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'''Washington, D.C.''', also known as the '''District of Columbia''' or simply '''D.C.''', has been the capital of the [[United States]] since 1800.<ref>https://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_item/Nine_Capitals_of_the_United_States.htm</ref> Legally, the name of this city is "District of Columbia."<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=016/llsl016.db&recNum=0454 District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871.] [[Library of Congress]]</ref><ref>[http://countystation.com/washingtondc.html District of Columbia Information.]</ref>

'''Washington, D.C.''', also known as the '''District of Columbia''' or simply '''D.C.''', has been the capital of the [[United States]] since 1800.<ref>https://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_item/Nine_Capitals_of_the_United_States.htm</ref> Legally, the name of this city is "District of Columbia."<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=016/llsl016.db&recNum=0454 District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871.] [[Library of Congress]]</ref><ref>[http://countystation.com/washingtondc.html District of Columbia Information.]</ref>

The self-interested, often deceitful conduct of power brokers in D.C. results in its nickname as "'''the swamp'''," which also references the historical climate of the region prior to its founding as it was literally founded on swampy land.  In addition, its nickname as the "[[deep state]]" reflects how there is an entrenched [[liberal]] bureaucracy in D.C. that serves itself rather than the people of the [[United States]] who pay the bills.  Washington, D.C. has never had a [[Republican]] mayor.<ref>https://x.com/MichaelARothman/status/1955287147499696251</ref> '''''Only 5% of D.C. supports [[Trump]], who seeks to end its corruption'''''.

The self-interested, often deceitful conduct of power brokers in D.C. results in its nickname as "'''the swamp'''," which also references the historical climate of the region prior to its founding, as it was literally founded on swampy land.  In addition, its nickname as the "[[deep state]]" reflects how there is an entrenched [[liberal]] bureaucracy in D.C. that serves itself rather than the people of the [[United States]] who pay the bills.  Washington, D.C. has never had a [[Republican]] mayor.<ref>https://x.com/MichaelARothman/status/1955287147499696251</ref> '''''Only 5% of D.C. supports [[Trump]], who seeks to end its corruption'''''.

Illicit affairs that create hidden conflicts-of-interest are common in D.C.  Most people who work in policy-making positions in D.C. are married to (or have a relationship with) someone who holds a different policy-making position.  These relationships have a binding effect that prevents policy-makers from acting independently based on [[logic]], values, or the interests of the [[America]] people, and their policy decisions or recommendations are often self-serving.<ref>[https://mota.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/mota/page_content/attachments/Copy%20of%20PBI%2003.31.17.pdf D.C. Government Employee listing] The District of Columbia (not the federal government) imposes a residency requirement on many of its employees, because of the widespread desire of residents to move to the suburbs if they can afford to do so. [https://dchr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dchr/publication/attachments]</ref>

Illicit affairs that create hidden conflicts of interest are common in D.C.  Most people who work in policy-making positions in D.C. are married to (or have a relationship with) someone who holds a different policy-making position.  These relationships have a binding effect that prevents policy-makers from acting independently based on [[logic]], values, or the interests of the [[America]] people, and their policy decisions or recommendations are often self-serving.<ref>[https://mota.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/mota/page_content/attachments/Copy%20of%20PBI%2003.31.17.pdf D.C. Government Employee listing] The District of Columbia (not the federal government) imposes a residency requirement on many of its employees, because of the widespread desire of residents to move to the suburbs if they can afford to do so. [https://dchr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dchr/publication/attachments]</ref>

President [[Trump]]'s firing of disgraced [[FBI]] Director [[James Comey]] on May 9, 2017, prompted an undeservedly sanctimonious reaction by [[liberals]] in D.C., illustrating how self-centered and unproductive the swamp is.

President [[Trump]]'s firing of disgraced [[FBI]] Director [[James Comey]] on May 9, 2017, prompted an undeservedly sanctimonious reaction by [[liberals]] in D.C., illustrating how self-centered and unproductive the swamp is.

At the time that the site was first selected, two small port towns already had been built within its boundaries: Alexandria on the west side of the Potomac River and Georgetown on the east side.  Because Congress was concerned with potential conflicts of interest created by much of the land on the west side of the Potomac being owned by George Washington's family, Congress prohibited the construction of federal buildings on that side.

At the time that the site was first selected, two small port towns already had been built within its boundaries: Alexandria on the west side of the Potomac River and Georgetown on the east side.  Because Congress was concerned with potential conflicts of interest created by much of the land on the west side of the Potomac being owned by George Washington's family, Congress prohibited the construction of federal buildings on that side.

The city is located along the [[Potomac River]]. The Anacostia River branches off this, and runs through parts of the Southeast and Northeast Quadrants. This river has had problems with pollution.  Because no development related to the federal city was placed on the west side of the Potomac, and the west side had attracted shanty towns with gambling and prostitution, Congress returned the land west of the Potomac River to Virginia in 1848.

The city is located along the [[Potomac River]]. The Anacostia River branches off from this and runs through parts of the Southeast and Northeast Quadrants. This river has had problems with pollution.  Because no development related to the federal city was placed on the west side of the Potomac, and the west side had attracted shanty towns with gambling and prostitution, Congress returned the land west of the Potomac River to Virginia in 1848.

