What's one way to foster goodwill among the incoming Presidential administration led by Barack Obama? Throw it a party, of course!

This invite just crossed my desk, offering a "break from traditional Inaugural balls" Jan. 20 at 9 p.m. in the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.:

"Join Google/YouTube and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights to honor the incoming Obama Administration, welcome a new era of open government, and take a break from traditional Inaugural balls."

I wasn't invited mind you, just got a second-hand invite. In response to my request for more info, a Google spokesperson told me:

The invitation pretty much spells it out, but there won't be a formal speaking program. As for who will be there, we're inviting a cross-section of people to attend, but I don't know exactly who will be attending at this point.

The spokesperson noted this is the first time Google has hosted an event around the inauguration, which is understandable considering Google only hired its first Washington staffer in 2005.

Google may be curbing the dark matter, slashing research projects it deems a waste of resources (Lively, Research Datasets anyone?), but it still has the coin to throw political parties during the recession.

And why not? It's good policy to welcome the new president in grand fashion. It also can't hurt the next time Google needs help fending off privacy advocates or other entities accusing it of some malfeasance or another.

Eric Schmidt: Obama?

Obama: Yes, Eric?

Schmidt: I need help. Google needs your help.

Obama: You just folded when the DOJ wanted to sue you to hell for getting in bed with Yahoo. What is it this time?

Schmidt: The DOJ is after us again.

Obama: Well, you did throw me that great bash in January... I'll be on the Air Force One in 15 minutes. Let's see if we can't sort this mess out.

Schmidt: Gee, thanks!

Until then, party on, dudes.