TX politics: Abbott vs. our candidate Van Os:

[babylonsister]

David Van Os is getting screwed somehow. I don't get it. Why isn't this national news?
If I'm wrong, please inform me.

Abbott: Ad using state tape is legal


http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/loca...

Abbott: Ad using state tape is legal
Rival accuses official of stealing tax money to promote himself.

By Laylan Copelin
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, October 31, 2006

It looks like a scene from TV's "Cops."

Instead, the arrest video highlighted in a campaign commercial for Attorney General Greg Abbott was shot by a state employee at taxpayer expense. In fact, video of everything from Abbott's news conferences to the latest bust of suspected child predators can be found on his campaign and official state Web sites — all shot by his $70,000-a-year state-paid videographer.

Has the state's top lawyer violated the law prohibiting the misuse of government property or personnel, as his critics suggest, or is he legally blurring the lines between public servant and politician?

In essence, candidate Abbott filed an open records request to Attorney General Abbott for the videos produced by the state. No reimbursement was required, according to the Abbott campaign, because the video copies cost less than $10.

snip//

But the opinion continued, "The lawful advantages of incumbency do not, however, extend to the use of work time of government employees or other government resources to gather or otherwise prepare information for campaign purposes."

The legal fine line would be intent: Was the video shot to inform the public or further Abbott's political career?

[bigbrother05]

1. I voted for David Van Os

One guy was outside working the early voting place, a Dem.
inside some pretty cool people, we talked for a while about paper ballots.
I know I am off subject, but I think people just aren't going to put up with this crap

[babylonsister]

2. You need to update your info, or not! David Van Os is

so logical and no-nonsense.
And as a future poll watcher, who was talking about what inside? I'm very serious.
Please tell me what was happening inside regarding paper ballots.

[bigbrother05]

3. not going to update till we revoke some laws

We just moved back, so I was curious about the electronic voting,
don't recall the name of the machine, not Diabold, I asked about any paper ballots, no, not in Bexar county, asked how the machines
worked, showed me a little handheld device with a green stripe around it that is placed in the machine every time someone votes, and the a handheld device with a red stripe around it will count the votes at the end of the election. He told me that they were hoping to have paper ballots by 2010, I said 2008, a print out, that will verify that you voted. Apparently no money has been released to upgrade the machines. I hope this is what you wanted, If not let me know