebook enterprise; but that is Sarah’s doing. Making the trains run on time is the job of staff!
I don’t care one whit about Meg Stapleton, except insofar as Meg’s conduct effects Palin’s political welfare. I care about Sarah Palin, and only about Sarah Palin.
That is my standard. It should be yours, too.
victor82 on September 1, 2009 at 9:12 PM
After you, crr6.
Jim Treacher on September 1, 2009 at 9:14 PM
I can carry on a sustained argument better than you can, genius, without having to rely on the cheap lefty trick of ad hominem. Not a shocka!
ddrintn on September 1, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Lol! This guy is an ignoramus and sounds like a total pretentious prick. Wargames? What the hell is that? Is he some wannabe armchair general?
Cr4sh Dummy on September 1, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Where did Jim Treacher go to college, is more to the point.
Grow Fins on September 1, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Don’t you just looooove that love for those common folk oozing out of this compassionate lefty?
ddrintn on September 1, 2009 at 9:24 PM
He nailed you with that one. Admit it.
Grow Fins on September 1, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Which is to miss the point. University-fetishists are hilarious.
ddrintn on September 1, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Eh? How so? At least I don’t inflate my resume.
ddrintn on September 1, 2009 at 9:25 PM
^ But it’s OK. I’m sure you and crr6 can sympathize, seeing as how you’ve both been nailed here more often than a pair of $20 hookers.
ddrintn on September 1, 2009 at 9:27 PM
I haven’t seen spin THIS desperate since an exhasted fox looked up at the vine, completely frustrated as every plan of his failed and said, “I bet those grapes are sour, anyway.”
DrAllecon on September 1, 2009 at 9:27 PM
The “genius,” thrown in there as a ‘casual’ aside, reveals the sting of bruised pride.
Grow Fins on September 1, 2009 at 9:27 PM
this is when looking at profiles on the net can make a difference.
Nice to see you.
upinak on September 1, 2009 at 9:28 PM
You’re still smarting over your idiotic “entitlement” remark from a couple of days back. Admit it. It’s a wonder you still comment here.
ddrintn on September 1, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Just joshin’ ya, ddddddrintin. No need to get your principles in a twist.
Grow Fins on September 1, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Mine aren’t the ones that are twisted.
ddrintn on September 1, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Uh-oh, guess I can’t count on the Grow Thumbs vote.
Jim Treacher on September 1, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Enjoy your Token Precident.
He won’t make 4 years.
omnipotent on September 1, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Nicely done. “Sustained argument” indeed.
Grow Fins on September 1, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Well, if you want to explain how ObamaCare will reduce costs, we can do that too, ya know. Are you game? LOL
ddrintn on September 1, 2009 at 9:35 PM
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