Palin Takes "Main Street" to Hong Kong

(AP)  Former U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, criticized for her lack of foreign policy experience, emerged in Asia on Wednesday to share her views from "Main Street U.S.A." with a group of high-flying global investors.

In her first trip to the region, the former Alaska governor addressed an annual conference of investors in Hong Kong in what was billed as a wide-ranging talk about governance, economics and U.S. and Asian affairs.

"I'm going to call it like I see it and I will share with you candidly a view right from Main Street, Main Street U.S.A.," Palin told a room full of asset managers and other finance professionals, according to a video of part of the speech obtained by The Associated Press. "And how perhaps my view of Main Street ... how that affects you and your business."

It marked Palin's first major appearance since she resigned as governor in July, and the speech's location and international scope could help boost her credentials ahead of a possible bid for president in 2012. While she's thought to be considering that, her Hong Kong trip bore no political overtones, said Fred Malek, a friend and Palin adviser.

"You can read a lot of things into it, 'Is she trying to burnish her foreign policy credentials?' and the like. But really, it's a trip that will be beneficial to her knowledge base and will defray some legal and other bills that she has," Malek said.

Palin left office in part because of the toll of multiple ethics complaints filed against her. Almost all of the complaints were dismissed, but she says she amassed more than $500,000 in legal fees.

In her speech - closed to reporters - Palin argued that many average Americans are uncomfortable with health care reforms that infringe on private enterprise, Chris Palmer, an American fund manager for Gartmore Investment Ltd., told reporters.

Discussing Sino-U.S. relations, Palin said she believes the U.S. has a role in helping China find its future and that the U.S. will always be on the side of promoting freedom, according to Palmer.

In an apparent reference to renewed tensions between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese that have led to violent riots, the former Alaska governor mentioned China's ethnic problems, arguing they are "a sign that China lacks mechanisms to deal with regional issues," Palmer said.

She also criticized the U.S. Federal Reserve's massive intervention in the economy over the last year and praised the conservative economic policies of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, according to another attendee who declined to be named because he didn't want to be seen as speaking on behalf of his company.

"She was careful not to be over-critical ... but she said she saw the fiscal situation is going out of control," said Gregory Lesko, managing director of New York-based Deltec Asset Management.

Palin, who burst on the U.S. political scene last year when she was chosen as Republican Sen. John McCain's running mate, was ridiculed during the campaign after contending her state's proximity to Russia gave her foreign policy experience.

"You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska," she said.

Palin received her first passport in 2007, to visit Alaska National Guard members serving in Kuwait and Germany.

Since leaving office, Palin has vanished from public view, ducking mainstream news outlets and communicating with supporters largely via her popular Facebook page.

She also signed with the prestigious Washington Speakers Bureau and reportedly has been flooded with over a thousand offers.

Palin aides refused to disclose her fee for the appearance, which has been rumored to be in the low six figures.

CLSA requested Palin's speech be closed to reporters so she could make an "unfettered" presentation to investors, according to spokeswoman Wheeler. And Palin, whose supporters have long accused the media of bias and harsh treatment, agreed.

Hari Sevugan, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, said Tuesday the group knew little about Palin's speech.

"We're curious as to what she's willing to say in private but not in public," Sevugan said. "Are there other countries that she can see from her window that she doesn't want us to know about?"

[pwittlin]

Palin is too divisive and lacks the innate intelligence to be a viable national political candidate. What she doing now is simply trying to make as much money as she can for herself, - getting paid to talk. Also, her being a **quitter** of the Alaskan governorship will remain a yoke around her neck. She is the darling of the intellectually challenged of the ideological Right in this country (the "charismatics"), and will continue to attract them, diluting the Right's power. As such, Democrats should continue to welcome her public presence, - she being the best thing to happen to them since GW, - she continuing to alienate more Independents than she is able to attract Republicans. You win by attracting Independents, not by kissing up to the fringes. The fringes have the money and ground troops, but the Independents have the votes. That is how Obama got elected and McCain couldn't with Palin.

[Turnpoint]

Palin talking to Investers !!!!! Why the Secrecy of her visit??? Big POO POO !!
Reada on the article from "The Standard" News paper.
Palin slams Obama's spending
(09-23 17:27)
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.

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.

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

Two US delegates left early, with one saying ''It was awful, we couldn't stand it any longer''. He declined to be identified.

Palin, who shot to national and international prominence after Senator John McCain picked her as his running mate last year, stepped down as Alaska governor in July but has provided little insight into her future plans.

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 imposed 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.

''It was almost more of a speech promoting investment in Alaska,'' he said, declining to be named.

''As fund managers we want to hear about the United States as a whole, not just about Alaska. And she criticized Obama a lot but offered no solutions.''

Another said he was disappointed that she took only pre-arranged questions.

''It was fairly right-wing populist stuff,' one US delegate said.

Another from the United States said: ''She frightens me because she strikes a chord with a certain segment of the population and I don't like it.''

[ivehadit9]

Right, she didn't say that in those exact words, of course, but she said something like: "I have enough foreign policy experience because, look, Russia is next to Alaska". I remember that. That was during her interview with Katie Couric last year when the campaign was at its last stages.

[hungry1968-16]

"We got into this mess because of government interference in the first place," Palin said







Actually dipstick, we got into this because of DEREGULATION of existing government laws, and because the republicans in congress, the senate, and the Bush regime REFUSED to enact or enforce existing laws and rules regarding banking and investing.

This is "common knowledge 101". It's now wonder she doesn't get it.

[ivehadit9]

"Yeah, I have enough foreign policy experience. Look, I can see Russia from my front porch in Alaska and I can see planes flying overhead, carrying dignitaries from Russia."

This Sarah Palin is as dumb as the day is long.

[tonysp2]

OK, the United States economic collapse occurred in October, 2008 when George W. Bush was still President. Yet Sarah Palin tries to blame it on Obama? Everyone knows it was the policies of George W. Bush that led to the economic meltdown. We had recessions with both Bush presidents; Bushes are losers. And that is what we also get with Sarah Palin.

[tonysp2]

Absolutely Correct !

[notsouthern]

Sarah Palin is a known supporter of terrorism. She used to belong to the terrorist organization known as the Alaska Independence Party, who's founder blew himself up while making illegal explosives that were meant to blow up the FBI headquarters in Anchorage.

[mooksie1]

Well, judging by the posts here, Palin as become more and more a lightning rod to the liberal loons. She is no longer the governor of Alaska, but they can't leave her alone. They are just itching to malevolently degrade, insult, humiliate, and attack her and her family in every way possible. One wonders why. Sour grapes? Probably. And then again she is a conservative who speaks her mind, no holds barred, and a Christian to boot. That is anathema to the liberal loons and is giving them the whillies. I hope she will go on speaking her mind, particularly against the crazy policies as well as the corruptness of the Obama administration. And kudod to the Chinese who invited her to speak in Hong Kong. A trip all paid for and a six dollar figure renumeration for speaking a few minutes is nothing to frown at. She has literally hundreds of invitations to speak. Oh, how she is giving the liberal loons of America nightmares and apoplexies! Good. This is just a preview of attractions yet to come. I can hardly wait.

[bajajohn1]

So the dummy now thinks she is diplomat.

[timping1]

She's obviously a member of the 4-H because she practices Horticulture. As in, "You can lead a 'Hor-to-Culture' but you can't make her think.

[bajajohn1]

Yes, very good variation on an old joke.