Who, or what, is Capitol Hill Blue?
Capitol Hill Blue is a non-partisan, take-no-prisoners political news site launched in October 1994 by veteran newspaperman and political operative Doug Thompson. 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.

Blue is edited by a rotating cast of volunteers who wander in and out of here like homeless children. Some work for "mainstream" news organizations and use Blue as therapy for the insanity of working for the big news bureaucracies. Others are retired newsies who can't let go of the urge to report. They are assisted by volunteer editors, reporters, columnists, student interns and hangers-on.

Blue features the work of three popular independent columnists:

Hal Brown is a clinical social worker and former mental health center director who is mostly retired from his private psychotherapy practice. He writes on the psychopathology of public figures and other topics that pique his interest. He can be found online at www.stressline.com

Phil Hoskins is a Hollywood attorney and activist who founded Take Back West Hollywood.

Robert Kezelis is a lawyer, sculptor and writing curmudgeon based south of Chicago.

In addition, we periodically feature columns by Dale McFeatters, Reg Henry, Bonnie Erbie, Dan Thomasson, Jay Ambrose and others.

Capitol Hill Blue is owned by The Buffalo Mountain Foundation, a privately-funded organization that promotes community and web-based journalism. We are a member of the Online News Association and a regular participant in, and supporter of, conferences and programs to promote online, community and web-based journalism.

Blue is a not-for-profit operation where everyone donates their time and efforts.

We are based in Floyd, Virginia.

Are you a blog?
Not really. Our main focus is news.

How do I reach you?
You can reach us at info@capitolhillblue.com or via snail mail at:

Capitol Hill Blue
PO Box 67
Floyd, VA 24091

We do not answer anonymous emails or requests for information from those who refuse to identify themselves. In addition, we do not deal with, link to or acknowledge web sites that hide the identity of their owners. We practice full disclosure and expect others to do so as well.

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 and we made some beauts over the years. When we are wrong, we admit it. We try to learn from them and move on. We're published more than 20,000 stories during our 13 years on the web and have had to modify or remove 83 and retract three. That's less than one-half of one percent but that's one-half of one percent too many. Our goal is to never let it happen again. Doug Thompson, our publisher, addressed this situation with this this apology to our readers.

Didn't you once report that President Bush called the Constitution "just a god-damned piece of paper?" Do you still stand by that report?

No, we don't. At the time we published the article (Dec. 5, 2005), we believed the sources for the story were credible. A follow up investigation now leads to the conclusion that the sources for the story were simply repeating something they had heard and not something they actually witnessed. That led us to withdraw the story and post this correction and apology.

So, are you a member of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy?
Nope. 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?"

Don't you take anything seriously?
Nah. Too many others do. We leave it to them.

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.

(Updated on May 12, 2008)