HONG KONG: Delegates walk out ‘in disgust’ at Palin speech

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story

HONG KONG: Delegates walk out ‘in disgust’ at Palin speech

http://rawstory.com/2009/09/guests-walk-ou...

Questions are prearranged; ‘It was awful,’ one US delegate says

HONG KONG — Former US vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin said the US government was wasting taxpayers’ money and could aggravate poverty, said delegates at her first speech outside North America on Wednesday.

Palin, the former governor of Alaska, gave hundreds of financial big-hitters at the CLSA Investors’ Forum in Hong Kong a wide-ranging speech that covered Alaska, international terrorism, US economic policy and trade with China.

Her performance, which was closed to the media, divided opinion.

Some of those who attended praised her forthright views on government social and economic intervention and others walked out early in disgust.



Read more: http://current.com/items/91003687_hong-kong-delegates-walk-out-in-disgust-at-palin-speech.htm

[AzDar]

1. Criticizing our Government overseas... will this seahag be Dixie Chicked?

Yeah, didn't think so.

:puke:

[TheeHazelnut]

33. That was the exact thing I was going to post.

Fortunately for Sarah, she has no musical talent to create anything we could destroy at rallies like those rabid right-wing country music fans.

[hughee99]

53. Even if she was, I'm sure there would be a lot of people, especially DUers

supporting her right to free speech and to make a living.

[chelsea0011]

59. Don't invest here. Our country is about to collapse. Only a Republican

could get away with this.

[whopis01]

61. Best comment I have read on this matter. n/t

[xxqqqzme]

76. IOMIDDI

Ii Only Matters If Democrats Do It - Thank you, Ms Maddow.

[beac]

94. IOKIYARQMHMN

It's OK If You're A Republican Quitter Maverick Hockey Mom Nutbag

[jasi2006]

135. Hmmm...Michelle Obama never did this. Will the RW, who thought so much

of our country when Michelle Obama said she was "proud of her country for the first time," rake Sarah over the coals as they did the First Lady during the campaign? I bet not.

[whosinpower]

2. I still do not get "it"

The right wing find her so wonderful. They think she is positioning herself for a run for POTUS in 2012. She is a quitter. Who would want a quitter in the highest office of government of the US?

There is no intellectual spark with her that I can see. Not one.

If someone paid ME to sit and listen to her - I don't think I could.

[shanti]

12. intellectual spark?

since when did that matter? it's not like she'd be making any of the decisions!

[truth2power]

38. Men who vote for her

are voting with their other head.

The women, I guess, are just bone-stupid.

[sui generis]

42. well their "other heads" clearly could use some lasik.

holey moley - mine would require beer goggles, whisky lasik, and an iron skillet to the back of the real head.

[pattmarty]

55. Look, I'm a guy and I don't "see" what a guy could see in her.

.........I mean jeez, I don't want to go "crude" here, but there are a lot, lot, lot "hotter" women out there. Maybe it's the dumb part, I dunno.

[RandySF]

60. I could never figure out in 2008

Why guys were saying she was hot, by any standard.

[Confusious]

105. I agree

She looks OK, then she open her mouth and shows how ignorant she is, the voice just makes it worse.

P.S. Maybe its not the voice, maybe it's all ignorance.

[lark]

133. Supreme Ignorance, hate, lies and hypocricy

She hits all the Repug bases.

[silenttigersong]

81. Preacher Huckabee won the straw

he will have to marginalize Sarah,as a matter of fact,I am sure he will have to play defense,unless she changes parties..which is a laugh,Glen Duck will prob have an interview with Ms.Maverick soon....:rofl:

[wpelb]

100. With a name like Huckabee

It's not surprising ex-Gov. Huckabee would win a "straw" poll. His name sounds like it belongs to a hayseed.

[George II]

128. Yep! Find a photograph of Jim Nabors (aka Gomer Pyle) and note the resemblance!!

[George II]

125. Every time I hear her use the word "Maverick" I think of that crappy car Ford built in the '70s!!

[RoccoR5955]

95. And the men who vote for her with their "little head" have VERY low standards

As a matter of fact, they have NEGATIVE standards.
IMNSHO, she's about as hot as an iceberg!

