This is very cool, I figure. And it’s right here in ridiculous Lake Forest! (The town used to be called "El Toro." Everybody just called it El Boro.)
Last week, the OC Register indicated that, supposedly, tickets would be made available (by the Church) within days, but that date kept getting pushed back. Church websites kept saying that an announcement would be made soon.
Liars!
But I want to go to this thing, so I kept pressing. When I called the Saddleback “forum” number, I was told that the info I need is on Saddleback.com. But when I went to Saddleback.com, up popped a little ad (for the event) that said, “for more info visit saddlebackcivilforum.com.”
OK, so I went there, and up popped another event ad plus some stuff off to the right. A blue button announced that tickets would be available at date X. Well, that date's kept changing.
So I clicked on the “general event information” blue button. That opened up to something that advised me to call the original phone number!
I was getting the old runaround. And from a church!
Today, saddlebackcivilforum.com announces that tickets will be available on the 13th, just three days prior to the event. Good grief. Meanwhile, there’ve been some rumblings about how Pastor Rick “Superstar” Warren wants his flock there for the event and maybe there wouldn’t be much room for non-church riff-raff. That’s me. Things aren't looking good.
So I figured, what the hell? I’ll just request “Media Credentials”! I’m media. Sort of. So I did that, right there on saddlebackcivilforum.com (yet another blue button).
So if, starting tomorrow, you find that Dissent the Blog has gotten awfully quiet, start looking for me. Try Egypt.
I don’t trust that Secret Service a bit. Not a bit.
UPDATE: Someone's comment (below) includes what seems to be an email sent by the Saddleback Church to members regarding tickets for the event. (Sent August 6.)
The email notes that “Our congregation has over 100,000 attenders and members, but we only have about 5,000 seats available!” Evidently, the church solicited ideas and recommendations regarding how to distribute tickets from members.
The upshot: tickets will be distributed via five “ticket drawings.” One drawing is for free seats (presumably poor seating). The other drawings are for tickets that go for $500, $1000, and $2000.
Members are urged to apply by email. The deadline was this morning at 8.
If this email is genuine (I think it is), it seems unlikely that anyone who is not a member of the church can get tickets, unless the church has decided to reserve some tickets for nonmembers. Don’t know.
33 comments:
Sounds to me like these people are just fucking disorganized. I know that Rick Warren had Barak Obama there once before to discuss AIDs (which incidentally really pissed off a whole lot of his flock,& some of the local "family values" Republican Party, oh well, too bad.[sarcasm]). Who knows when these tickets will actually officially come out. I could always try to find out.
You might want to call the local OC Democratic Party headquarters in Santa Ana. Maybe they'll have some idea b/c they would have gotten some info from the Obama campaign, of when & what time.:-)
Sorry, but there's a drawing for tickets going on (paying up to $2000 each seat) for church members first. After that, leftover tickets will be available to the public.
One day, I was at the Rifle Qualification Range in the Fort Campbell "Back 40." This event had been scheduled for months, and space for units must be reserved. However, before I had the chance to shoot, the range was immediately blacked out, and all ammo had been taken from every soldier. Weapons were returned to the Arms Rooms. What event could cancel an Infantry Battalions gun time on the range just a few months prior to deploying back to Iraq? Commander Cuckoo Bananas had landed at Campbell Army Air Field, and was going to be speaking at the Elk's Lodge in the lovely adjacent city of Oak Grove, Kentucky (they have a Wal-Mart down the street from the Wal-Mart). Snipers were positioned on the water tower overlooking the parade field. Humvee traffic was also blacked out. When I got back to my Battalion from the range, my buddy had just been from the Battalion Commanders office (just a Lieutenant Colonel, nothing special), and who did he meet inside there? Good 'ol Rummy was schmoozing with my Battalion Commader! With these two assholes floating around, all movement was restricted until the lovefest was finished. Chunk, your disdain for the SS types is not without merit.
This is an email to Saddleback Memberss
August 6, 2008
Dear Saddleback Family,
TICKETS FOR THE AUGUST CIVIL FORUM
Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to our church survey asking for your ideas on distributing the tickets for our August Civil Forum with John McCain and Barack Obama. We received thousands of suggestions!
WHAT WE HEARD FROM YOU:
Our congregation has over 100,000 attenders and members, but we only have about 5,000 seats available!
Some of us cannot afford to pay anything.
