[TeMPOraL]

Try:

    export ALTERNATE_EDITOR=emacs EDITOR=emacsclient VISUAL=emacsclient

and set up Emacs to run (server-start) on startup.

This way, crontab -e should open a new Emacs frame (or start Emacs, if it isn't already running). It will speed things up and make the experience better, while giving you access to all the things you're working on in an already running Emacs.

See also: http://www.emacswiki.org/EmacsClient.