[progressivebydesign]

111. I saw an unretouched photo of her recently... the men should put those little heads back...

she looks rather dreadful, not at all the way they airbrushed her during the campaign. She looks like a tired and bitter pseudo hockey Mom that probably drinks too much.

[Mike Daniels]

121. If Palin looked like Mother Teresa she'd be lucky to be on the town council

Palin is the political version of Megan Fox. Looks with absolutely no substance.

Even visually, her appeal relies on being captured under good lighting and a good angle. As other posters have mentioned, in certain photos there's nothing remotely attractive about her.

[No Elephants]

40. She quit to make more money and to avoid further investigation. Laudable, in RW circles.

[katkat]

45. Re "If someone paid ME to sit and listen to her - I don't think I could."

I dunno, how much as they offering :-) I rarely turn down money.

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[katkat]

118. why lovely

Why thank you, so nice to be here among friends. Not.

[pattmarty]

120. I meant it as satire (notice the sarcasm). I have always thought of...........................

..............people (any sex)who take money as "whores". For instance; sales people. I know, I know, don't paint with such a broad brush. But, in Palin's case I will stand by my "whore" descriptor. EVERYTHING she has done since being selected as the VP candidate is what points me to that conclusion. My apology to all the hard working "whores" out there, I did not mean to insult you by comparing "you" to Palin.

[Confusious]

106. I'd have to have a contract

With set times, amount of money, and UN peacekeepers to make sure its enforced.

[Umbral]

80. She's just like Ronald Reagan - bone stupid...

An empty vessel that right-wing whack-a-doodles can fill with all their twisted fantasies.

[Sherman A1]

130. Agreed & Well Said

[Beam Me Up]

114. I felt the same way about the previous president.

In fact, so much so, I got rid of my TV and haven't had one since.

It should be obvious by now that Republicans do not want a President with a spark of intelligence. For them, that is the best kind. It guarantees there will never be a challenge to money-interest supremacy from the Executive. Under Republican rule especially, Presidencies are reduced primarily to PR fronts for oligarchical interests often managed behind the Seal by someone like the VP. Bush 1 to Regan; Cheney to Bush 2. Some are grooming this woman for higher political office despite whatever disgust we might feel about her. Gazing into my crystal ball, I can see a blond Joan of Arch riding on a white stallion, grabbing a stained, tattered and bullet hole riddled American Flag and brandishing it above her head as she charges forward to rescue what is left of the shattered Republic in the wake of the calamity certain interests intend to make of the Obama administration. It's only one scenario, of course, and vested interests do like to keep their options flexible.

[George II]

123. If she were president (shudder!!!) on Sept 11 2001, she would have quit on Sept 12 2001.

[librechik]

132. Repuglicans make their own reality--the rest of us just live under their feet.

bastards.

[liberal N proud]

3. Were those that praised her views, fascist ?

Some of those who attended praised her forthright views on government social and economic intervention and others walked out early in disgust.

[No Elephants]

43. Seems as though they simply enjoyed her dumping on the US.

“She was brilliant,” said a European delegate, on condition of anonymity.

“She said America was spending a lot of money and it was a temporary solution. Normal people are having to pay more and more but things don’t get better. The rich will leave the country and the poor will get poorer.”



Wishful thinking on the part of some jealous folk, apparently.

[AlbertCat]

82. Some.....others....

2 delegates walked out in disgust. I don't know how many walked out laughing or just plain bored.

"Some" praised her yadda yadda.... How many? who were they?

And EVERYONE wants to remain anonymous. I wonder why?

No press allowed because she'd have to change her speech? That says a lot right there.


Why isn't she a traitor for dissing the president and our country while overseas...in a commie country?? Huh? Huh?

[1776Forever]

4. A fellow DUer told me to check this out: Hong Kong Broker Pulling A "Borat" On Sarah Palin

http://www.businessinsider.com/sara-palin-just-another-clsa-practical-joke-2009-9

Hong Kong Broker Pulling A "Borat" On Sarah Palin by Vincent Fernando
(The Business Insider, September 1, 2009)

Hopefully Sarah Palin realizes she's been invited to Hong Kong almost certainly as a practical joke.

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.

[Overseas]

8. That makes more sense.

I couldn't understand why Palin would have been invited to Hong Kong to speak.

