Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman cancels holiday party because of ‘trying financial times.’
By on Nov 25th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman cancels holiday party because of ‘trying financial times.’
U.S. News reports that Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Adm. Michael Mullen and his wife are known “for welcoming friends and associates during back-to-back parties at their decked-out Foggy Bottom digs.” For example, last year featured musician Kid Rock “enjoying heavy hors d’oeuvres” and expensive beverages. This year, however, the Mullens are canceling their party. According to the invite, “in these trying financial times they have decided to forego their their holiday reception“:
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Bush
Business
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Economy
Education
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Glenn Beck
Global Warming
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Steele
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Tea Party
Terrorism
Veterans
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
that is a classy move. especially seeing who is now on the invite list.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:19 pmbravo.
I commend them but why has it taken tough economic times to decide to focus on the wounded and fallen? And why did this dude who invites folks to his party by calling himself by his title rather than his name marry a chick named Michael?
November 25th, 2008 at 4:22 pmWhat? No poppin’ champagne corks, blow and hookers?
Now they decide “partyin’ like it’s 1999″ is not as important as honoring fallen soldiers??
Welcome back to reality, GOPers.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:23 pm“Holiday” season?
I expect Bill O’Reilly to jump all over this guy!
November 25th, 2008 at 4:24 pmnice catch raynman!!!
November 25th, 2008 at 4:26 pmStay classy, D.C.
Kudos to Adm. Mullen & his Wife, this could trigger a whole set of ’sacrifice worthy’ endeavors from those who can afford it.
Sorry…kid rock?…WTF? At a military event?
November 25th, 2008 at 4:26 pmActually, they haven’t snapped back into reality.
They just don’t want the New Guard in to see what cold-hearted Chickenkhawks do when invited to celebrate not having to die for the causes they “believe” in.
A back-handed “this party’s NOT for you and your type” gesture, nothing more.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:31 pmDefinitely warranted, but he could be very busy if Israel takes matters into their hands re: Iran and Uncle Sam has to contain any blowback.
Also, we will have the contrast of the Inauguration with its celebratory excesses. The Right Red military leadership may highlight this juxtaposition. They’re preparing to defend their corner.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:31 pm“in these trying financial times they have decided to forego their their holiday reception“:
– - In its place, Adm. Mullen suggested everyone drop in on the AIG holiday bash.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:35 pm@ 2: “… by calling himself by his title rather than his name marry a chick named Michael?”
You’re kidding, right? Albeit and artifact more than a half-century old, this is a formal ‘form’ for such invitations. I guess you’ve never been invited to or attended a formal military gathering of this sort…
In military terms, this turnabout is a rather big deal: a great example of, in this case, the JCS Chairman leading by example.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:36 pmhow about you idiots have your party in iRaq, they dont mind dropping about 2 billion a week there, whats a few hundreds thousand more?..
November 25th, 2008 at 4:39 pmIf this is a party that’s normally thrown on the taxpayer’s dime, then it makes sense to “forego” it (although I must say that such a fancy engraved notice deserves a proofreader to check for spelling errors).
But if Admiral and Mrs. Mullen throw this party annually at their own expense, they have the right to throw it or cancel it as they wish without criticism from anyone.
Just wondering, though — do the wounded service members get Kid Rock and fancy eats?
November 25th, 2008 at 4:41 pmI hope Admiral Mullen can return those rented Greek columns…
November 25th, 2008 at 4:43 pm>Sorry…kid rock?…WTF? At a military event?
Kid Rock sucks, all the musical skill of an autistic epileptic gorilla with a learning disability. Although given that people who blow stuff up for a living probably have pretty atrocious tastes, I guess it isnt surprising.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:43 pmNow lets hear something from Blackwater and Halliburton and KBR. No rapes over the holidys, I mean Christmas, ..
November 25th, 2008 at 4:44 pmJust wondering, though — do the wounded service members get Kid Rock and fancy eats?
Or maybe Janet Jackson and wardrobe malfunctions?
Or Britney Spears and lack-o-talent?
Or John Ashcroft and songs about eagles flying?
(OK, that last one made even me retch…).
November 25th, 2008 at 4:47 pmHm, I guess I’ll have to throw out my invitation now. I had a tux on layaway and everything.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:53 pmGood. They ought to suggest a donation to the local food banks which are feeding service people’s families, too.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:54 pmCome on people, what gives with this? Is Mullen endanger of loosing his commission and hence his paycheck? No mention of giving the party money to some vets charity or other good cause. If he continued with the party at least some cateres would have jobs. I’m not impressed with this empty act. Baha-Humbug! And a lump of coal in your stocking, Adm. Mullen.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:58 pmAt least it’s marginally refreshing to see wealthy, powerful people who have a clue. People don’t need any conspicuous consumption in their faces right now. Maybe these people get that. If they do, I appreciate it.
November 25th, 2008 at 5:08 pmIt’s only “conspicuous consumption” if Sally Quinn gets to write about the party in that puke WaPo she workes for.
November 25th, 2008 at 5:16 pmToo little, too late.
November 25th, 2008 at 5:23 pmWell put Ms Annie!
November 25th, 2008 at 5:28 pmIt’s some kind of political move. I can’t think of any job anybody could have which has more of a precisely fixed income than this.
Or maybe it’s conscience. He got sick of feeding the rich & famous and wanted to throw his shindig for people he knew deserved it.
But either way, it’s not due to being poor this year ‘cuz ‘a da economic fluctuations.
November 25th, 2008 at 11:08 pmOh boo-hoo
Hope they choke on their Thanksgiving turkey
November 26th, 2008 at 12:12 amI didn’t mean the soldiers and their families either
November 26th, 2008 at 12:14 amI keep hearing “foggy bottom” this cycle, and had to actually look it up for the first time. Apparently it’s an affluent suburb of D.C.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:55 amI’m not sure Obama needs to keep a JCS who doesn’t know the difference between “forego” and “forgo” :-)
November 26th, 2008 at 10:07 am