Turn out the Lights…

With the four day long campaign commercial called a convention in full swing, the party isn't as swinging as it used to be.  Taking soft money out of politics has taken a lot of the life out of the parties at the political parties' conventions. 

Roll Call reports that four years ago, in Los Angeles, Democrats partied with Barbra Streisand, Cher, and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.  It's quieter this year.

Back in 2000, the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee spent $4 million on 23 top drawer parties at the LA convention.  This week they've got only six.

The McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act means the Democrat and Republican Parties can't throw around that soft money any more.   And it was soft money that let the parties party hard.

But not to worry for those poor conventioneers.  Corporations are filling the void. 

Let me be a little more clear - corporations wanting something from Washington are filling the void.  They're picking up the tab for 200 little get-togethers.  For instance, the fine folks at the American Gas Association are fueling a half-dozen parties at the Democrat and Republican Conventions this year.  And picking up the $700,000 tab.

See, Democrats aren't alone.  US News and World Report's “Washington Whispers” claims lobbyists are lining up for a “Pataki Pass” during the GOP Convention in New York.

It'll get you into a party a night:

• Monday at Cipriani 42nd Street
• Tuesday at Tavern on the Green
• Wednesday at the Copacabana
• Thursday Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

Intimate little soirees like that let lobbyists and politicians get real chummy.

But guess who won't be there.  The media. No cameras, no reporters taking notes on what lobbyist is whispering sweet nothings in your Congressman's ear, no record of any deals made to spend your money.

And of course, taxpayers who'd like to know these things for themselves should not expect a "Pataki Pass" either.

But then, for taxpayers, the party's been over for a long time already.