I guess those international investors wanted her to tell them everything she learned from being able to see Russia from her doorstep.

[Fire1]

73. My sentiments, as well. I just could not imagine international

bussinessmen being that stupid.

[Amonester]

92. Or just, maybe, also, they wanted to make sure she learns, also....

where HK is located on a map!

Also. :rofl:

[BREMPRO]

13. Palin is so easily punk'd. because she actually believes she's a political star

if this is true, it's really funny and i hope they got video. She deserves every humiliation she gets.

[donquijoterocket]

32. gravitas

All that may be true, but the true believer palinstas and to some extent I include a portion of the SCLM, will undoubtedly try to promote this appearance as evidence of her intellectual "growth" and increased "gravitas".I'd wondered about the motivation for her invitation since it became known.I guess it's good that an organization this well-placed on the financial food chain has a sense of humor-or at least of the ridiculous.Palin we know won't be aware of this ever possibly not even were someone to tell her.

[Demeter]

72. You Mean, Sarah Is Pudging Up? how Much Weight Did She Gain?

Is whats-its-name going to be a big brother?

[PatSeg]

44. That is the only explanation that makes any sense

Palin is so naive, it never dawned on her why would investors pay to hear HER speak.

[The_Commonist]

119. They paid HER $100,000 to speak...

because now the name CLSA is all over the news.
A pretty smart investment!

[PatSeg]

131. Now, that makes perfect sense

That plus the entertainment, sounds like a deal.

[crim son]

68. People were telling me that beforehand but I didn't believe it.

Maybe it's true and if so, OUCH. :rofl:

[progressivebydesign]

112. OMG. that's perfect! I wondered how in the hell she got invited. So, the fortune teller was busy n/t

[shadowknows69]

5. What sad wannabe Hong Kong promoter even booked this gig?

Sarah will become like Michael Jackson was. Still huge in Eurasia. In Oceania, not so much anymore.

[DinahMoeHum]

19. Methinks they tried to book Tina Fey - but she wasn't available.

:evilgrin:

[krispos42]

48. He he he... what if they told the investors it WAS Tina Fey?

:rofl:

[George II]

129. Ah, Tina Fey - now SHE is hot!!!

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[crikkett]

96. Why was I thinking that Oceania was Australia?

[Lugnut]

6. Meh.

It's Sarah Palin. How much brilliance did they expect to hear?

[Tempest]

7. Your Raw Story link is broken

It's not working on the web site either.

[brooklynite]

10. ALTERNATE News Source

from Yahoo News:

Palin slams Obama's spending in debut speech in Asia

HONG KONG (AFP) – Former US vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin said the US government was wasting taxpayers' money and could aggravate poverty, said delegates at her first speech outside North America on Wednesday.

...snip...

In the CLSA speech, which lasted about 75 minutes, Palin also tackled the recent US trade spat with China, a country she said the United States should have the best possible relationship with.

According to delegates, she said US President Barack Obama's administration worsened an already difficult situation when earlier this month he slapped duties on Chinese tire imports blamed for costing American jobs.

They said she praised the economic policies of former US President Ronald Reagan and criticised the current administration for intervening too much during the recent financial crisis.

Although she touched on the threat posed to the United States by terrorism and talked about links with traditional US allies in Asia such as Japan, Australia and South Korea, one Asian delegate complained she devoted too much time to her home state of Alaska.

[svpadgham]

20. I wonder if she actually said

Australia was a US ally in Asia. I wouldn't be surprised.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

25. Remember, she thought that Africa was a country and didn't know what countries

comprise the NAFTA.

If you haven't seen it before, this is a pretty good link to her stupidity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPsV6ZhL15c

[George II]

126. She was too busy saying she could see Australia from her hotel room.

[liskddksil]

54. She spoke for 75 minutes?

[brooklynite]

66. To be fair...

adding "Well" and "Ya Know" between every other word cuts the speaking time down to a half hour...

[svpadgham]

70. I know lots of people that can do that

It doesn't mean they make any sense. I think allowing Palin to speak for 75 minutes just proves that the US does indeed torture.

[xxqqqzme]

86. I know!!!!!

75 minutes of unrelated stream of conscience-less blather. No wonder people walked out!