Most are eager to pay any amount to be a part of history and help cover the costs.
Many suggested that some tickets be given to honor those who’ve faithfully served and sacrificed for our church family for years. The most mentioned were our charter members, our children’s and student ministries volunteers, and those who serve us as small group hosts.
Some suggested we provide some free tickets to poor students from different schools to encourage learning about the American political system. (We will do this for a small number.)
Over 75% of you said we should charge for the seats in the Worship Center since the event is not a worship service.
Many pointed out that February 17, 2009 is the last day of "analog" television broadcasting in America. After that date, all broadcasting will be required to be in digital format, so Saddleback needs to upgrade to new digital cameras. (Our 15 year old cameras are analog.)
YOU MAY APPLY FOR 5 TYPES OF TICKET DRAWINGS:
You can place your name in as many drawings as you like.
DRAWING A: For FREE seats in Video Venues (Refinery, Tent 2, and Tent 3)
DRAWING B: Charter members who joined between 1980-84, Small Group Hosts, and Volunteers who serve in children’s or student ministries may apply for the drawing of FREE seats in the worship center.
DRAWING C: To buy a $500 Bleacher seat in the Worship Center.
DRAWING D: To buy a $1,000 Angled Floor seat in the Worship Center.
DRAWING E: To buy a $2,000 Front Center seat in the Worship Center.
You may apply online here or by phone at (949) 609-8082. However, online applications will be processed FIRST. Call ONLY if you DO NOT have email or internet access.
If your name is drawn for any of these groups we will contact you with instructions.
THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS 8AM, FRIDAY, AUGUST 8.
Apply right now
So, will there be a retraction of your "LIARS!" claim now?
1st, the various announcements about when the tickets would be available were indeed false. 2nd, the "liars" remarks was always meant as more jest than accusation. (It's a matter of tone.) I do think the SC needs to work on transparency, but, on the other hand, I do understand the difficulty they had/have.
Chunkster, you don't get away that easily. First, the various announcements were not false. You have failed to identify a single false statement by the church. You say the Register said the church said (a mighty stetch to pin a "liar" charge) that tickets would be available "within days." Sounds like the truth, you just wish the tickets were available within fewer days. And, in any event, was the "liars" line directed at the Register? Maybe so. As to the church, its website promised an announcement "soon." Again, you just think not soon enough. But that does not a liar make.
Second, you hide behind the lame response that it was a joke, i.e., "more in jest." A very foolish man once said "if you must call people names, please be clever about it." You must admit that hurling about the charge "liars" is neither funny nor clever.
Third, the "liar" charge only holds if the speaker knows the statement is false at the time it was made. Absolutely nothing in your report or the register's report suggests knowing falsity.
Why can't you liberals ever admit that you were wrong and why do you rely so much on name calling?
Liberals rely on name calling? Man, that's rich.
Did you have a straight face when you said that?
Listen, I do not believe that the Saddleback Church people are liars. OK? In my mind, writing "Liars!"--note the exclamation point--was humor. You don't think so? Fine. In that case, you're calling me a "liar!" In any case, I don't think they're liars. I do think they should have explained their dilemma early on. No big deal.
Oh, it was all just a "joke"? So, that means you DO trust the Secret Service?
BTW: the "official" Commission on Presidential Debates web site states that none of their ticket information will be available until mid-September (even though the first Debate is on the 26th). So are they "fucking disorganized" too?
The event is next week, i.e., in August.
Chunk,
Some folks get their panties in a wad awfully easy. Please contine as you are...humorous and interesting...love your tone!
PS. I miss Sunny Girl more than you can imagine. I always looked forward to hearing about her adventures and "peevitude".
Anonymous at 5:23:00 PM:
That's right, Saddleback Church will not be making tickets available to the public until THREE days before the event. The "real" Commission on Presidential Debates won't have any information -- let alone tickets being available -- until mid-September. If we say that 9/15 (although it could be later), that's only ELEVEN days before the first Debate.
My question at 5:07 PM stands.
I'm just wondering if any of the local OC Democratic Party had been informed, like those in charge of Barak Obama's appearance in OC. He does have representatives in OC. for his campaign. I wonder if Mr. Stevens could tell any of us this please.:-)
Your thinking is disorganized, 11:58[sarcasm].
