RK ARCHIVE - Should I be Nervous?

So, for a while now I have been writing posts about Tom Davis that are pretty negative, but I never thought it would come to this. Someone using a House.gov IP (using the internet in the capitol or from one of the House office buildings) has started to do opposition research, on me.

Let me be clear on this, someone, not from a campaign office, but using a federal computer, on federal property (and presumably on federal payroll) has been investigating me. (see picture at end of diary for documentation)
Now I can't prove that this was a Tom Davis staffer, only that it was a House Member or staffer. But I find this completely unacceptable.

I don't pay taxes to be researched and possibly attacked by government officials.

I'm not really sure exactly how Tom Davis feels about Civil Liberties because he missed the torture bill vote, but I do know that he supports the patriot act.

Comments

asdf (TurnVirginiaBlue - 10/2/2006 2:12:17 PM)

A website is a public document so if someone is googling you to find out who you are, well, that's the way it is.

It's legal. A website is like posting a notice in the town hall and if someone wants to find out who wrote it?

If someone wants to surf from house.gov again it means nothing really, they are allowed...it's the Internets.

Oh I know it's legal to look me up (pitin - 10/2/2006 2:18:37 PM)

my question is whether its appropriate to do campaign opposition research while on the "clock" as a Congressional Staffer and using a Government computer.

asdf (TurnVirginiaBlue - 10/2/2006 3:06:03 PM)

It's a public document and also you have no evidence it is a congressional staffer for the opposition.

I get hits from house.gov. It could be just anyone simply trying to figure out who you are in real life.

I have no idea of the legality but it seems to me that would be the same as trying to prosecute an employee for making a personal phone call on the company dime to go google someone while on the job.

frankly (littlepunk - 10/2/2006 3:10:09 PM)

I think this is ridiculous. You raise, possible, a legitimate question. But you have no idea what is going on, who/what/when/where/why, you know nothing. If you do (especially who/why), then you've got something. But that's it.

Lowell !!! (loboforestal - 10/2/2006 4:40:31 PM)

Yank this story.

DO NOT PUBLISH IP ADDRESSES !!!

Apologists for corruption of Tom Davis and friends (Andrea Chamblee - 10/2/2006 9:27:50 PM)

saying it's okay for House staff employees and tax dollars to be used for a campaign would be singing a different tune if it were a "Hillary for Senate" staffer. They'd be all over her for not using funds from her own campaign war chest, and rightfully so. So why are they making excuses here?

Pitin put all the necessary caveats in the story and didn't blame anyone. He just raised the question. It looks like he raised the Davis trolls, too.

Any politician who wants power more than responsible oversight of the public purse deserves to be out on his arse. After all, this Class of 1994 -- including the ones now in jail or naming names so they can stay out of jail -- got in Congress in the first place by making promises to be better then Dan Rostenkowski and friends, right?

pitin.. (drmontoya - 10/2/2006 9:42:36 PM)

hey brosef. email me. let me know how you got this info, sorry if you already posted it but im about to head to bed and haven't read the entire diary and comments.

but, if they are.. if they are watching you.

you aren't the only one.

they must be watching a bunch of RK bloggers.

Not only house.gov but also usdoj.gov (elevandoski - 10/3/2006 11:26:18 PM)

That's a little intimidating, if you ask me! I can understand house.gov, but the Dept. of Justice? Is anybody else getting them as well?