[lark]

134. Well, some of that time was taken by

"Fancy runway walking". LOL

edit note - thinking about her must have killed some of my brain cells. Just think what listening to her could do??

[brooklynite]

9. I'm absolutely astounded at this...

she actually showed up for a scheduled speech?

[williesgirl]

17. Only because it's a PAID speech. No freebies anymore, thank God.

[samsingh]

11. Criticising the President on foreigh soil?

shouldn't she go through what the Dixie Chicks went through?

although you can hardly put them in the same class - the Chicks have it, palin has no class

[Joanne98]

14. They should demand their money back.

[L0oniX]

15. This is a joke.

[Javaman]

16. She talks about poverty? that's a laugh.

she has caused more poverty in her very short time in office than one before her.

What a fucking loser.

[Zoeisright]

36. +1

[hmorehead]

18. “She was brilliant,” said a European delegate, on condition of anonymity.

Funny how no-one who commented either way wanted to be identified.

[DinahMoeHum]

21. Methinks that was typical British understatement. . .

when they really meant: "My God, this woman is a gibbering arsehole".

:evilgrin:

[Stevenmarc]

23. Someone hit the bar early

[Quasimodem]

24. It is understandable.

On the one hand, she is a moran.

On the other hand, one of her few intellectual achievements is knowing how to shoot, gut and dress out large mammals.

[old mark]

27. As to the shooting, gutting, etc, I understand that's all hype and she has

no interest or experience doint much outdoor stuff at all.


mark

[No Elephants]

46. According to her grandbaby's daddy, the shooting and field dressing is a myth. Welcome.

[Voice for Peace]

30. probably bill kristol

:scared: :rofl:

[Myrina]

35. ... was there sarcasm in the commenter's voice, or a raised eyebrow?

:shrug:

[wpelb]

98. I thought about that too

When people speak off-the-record, it's hard to gauge their credibility.

[Cobalt-60]

113. I doubt it.

The Torture Party and its sympathizers have to fabricate anonymous praise
because no rational person praises War Criminals or Social Parasites.
It's an old tradition with them.
Let your mind drift back to pig Reagan being "anonymously nominated" for a Nobel Prize.
Pukes cling to that lie like a life preserver. But it didn't happen.
Only the Nobel committee or another prize winner could nominate for a Nobel Prize.
Not one of those people could stand the sight of Reagan.
And the nomination is not anonymous.

[wicket]

22. Bwahahahahaha!

:rofl:

[truthrocks]

26. Is this a comedy tour? She's still talking death panels . . .

"Palin blasted Obama’s proposals on healthcare, reiterating a previous statement made to the press that the plan would include a bureaucratic 'DEATH PANEL' that would decide who gets assistance, he said."

:wtf:

[ThePantaloon.com]

90. BRAIN DEAD

This just in: Palin asks the Death Panel for clemency after discovering she's brain dead.

[april]

28. she is as dumb as dirt!!

[DainBramaged]

29. Don't insult dirt.......

:mad:


:hi:

[AlbertCat]

83. Don't insult dirt.......

Yeah! At least useful things grow outta dirt. Sarah? Not so much.

[nolabear]

31. Well, she's no Moamar Khaddafy...

Sitting here openmouthed wondering how long he can go on before they hook him. Public speaking is a strange animal these days.

[TheeHazelnut]

34. "she would have to adjust her speech if reporters were present."

Final line of the story is fairly revealing, isn't it:

CLSA, an arm of French bank Credit Agricole, said it closed Palin’s session to the media after she indicated that she would have to adjust her speech if reporters were present.

She wants to say things to people overseas that she doesn't want her own fellow citizens to hear about. Pretty sick...

[vinylsolution]

39. I'm sure some TV footage will emerge of Palin....

.... foundering on the international stage, any day now. Someone must have sneaked a camera in there.

It'll make for priceless viewing.

:rofl:

[paparush]

41. She truly is the gift that keeps on giving. nt

[Libertas1776]

47. Oh god, I immediately

started laughing when I read that title "Delegates walk out ‘in disgust’ at Palin speech." Hah, you just can't make this shit up :rofl:

[dem2go]

49. Misadventures of Sarah

I guess she could see Hong Kong from her house. She is a constant embarassment to USA.:bounce:

[irislake]

50. Gosh! How unpatriotic!

I'm stunned.

