There is no polite way to put this: The parties at political conventions kind of suck. I mean, seriously, these are political operatives and reporters we're talking about. There is a ceiling on how much fun there is to be had. The redeeming factor of these orgies of excess is, well, the excess. Free booze, free food, even, quite literally, free money (a bank is handing out swipe cards with $10 on them). Naturally, there are rules about this sort of thing: in order to skate by congressional ethics rules limiting gifts to political representatives, events have to be "widely attended." And there are actual committees that determine just what "widely attended" means. As this e-mail shows, apparently the Black Eyed Peas have peaked....

Dear Guest:

The RIAA is hosting a celebration of The ONE Campaign in Denver on August 27. The Senate Ethics Committee has approved this event as a "widely attended event" under the Senate Rules. The House Standards Committee has not approved this event. As such, we are asking House Members and staff who want to attend to pay fair market value for their ticket. The per person fair market value for this event is $90. House Members and staff who are picking up a credential in Denver will be asked for payment by check or cash when they pick up their credential in Denver; those House members and staff who already picked up their credentials in Washington will be asked for payment, by check or cash, at the door to the event.

—Recording Industry Association of America

Ha! Pony up, fat cat House staffers—you won't want to miss out on any of Fergie's slutty backstage antics.