There's A Reason We Call Them "Parties"

If you thought the national political party conventions consisted solely of legions of people corralled into a large venue to hear one politician after another drone on ... think again! About.com's guide to liberal politics, Deborah White, wonders if delegates will listen to convention speakers or attend glittery parties? Maybe they'll do both.

For example, on Monday 25 August, Planned Parenthood is hosting a "Sex, Politics and Cocktails Late Night Dance Party" that features comedian Bill Maher, actress Ashley Judd and actor Alan Cumming. James Taylor -- who launched his music-as-advocacy career along with Carole King in support of George McGovern (1968) -- is performing on Tuesday the 26th with David Crosby, Graham Nash and Ani DiFranco.

Over at the Sunlight Foundation, they've launched a new site with one goal: document those parties, as well as the others that go on all year long.

From the early hours of the morning until late in the evening, politicians are partying. Sunlight's PARTY TIME can help you find out who is partying, where and when.

Right now, think of it as the gossip space for the conventions. Sunlight relies on tipsters to alert them to the where, when, why. Then they tell everyone! "We have no secrets ..."

Today's party is a Republican fundraiser for Rep. Thad McCotter, chair of the Republican Policy Committee. It's a golf outing at the Oakland Hills (MA) Country Club. The cost? $2500 per PAC. (Remember, the GOP convention doesn't start until Monday September 1st but Congress is on recess.)

So if you're in the know, be sure to pass along the info to the good folks at the Sunlight Foundation. Your Representative or Senator may not thank you ... but your fellow citizens will.