This must have happened cuz she can't see China from her front porch.

[ashling]

51. And here's why she would have to "change her words" for the press

“She said America was spending a lot of money and it was a temporary solution. Normal people are having to pay more and more but things don’t get better. The rich will leave the country and the poor will get poorer.”

***

According to delegates, she said US President Barack Obama’s administration worsened an already difficult situation when earlier this month he slapped duties on Chinese tire imports blamed for costing American jobs.

They said she praised the economic policies of former US President Ronald Reagan and criticised the current administration for intervening too much during the recent financial crisis.

***

And she criticised Obama a lot but offered no solutions.”


***


Palin blasted Obama’s proposals on healthcare, reiterating a previous statement made to the press that the plan would include a bureaucratic “death panel” that would decide who gets assistance, he said.


--------------

She's too batshit crazy to realize that everything she said would be reported anyway

:rofl:

[silenttigersong]

78. sweet

Sarah's made a case for single payer health care...how maverick :rofl:

[silenttigersong]

84. Thanks..

tea-baggers and folks like Sarah Palin for helping us to rally support for President Obama...:sarcasm:

[Ichingcarpenter]

52. "I can see China in my Kitchen"

That quote ruined it for some folks at the conference.

[louis-t]

75. "I can see China in my Kitchen" Haaa!

The 'sleeper' of the afternoon. It took me a minute. People will start getting it about 4pm. Really funny.

[Geek_Girl]

97. LOL

:rofl:

[dmr]

91. +1

:thumbsup:

[TerribleLarryDingle]

56. Preaching Anti-American values to Commies?

A new low for the Failure from Alaska. I'm sure the right will be sooo upset by this :sarcasm:

[nolabear]

58. Has she run out of idiots to whip up here?

Sarah Palin and the International "Bash Obama" Tour. Lovely. Just freakin' lovely.

[benld74]

62. THANK YOU MCCAIN, YOU LITTLE IGNORANT TROLL!

[Dangerously Amused]

63. LOL, she is too dumb to realize that she was the evening's "entertainment"!

Why on earth would a gathering of the world's top private investment gurus want to hear YOU speak, Sarah?! What credentials in that area could you possibly have?

And she is too dumb to realize that just because there were no American reporters allowed doesn't mean it wasn't recorded by others, and she will still have to take responsibility for her stupidity and ignorance down the road. Oh, this is rich. :D

Keep talking Sarah, keep talking!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

64. They thought it would be that guy from Monty Python?

.

[ThePantaloon.com]

65. The Stepford politician

This vapid twinkling Stepford politician has no self-awareness whatsoever. Does she really think anyone in Hong Kong gives a damn about Alaska or her useless views on international terrorism? For eff's sake, she needs to seek clemency from "Obama's death panel" since she's BRAIN DEAD.

[yellowcanine]

67. What? She trashed the U.S. overseas? Wing nuts go crazy when a Democrat does that.

[damntexdem]

69. Selling conservative snake oil overseas.

Doesn't Hong Kong have any standards at all? I mean, adulteration of milk in China is one thing; but doesn't this cross a line?

;-)

[mimitabby]

71. none of the informants wished to be named!

[jeffbr]

74. Miss Domestic and Foreign Sexpert Speaks

What an airhead.

[silenttigersong]

77. Does Sarah know..

that her secessionist buddies are treasonous at a time of war?

[LynneSin]

79. Here's the thing - she probably has no clue what the hell she talked about

It's simple, they are trying to create another George W. Bush out of her. Take one dimwitted person with a bit of name recognition and all you need to do is teach them how to read a speech (even then George sucked at it). Set it up so you have a few pre-determined questions coming in from the audience and you can make Sarah Palin look presentable.

[zogofzorkon]

85. You had me there

up to the last seven words.

[LynneSin]

87. Consider who they are making her presentable to is like revisiting George Bush's rise in politics

I highly doubt that anyone cares what we progressives thinks but the conservative whack jobs just eat that shit up like free candy at Christmas. They did the same exact thing with George & Jeb Bush back in the early 90s after Clinton won. And yes, George did stick it out as Governor of Texas, but the one thing that everyone who ever spent any time in Texas has told me - it's the Lt. GOvernor that does all the work in that state, the Governor is more for show. Probably why Sarah Palin had to quit her governor job since she was required to do work.

