Their goal in breaking these stories isn’t just to generate bad publicity for congressional Democrats. Brady and Giuliani hope Capitol Hill reporters will begin to pay attention, leading to more stories. They also hope that state and local bloggers will circulate the information back home in their districts.

Congressional sources developed over their careers on Capitol Hill supply some of their scoops. And Brady and Giuliani also know where to look for information -- including some places that young reporters might not know exist.

But to keep their Web site humming with a steady supply of information, the duo realize they must have access to the same information available to the Capitol Hill press corp. Thus, Brady and Giuliani intend to apply for congressional press credentials -- a notoriously difficult process for anyone who falls outside the traditional definition of a reporter.

Yes, the Majority Accountability Project is a for-profit enterprise that will accept advertising -- prerequisites for securing credentials. But the duo’s part journalist/part activist function will certainly test the system. If victorious, they will likely clear a path for scores more citizen journalists.

While the Majority Accountability Project is only in its infancy, the Web site holds great potential as a pioneer in the online world. While most liberals will probably hate it, and some conservatives will complain about its support for Republicans, its model is one that others could emulate. As long as Brady and Giuliani stick to the facts and report the truth, they’ll be blazing a trail for news hounds on the Internet.