From the Associated Press:
Former U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, once questioned about her lack of foreign policy experience, will make her first trip to Asia in September.
The former Alaska governor will visit Hong Kong to address the CLSA Investors Forum, a well-known annual conference of global investment managers, the host announced Monday.
Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Alan Greenspan have spoken at the event, hosted by brokerage and investment group CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets.
"Our keynote speakers are notable luminaries who often address topics that go beyond traditional finance such as geopolitics," company spokeswoman Simone Wheeler said in a statement."We just felt it would be a fabulous opportunity for CLSA clients to hear from Mrs. Palin," Wheeler said, adding that CLSA approached Palin with the offer.
The Sept. 23 address will mark Palin's first commercial speaking engagement, according to CLSA. Her speaking fees were not disclosed.
It will be closed to the media, and the topic has not yet been confirmed.
I love this bit:
"Our keynote speakers are notable luminaries..."
Since when is $arah Palin a notable luminary?
I visited the CLSA website and found this:
CLSA is an active proponent of environmental awareness and action. We believe that the era of unconstrained resource availability is over. Through research, events, investments, strategic engagement, corporate initiatives and community activities, we help to promote proactive conservation of our local and global environments.
Considering her stance on "safe and responsible" development of Alaska's natural resources, I don't think the topic will involve the environment.
Pebble and Kensington mines, drilling in ANWR, suing the federal government regarding the protection of polar bears and Beluga whales... Yep, $arah Palin has an impressive record on the environment, so, no, she won't be speaking about the environment.
Whatever the topic turns out to be, I can't get the bit about $arah Palin being a notable luminary out of my head...
UPDATE: I'm not alone in my skepticism:
The decision to bring in Palin as keynote speaker has been met with incredulity from many among the business community in Hong Kong, asking if it might not be a hoax.
(snip)
"Honestly? This isn't a hoax?" asked the managing director of a Hong Kong business chain. "It's entertaining perhaps, in a road accident sort of way! Now I've seen everything."
Ha ha ha!
Further links about Sarah Palin and public speaking engagements:
Politico
NBC Bay Area
.
