Capitol Hill Blue: The FAQs

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Just the FAQs

Who, or what, is Capitol Hill Blue?
Capitol Hill Blue is a non-partisan, take-no-prisoners political news site launched by Doug Thompson -- an ex-newspaperman, former political operative and longtime journalist -- in October 1994. That makes us the oldest surviving news site on the Internet. But don't take our word for it. Go to Google and see if you can find anything older. Bet you can't.

Thompson is assisted, from time to time, by a rotating cast of volunteers who wander in and out of here like homeless children. Most work for "mainstream" news organizations and use Blue as therapy for the insanity of working for the big news bureaucracies. But Blue remains Thompson's personal concept of an Internet political news site.

Blue is a not-for-profit operation where everyone donates their time and efforts. Any revenue we might bring in from ads goes back into the operation. The ads never cover the full cost and Thompson makes up the difference.

Are you a blog?
Good God no. We're working journalists, not a group of malcontents who sit in front of our computers in our underwear. We work for a living and have lives.

How do I reach you?
You can reach us at info@capitolhillblue.com. We might respond. Then again, we might not. Depends on the mood.

How often do you publish?
Publish? Publish is for wimps who still use wood pulp. Capitol Hill Blue is produced daily, seven-days-a-week, 365-days a year (366 on Leap Years) and is updated throughout the day. If you want news that's published just once a day go buy a newspaper.

What are your politics?
Politics? We don't need no stinkin' politics. We believe it is the job of newsies to report the news, not be influenced by political beliefs or bias.

We subscribe to legendary Chicago newspaperman Finley Peter Dunne's belief that it is the role of a newspaperman to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

Should we believe what you print simply because you say it is so?
Absolutely not. You should read many publications and draw your own conclusions. We have a good track record but, as with any product produced by human beings, we can -- and do -- make mistakes. But when we are wrong, we admit it. Thankfully, we seldom have to.

So, are you a member of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy?
Nah. We're members of the Great Buffalo Wing Conspiracy. We meet on a haphazard basis at the local Hooters and, over a plate of wings, ponder important social questions like "do you think those are real?" or "is she wearing underwear?"

Why is it called Capitol Hill Blue?
Beats the hell out of us . If there was a reason back in 1994 it has long since been forgotten. It may have had something to do with the rampant obscenity of government. Or it may have been somebody's wet dream. Hard to tell.