Hey! poster from Friday, August 08, 2008 5:32:00 PM I couldn't agree w/you more. You know, I happen to really like Chunk/Roy's Blog, & this thread. Heck, I didn't even know that Saddleback Church was even having a forum until I saw this. I also think that he is very right & amusing in the things he says. I also happen to enjoy all the stories he writes about Sunny Girl. I hope that he brings back more stories about her besides the other informative stuff. IMO Sunny is such a beautiful kitty.:-)
P.S. as far as the person goes who said that my "thinking was disorganized" the only thing I will say is that I refuse to have a battle of wits w/someone who clearly doesn't have any. In any case, I guess we'll see if this thing can be put together.
FYI: they were selling tickets to the event in between church service tonight. They will probably be selling them Sunday morning too?
Oy, Chunk tell them!
You guys like Roy? Check out Contra PalaVerities
It's Roy's own personal blog full of all sorts of philosophical chunkitudes. Go back to day one and start reading from there. You'll feel smarter at the very least (not that you don't feel smart already...).
"Chunkitudes"? OK, Bohrstein, prepare to be robbed.
Thou tottering fen-sucked pignut!
Anonymous at 6:40 PM:
Did you see the post about the "real" Commission on Presidential Debates? Is it "fucking disorganized" for not having any information available until 11 days before the first Debate? If not, I believe that may be your lack of logical reasoning being referred to above.
Tickets are now available to the general public -- was that fast enough for you?
SaddlebackCivilForum/Tickets.aspx?Event=21871
11:44, your url doesn't work. This one does: http://www.saddlebackcivilforum.com/index.html#
There, Saddleback Church explains that "All general admissions tickets have been distributed."
Fast enough for you?
http://www.SaddlebackCivilForum/Tickets.aspx?Event=21871
Try this (it worked for me this morning):
http://brushfire.e-vent.info/events/SaddlebackCivilForum/Tickets.aspx?Event=21871
More info:
Ticket and Photo ID required for admission.
Tickets are non-transferable. The name on the ticket must match the photo ID of the person using the ticket. There will be
no exceptions allowed due to security requirements.
Campus opens at 12:00 PM, and the doors open at 2:00 PM. Due to security, doors will close at 4:30 PM. No entry will be
allowed after that time. We strongly suggest Civil Forum attendees arrive early to allow time for security procedures.
Please plan on arriving at least two hours before the doors close at 4:30 PM.
No backpacks, cell phones, cameras, or other personal recording devices. Personal items will be inspected prior to entry.
No banners, signs, or political logo/slogan apparel are allowed.
No campaign buttons or other logo items may be displayed during the telecast.
Important Parking Information
Main Auditorium - You will be entering the campus from Portola Parkway only at the Saddleback Parkway entrance. Once
you have entered the campus, you will need to show your ticket to the parking attendants and they will direct you to the
correct parking lot.
Overflow Venues – You will not be parking on campus! You will be parking at Oakley’s corporate headquarters at 1 Icon,
Foothill Ranch, 92610. Please click here
(http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1+Icon,+Foothill+Ranch,+92610&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn
=60.246331,106.875&ie=UTF8&ll=33.669568,-117.64761&spn=0.03143,0.052185&z=15&iwloc=addr) for a map to their
location. There will be shuttles operating to the campus constantly starting at 1:00 PM until one hour after the event
concludes.
Since this has nothing to do with religion, why is Rick Warren exempt from paying taxes on the money made from "his" ticket sales!
Because he WILL ask about religion.
Rick Warren's last question to each candidate was "What would you say to those who didn't want me to ask you questions?" Brilliant!
Also, here's the real story behind the ticket distribution. The moment McCain & Obama were announced as this month's Civil Forum guests we were overwhelmed with thousands of requests from partisans who wanted to fill our auditorium with their troops. To prevent them from taking all the seats we did two things: First, we reserved 95% of the 5000+ tickets as FREE to our Saddleback volunteers who faithfully serve our family. We then sold 5% - less than 250 seats - to other members & outsiders in order to defray the expenses of this (now) national event. I didn't want our tithes and offerings paying for this event.
One untold story is that we invited the principals of schools in the Santa Ana district to select some worthy students to attend for free in order to experience the American election system. 22 students and 2 chaperones have been awarded seats.
Roy:
What do you say now that McCain-Palin are leading Obama-Biden?
Pay?? For a seat in church.. pff im lucky to live in Holland
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