And here's something else - I would suspect that Palin is not running in 2012. I think they would rather wait until 2016 to unleash her to the masses. If Obama can get thru his first 4 years and keep the approval rating somewhere around 50%, he'll pretty much be a shoo-in to win in 2012.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

88. Does this remind anyone of a Cheers episode.

Maybe they don't realize that Cheers was only a TV show.
Maybe they figure that if Frasier could get Woody elected, then they can do it with this Bubblehead.

[IDFbunny]

93. She makes W look clever and articulate

in comparison.

[wroberts189]

89. "‘It was awful,’ one US delegate says" ..does anyone hear doubt it? nt

[bullwinkle428]

99. I'll bet every last red cent to my name that she's never used the word "linchpin"

in a conversation EVER in her lifetime prior to this speech!

[Piewhacket]

101. They are late. I walked out in disgust when Palin was named VP candidate.

[wolfgangmo]

102. Dear CLSA

You got what you paid for.





...




YOU"VE BEEN PUNKED.

[BluDemocratGirl]

103. I'm don't feel sorry for that airheaded woman!

Some delegates over there even went to sleep on her for her long, boring-ass specch. She needs to go away, get out, and stay out of the spotlight.

[ProudDad]

104. An Hour and a Half!!!

My DOG!

Anyone who could withstand that must have gotten one hell of a prize or has sawdust for brains -- if not when she started her right-wing cliche-fest certainly their brains were sawdust by the end.

Gawd!

An hour and a half of half wit whining...Oh, the Humanity!

[eppur_se_muova]

107. It was supposed to be three hours ... but she quit halfway through. nt

[ProudDad]

108. ...

:rofl: :hi:

[MisterK]

109. Paging Jane Fonda

Where is the mainstream media?

[progressivebydesign]

110. WTF does that backwoods Barbie have to offer a group of intelligent people?

It just amazes me that she'd be paid to speak there. What a fucking insult to the attendees... should have gotten Brittney Spears, or Paris Hilton to speak, as there was no content value in Palin being there. She's a fucking attention %$(.

[Joe Chi Minh]

115. She didn't talk about rainbows, did she?

[AsahinaKimi]

116. OH THIS IS RICH!

:rofl:

[peacetalksforall]

117. It's now obvious. They are going to go all out with lies - not just to their voting block,

but to the world. The lies being that they are going to take what Cheney did and blame it on Obama and THEY. The government. They- Obama.

SHE IS GETTING BIG MONEY TO SPREAD THE ROVIAN MESSAGE TO THE WORLD?

She is not just promoting herself - she's doing two jobs - she probably got paid twice for this trip - by the group she spoke to and the RNC or from a lobbyinst association.

Traveling the world and her baby is taken care of by ?????????????

Then, one speech with media - a different one with? All pre-arranged questions and answers?

Democrats should go after her with their own traveling speech naker.

This is not just about her candidacy?

"America is spending alot of money." Cheney didn't.

"United States should have the best possible relationship with (China)" "US President Barack Obama’s administration worsened an already difficult situation when earlier this month he slapped duties on Chinese tire imports blamed for costing American jobs". Worsened it from what Cheney did?

" ... and criticised the current administration for intervening too much during the recent financial crisis."

"Palin blasted Obama’s proposals on healthcare, reiterating a previous statement made to the press that the plan would include a bureaucratic “death panel” that would decide who gets assistance, he said."

[gilpo]

