Back in the day, people would gather to lobby, write letters and protest for a cause. These days, all it takes is access to a computer and a creative approach to using online tools. And while the fight for District voting rights has involved a good amount of old-school tactics, online activists have more resources at their disposal than ever before. Newly-elected Shadow Representative Mike Panetta has been leading this fight in recent years, employing... more ›

Update: Scratch everything -- no voting rights for D.C. this year. We're a step closer, yet still so far away. As the Post reported today, Utah has played its role in helping the District get a voting seat in the House of Representatives by agreeing to a re-districting plan that would give them one more seat in Congress. Their decision to do so has been the key to pushing the D.C. Fair and Equal House... more ›

The election of Democrat Jim Webb as the junior Senator from Virginia has given political spectators another chance to speculate on what particular shade of indigo the Commonwealth appears to be these days. Webb's victory was hardly a blowout, but considered alongside the last two gubernatorial campaigns and the swelling population and influence of Northern Virginia, it's not hard to imagine that Virginia's statewide tendencies are only going to get bluer. Virginia hasn't become Massachusetts... more ›

As fall settles in and another calendar page gets turned, thoughts turn from bbq's and vacations to holidays and the realization that '06 is coming to an end. With all that going on, with change in the air, we wonder what is it that made that makes the -ists ponder? Phillyist is concerned that the war on Trans fats could affect it's beloved cheese steak sandwiches, something for which we should all be concerned. They... more ›

It goes without saying -- the District is a town full of Democrats. They occupy the majority of the elected offices, have the most registered voters by a long shot, and reliably vote for Democratic presidential candidates. In the most recent analysis of the voter registry, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics reported that 73.5 percent of registered voters were Democrats. Republicans could only claim 8 percent, the Statehood Green Party 1.6 percent, and... more ›

When it comes to fighting for District voting rights, activists face two main challengers -- the U.S. Congress and themselves. Members of Congress just either don't care much about whether or not the District's 600,000 residents have voting representation, or believe its a constitutional mandate written in stone that they shouldn't. They can be swayed. But many District-based voting right activists differ sharply on what the best approach to gaining voting rights is -- some... more ›

Ok, so we didn't win the Powerball drawing. At least not anything big. That $4 prize for matching two numbers isn't really consolation enough for the $40 dropped on tickets. But it was a busy week in the world of DCist, million dollar jackpot or not. more ›

Today we received an email from something we never thought existed -- a humble politician. It read: I am running for mayor of DC, on the Green Party ticket. I filed with the DC board of elections last Friday. So far no one has noticed and I am generally shy and having difficulty accepting that I need to draw attention to myself if I am to go anywhere with this. So here I am.And it... more ›

(Editor's Note: And for the first part of our Nationals opening day coverage, we start outside the stadium.) more ›

I posted these documents on eBay because everyone in the media seems to get so excited when someone sells their family online, or advertising space on their head. No one gets excited when they get these very documents sent to them in the mail or in eMail. I thought this would give my voting problems a little more exposure, since other media outlets I have sent copies to have not responded. Ashland Gazette where are you? All profit form this sale will go to the Nebraska Green Party. They were the first ones to respond to my requests for help. Out of all the letters I sent, they were the ones who cared and showed it. They need help getting signatures on their petition in order to keep the Green Party an official political party in Nebraska with ballot access. According to a letter the seller received from the Nebraska Secretary of State, in his county 857 voters who had signed up to vote by absentee ballots were sent substitute ballots due to an error - but only 569 of those were returned by November 2, and 288 were returned after the deadline and were not counted. The Nebraska man's ploy is apparently working: the sale was already mentioned in the online political publication Hotline, featured in a short article in a Nebraska newspaper, and two journalists left comments asking to speak to him on the eBay listing. more ›

The organization ReDefeatBush is sponsoring a rally at the U.S. Capitol at noon today they're calling "Defend Democracy, Support the Challenge." A variety of liberal organizations have been calling on U.S. Senators to join the Representatives who are planning to launch an official challenge to the November election results, and U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer has agreed to object to the results to trigger debate. Official counting of the Electoral College votes begins at 1 p.m. today. The rally will be held at the Upper Senate Park at Constitution Avenue. more ›

Matt Drudge is breathlessly reporting a local activist caused a "melee" at today's press conference to unveil the logo to the newly-named Washington Nationals. The activist in question was none other than D.C. Statehood Green Party member and failed candidate for D.C. Shadow Representative Adam Eidinger. Drudge reports: "Eidinger was jumped by several men, including former Washington Senators announcer Charlie Brotman. A tussle ensued, and the podium nearly fell over, before security managed to drag Eidinger off stage." more ›

D.C. statehood activists yesterday unfurled a giant District of Columbia flag on the Dumbarton Bridge yesterday. The image is from a short video posted to Mike Flugennock's website mikey 'zine. The video shows many people honking in support of the display of the massive flag. more ›

Anyone who has been by the National Gallery of Art's East Building at night has probably noticed an eerie light shining from all angles of the I.M. Pei-designed structure. This DCist photo may make you wonder what's going on inside. It's not a radioactive substance; it's not an artistic statement pushing the Green Party agenda at the foot of a bi-partisan Capitol Hill. It's the work of the late artist Dan Flavin, who revolutionized the use of light as an artistic medium. more ›

The green dragon which caught fire during of the United for Peace and Justice march at the Republican National Convention Sunday represented D.C. statehood, and was constructed and operated by District activists. more ›

A small group of people calling themselves "DC Citizens for Open Streets," including Green Party candidate for D.C. shadow representative, Adam Eidinger, held a small protest near a Capitol Hill checkpoint this morning. The protestors held signs, one reading "De-militarize DC" to Mr. Eidinger called the checkpoints "arbitrary and unnecessary" in a press release posted on his website. The activists reported a mixed reaction from the public: with "most" agreed with their message or honked in support, while some disagreeing. more ›