The 4th Amendment traded for an open bar and some cocktail franks

Actual bags handed out to actual convention goers.

Actual bulletin notice of the party

I just knew they'd be repercussions for those Democrats who supported and pushed through the legislation giving telcoms immunity for illegally spying on Americans. And repercussions there were. AT&T threw them a big ass party!!

On Monday, AT&T threw an exclusive party for the Blue Dogs, the House's moderate and conservative Democrats, at the historic Mile High Station in downtown Denver. Among the guests was House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who in June led Blue Dogs in crafting a compromise bill that shielded telecommunications companies from lawsuits arising from the government's terrorism-era warrantless eavesdropping.

Hoyer spokeswoman Stacey Bernards said Hoyer was not aware of any connection between the party and his work on the legislation.

"I'm sure Mr. Hoyer didn't even know who the sponsor was," she said.

Thanks Steny, I hope you choked on the mini pizza bagels and cheese platter. It's nice when multi-national, billion dollar conglomerations take time out of their busy day to thank our elected betters for all the hard work they do. It's difficult and thankless work making sure companies who commit felonies by spying on US citizens and enabling our government to spy on US citizens get off scot free and don't have to waste time paying lawyers to defend them from lawsuits filed by disgruntled Americans who don't like being spied on.

You got your maximum campaign contribution, maybe some cash into your PAC, and an open bar for two hours at a convention party. I thought the 4th amendment would sell for a little higher than that, but then again, I'm no congressman.