122. Here is what a friend of mine wrote after he was at that speech:

I have always taken it as article of faith that meritocracy is the correct method of organizing human activity. This is a personal axiom that I have never deeply examined, until today. But now I ponder this issue because I have come face to face with someone that encapsulates an alternative view, namely Sarah Palin. Why am I so hung up on meritocracy? After all, I believe in a democratic free society, and democracy by definition is anti-meritocratic. The poor, the rich, the educated, the illiterate, the civic-minded and the criminal alike have one vote each in a democracy, so at least in theory we have agreed to share political spoils equally. In that case what is so special about meritocracy?
The love of Merit is borne of logic, an essential belief in human progress and that we are evolving into a better species over time, and that meritocracies will speed up this process because they are more efficient. But one can also argue that logic, indeed a belief in evolution itself, and therefore a focus on merit, are all convenient means by which those who would find themselves at the top of a merit-based society promote their own self-serving agenda.
Sarah Palin in person is a genial, delightful lady. She has a certain blankness about her, a vaccuum that makes you want to gift her a book, any book, but perhaps an audio book just to make sure she has less difficulty in absorbing the contents. But you also want to go to “Alasky”, spend time with her in the great outdoors and actually see her field-dress a moose, as opposed to merely hear her talk about it. Her lack of vocabulary is a delight in itself, for we are free to fill in the gaps with our own spicy imagination.
She is a paen to the part of us that harks back to a simpler life, with simple problems, when we could look up at the stars and imagine there were celestial beings who guided us in our endeavours, and that we could do no wrong as long as we followed their written instructions given in an ancient language many many centuries ago. She talks directly to that child-like part of us which yearns to act without fear of consequences, and without a whole lot of responsibility for our actions. There is an innocent part of us that believes we live in an Eden, where all of the world’s environmental wealth is a bounty from God to be consumed in our sole lifetimes, and that part of us has found a voice in Sarah Palin.
I give no truck to unnecessary ridicule, such as people denigrating her as representative of the left tail of the human IQ bell curve. Do the meritocrats claim to represent that section of society better than Sarah Palin can? Admittedly, her speech today was an exquisite study in high shool sophomore English, but she was not talking to the over-educated or the over-erudite of our species, despite the audience of invest professionals.
I paraphrase her from the opening to her speech today…
“Todd and I see lots of wildlife on our drive to the airport in Anchorage. Here in Hong Kong, there is not much wildlife at all, which was quite something to behold…”,
And here is my favourite quote from today…
“Todd is part-eskimo, so I am in favour of rebuilding the land bridge to Asia which in the distant past made it possible for all of us to share the same bloodlines…”
And so on. This is the sort of stuff that a fourteen year old exchange student would write on a fifteen hour flight over the international date line, as she prepped for a talk in her host country designed to nervously bridge the vast gap of life-experience between host and guest.
But coming from an American vice-presidential nominee, who came within a manicured-finger distance of the “Nucular” button, the humour value was simply too good. I was engaged, stimulated, rooted to my seat, and in rapture with laughter, at least all through the opening bit until it all came apart when she actually tried to lecture us on policy. Contrast this to the speaker immediately before her, who spent an hour talking about credit derivatives and upcoming regulatory reform. Yawn!
But what I really liked about her was that she was the most transparent public persona I have ever come across, for there is truly nothing more to her than what you see, and that is a rare sight in this age of media. This is a girly woman who was giggly about getting a passport and stepping out into the world, and it is so easy to believe when she says that she was shaped by main street Wasilla not Wall Street, that her beliefs come from endless optimisim in the face of life in a small town far from anywhere. And yet I saw in her a capacity to learn, to better herself and to change, in other words, a young mind that has not been jaded by any sort of complexity of thought.
She is the ultimate anti-Hillary, which is likely why John McCain chose her. If Hillary Clinton had been the democratic nominee, Sarah Palin could have been packaged as a realistic lipstick-wearing pitbull, giving McCain a chance to take the high road above the two riotous girl-hounds and possibly win the contest, but against Obama-Biden she was utterly the wrong weapon to deploy.
It is now clear to me why she resigned the governorship. After she went out into the wide world, Wasilla to her must seem a very small place indeed. There would a keen realization that her star power will fade fast, in the absence of a realistic chance for her to win any political office in the future. And who knows what all those ethics investigations may turn up? So why not resign now, and cash in on speaking appearances these next two years or so while she can, like she is doing this very moment in Hong Kong?
Which brings me to perhaps the fatal flaw in her character, from the standpoint of her political base. As she increases her exposure, and spends time with the meritocrats and the intelligentsia, her connection to her own kind is fading. I can see that she is growing up, and being co-opted, seduced by the fruit at the top of the meritocratic tree. She is on her way to becoming one of us, a jaded adult, which above all is why her political career is likely finished.

[tammywammy]

127. Interesting read. n/t

[marshall]

124. Maybe they can book Ahmadinejad for their next gig

He will likely keep more audience members in their seats.