[[Pierre L'Enfant]], appointed in 1791 by George Washington, designed much of the city, including the city's interesting quadrant formation. The city is divided into four quadrants, which meet at a central point at the [[United States Capitol]]. The Northwest quadrant is by far the largest, and locations in this quadrant include the [[White House]], Ford's Theater (where [[Abraham Lincoln]] was assassinated in 1865), the National Zoo, and a number of the Smithsonian Museums. L'Enfant was fired over a dispute involving [[Thomas Jefferson]] before the city's design was completed.<ref>http://www.exploredc.org/index.php?id=3</ref>

[[Pierre L'Enfant]], appointed in 1791 by George Washington, designed much of the city, including the city's interesting quadrant formation. The city is divided into four quadrants, which meet at a central point at the [[United States Capitol]]. The Northwest quadrant is by far the largest, and locations in this quadrant include the [[White House]], Ford's Theater (where [[Abraham Lincoln]] was assassinated in 1865), the National Zoo, and a number of the Smithsonian Museums. L'Enfant was fired over a dispute involving [[Thomas Jefferson]] before the city's design was completed.<ref>http://www.exploredc.org/index.php?id=3</ref>

In 1814, the British army attacked the city as a part of the [[War of 1812]] and burned a number of public buildings in the city, including the [[White House]]. First Lady [[Dolly Madison]] famously saved a portrait of [[George Washington]] from the White House before the building was burned.<ref>http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/washingtonsack.htm</ref>

In 1814, the British army attacked the city as part of the [[War of 1812]] and burned a number of public buildings in the city, including the [[White House]]. First Lady [[Dolly Madison]] famously saved a portrait of [[George Washington]] from the White House before the building was burned.<ref>http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/washingtonsack.htm</ref>

===Corruption===

===Corruption===

[[File:Norton Mitchell BHAZ LGBT.png|left|300px|thumb|D.C. Rep. [[Eleanor Holmes Norton]] and [[MSNBC]]'s [[Andrea Mitchell]] were physically assaulted by a semi-nude [[LGBT]] activist during a live interview in Washington's [[Black Lives Matter]] Plaza after Democrats voted to [[Defund the Police]].  Norton's first words were, "Where's the police?"<ref>https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/06/23/andrea_mitchell_nearly_attacked_in_dc_black_house_autonomous_zone_wheres_the_police.html</ref>  Mainstream [[fake news]] media filmed the whole incident but imposed a blackout.]]The 2010 election was hotly contested and resulted in a number of convictions.  Incumbent mayor [[Adrian Fenty]] lost the Democratic primary to [[Vincent C. Gray]].  However, his primary effort was assisted by a minor candidate Sulaimon Brown, who Gray paid to stay in the primary race and appointed to a position in his administration.  When this became public, Gray fired Brown and the resulting investigation led to campaign staff being convicted. On Tuesday, July 10, 2010, Jeanne Clarke Harris, pleaded guilty to laundering campaign contributions from city contractor Jeffery E. Thompson through friends into the Gray campaign.  The effort involved $653,000 in improperly reported donations. U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr said that the 2010 mayor's race was "compromised by backroom deals, secret payments and a flood of unreported cash."<ref name=wp711>{{cite news|title=Gray's victory called tainted|author=Mike DeBonis and Nikita Stewart|date=July 11, 2012|page=A1}}</ref> Harris said that Thompson sought to hide his campaign contributions to Gray to avoid angering the Fenty administration that had awarded large contracts to Thompson's firms.<ref name=wp711/>  Howard Brooks and Thomas W. Gore have previously plead guilty to charges surrounding the forwarding of Gray campaign cash to Brown.<ref name=wp711/>

[[File:Norton Mitchell BHAZ LGBT.png|left|300px|thumb|D.C. Rep. [[Eleanor Holmes Norton]] and [[MSNBC]]'s [[Andrea Mitchell]] were physically assaulted by a semi-nude [[LGBT]] activist during a live interview in Washington's [[Black Lives Matter]] Plaza after Democrats voted to [[Defund the Police]].  Norton's first words were, "Where's the police?"<ref>https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/06/23/andrea_mitchell_nearly_attacked_in_dc_black_house_autonomous_zone_wheres_the_police.html</ref>  Mainstream [[fake news]] media filmed the whole incident but imposed a blackout.]]The 2010 election was hotly contested and resulted in a number of convictions.  Incumbent mayor [[Adrian Fenty]] lost the Democratic primary to [[Vincent C. Gray]].  However, his primary effort was assisted by a minor candidate Sulaimon Brown, who Gray paid to stay in the primary race and appointed to a position in his administration.  When this became public, Gray fired Brown and the resulting investigation led to campaign staff being convicted. On Tuesday, July 10, 2010, Jeanne Clarke Harris, pleaded guilty to laundering campaign contributions from city contractor Jeffery E. Thompson through friends into the Gray campaign.  The effort involved $653,000 in improperly reported donations. U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. said that the 2010 mayor's race was "compromised by backroom deals, secret payments and a flood of unreported cash."<ref name=wp711>{{cite news|title=Gray's victory called tainted|author=Mike DeBonis and Nikita Stewart|date=July 11, 2012|page=A1}}</ref> Harris said that Thompson sought to hide his campaign contributions to Gray to avoid angering the Fenty administration that had awarded large contracts to Thompson's firms.<ref name=wp711/>  Howard Brooks and Thomas W. Gore have previously pled guilty to charges surrounding the forwarding of Gray campaign cash to Brown.<ref name=wp711/>

[[Kwame R. Brown]] was the Chairman of the District of Columbia Council until he resigned to plead guilty to bank fraud and campaign finance charges in 2012.

[[Kwame R. Brown]] was the Chairman of the District of Columbia Council until he resigned to plead guilty to bank fraud and campaign finance charges in 2012.