Clinton rumbles, CNE event planning crumbles

National Post ^ | August 30, 2009 | Katherine Laidlaw

[Loyalist]

In a speech delivered under the blazing sun in a half-empty soccer field, former U.S. President Bill Clinton reminded his Canadian audience the developing world still needs our help organizing functioning systems to alleviate poverty.

But some of the nearly 12,000 sunglasses-sporting and beer- and water-swilling spectators left the controversial event feeling the Canadian National Exhibition organizers are the ones in need of help with systems.

Like hundreds of other hopeful-spectators in the snaking event lines, Sinead Kennedy, 28, of Ireland, waited more than an hour under the hot sun only to be told over loud-speaker that tickets were sold out at 4:40 p.m, despite empty seats continuing to litter the centre stands at BMO Field. Stands on the side of the stage were empty through the speech, although seats before the stage were filled.

"This is the most disorganized event I've ever been to," she said, after arguing with a ticket salesperson over whether she and her friends would be reimbursed their $15 CNE admission fee. "After being turned away, I walked around to peak in and saw Mr. Clinton speaking to an at least half-empty stadium. That's outrageous."

[Loyalist]

Who were the greater fools: the organizers who put on this fiasco, or the people who expected something of value for their money?

[D-fendr]

It’s a simple pitch: come hear an ex-president trash the U.S. Sells well in Canada.

[classified]

The analogy of one of the fools peeking around Wizard Clinton's curtain and actually seeing with their on eyes, the deception going on, but then continues to allow oneself to be fooled! They go away with complaints about how long they waited for tickets and being out of 15 bucks. Meanwhile they do not question how organize the whole event really was to deny them seats when there were clearly plenty seats, because the planners wanted to control the amount of people allowed in. A tactic used to assure no huge crowds of unexpected dissenters and at the same time a tactic also used to quickly plow through an event and get the speaker, "Wizard", in and out and on his way. Amazing! The magic of Democrat Wizardry!