Without further ado, here it is. A compilation of the best of the best from my 11-months on the Trail. No matter what side these young people were on, there is one thing for sure. Election Season in the Nation's Capital isn't for the weak-hearted. You have to be ready to handle the heat, dodge bullets and face the fire. Luckily it wasn’t hard for my camera and I to find the smoke.

Thanks to everyone who let me amp their voice with Street Team ’08. It has educated me not just about this great nation – but where we are all going. And that, my friends, I can’t wait to be a part of.

In 2004, we saw the first increase for the first time in 30 years from Young Voters. 30 Years. And then, in the 2006 Midterm elections, young people showed up and swung tight races in Montana, Missouri and Virginia.

Now, with a campaign that has gone on for over 18 months, the day is here. 2008 is a historic Election, not only because of the candidates who made history, but because of the drive of a new generation and introduction into the American political process. 

Larry and Kelly, Howard University

Ali, 22, North Carolina Voter in DC "America Has Lost It's Place In The World"

“I don’t even know if I’m going to be able to vote,” Samantha said to me from across the table.

Samantha, a young professional in Washington, is a recent transplant from the West. She still has residency in Arizona, where her family is, and applied for an absentee ballot a few months back.

“I applied for an absentee ballot and it still has not come. I could not find a working number on the Arizona.Gov Web site to call. And the oddest thing? My Mother and brother, who are registered Independents, got their absentee ballots a few weeks back. My Dad and I, who are registered as Democrats, did not.”

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Last weekend in DC, there was a sort of..."Last Call" party for Barack Obama.

It was a massive phone banking telethon - designed by Obama's national headquarters, organized and put into action by the DC for Obama office.

Rachel, a full-time volunteer, was on hand to talk. She had two cell phones, numbers scratched in Sharpie on the back of each and a dazed but focused look.

"Our job in the DC Office is to mobilize DC Residents to turn out Virginia Voters."

Neighborly...or nosy? Check out this video to see how the massive mobilization effort functions - and what it is like to witness the Obama grassroots grow. 

So you are in your twenties and you just moved out on your own. Everything is moving along swimmingly, the neighborhood pub, Monday half-price burgers…you even figured out the fastest route to work. Then you get your paycheck and something is missing. Something around the tune of six percent.

For D.C. residents, it is called Taxation without Representation. For the rest of you, it is simply income tax that you elect government officials to vote on for you. Should we spend less and cut taxes? Or spend more and provide more government services?

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This week's piece is about seven young students. Not all Americans, but all in America.

Stan's parents are French. Benedict has lived in the States since '98. Eliza is half Swedish, half American and is Co-Editor of the school's newspaper, the International Dateline.

Then there is Leena, who is a junior who has relatives in Lebanon - and Alex, the American, who calls himself the "least interesting kid in the school -- culturally." Yet somehow his presence is so rare it’s original.

Together, these kids make up the student body of the Washington International School (WIS). In a city with 170 Embassies and 10,000 core diplomats, the District transforms from a poor urban area to a Capitol city with international culture.

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Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.
 

I started to tell this story in January, had my first introduction to the subject in March and come April met Marine Muller after his release from the Brig. Now, for the final episode, I bring to you the soldier who shared with me over the course of nine months -- his journey of conscious and courage.
 

Here is the Finale of a Street Team Series.

You can find the first two of the series here:

Decision to Desert Part I
Decision to Desert Part II

I needed to catch myself up on where the GOP stands on the issue of gay rights. While I live in a community dominated by openly LGBT people, I thought it was only fair that I began with the platform of the Grand Old Party (GOP) – aka the Republicans, and those who favor their views.

Q: Where does John McCain stand on Gay Rights?

McCain’s Presidential Web site does little to answer the question. Under the Issues Tab, there is no mention of gay or civil rights. Keep a close eye on the page and you will come across the Human Dignity and the Sanctity of Life tab. Herein lies the mention of civil rights for gay Americans.

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A RNC Security guard tells me about how he was swept up in a security sweep and arrested for being "too close to protestors."