The recent e-mail messages sent to those who've signed up for Gov. Bill Ritter's e-newsletter seem innocuous enough:

"Read Ryan Lizza's New Yorker article, "The Code of the West," reads the subject line of one. (For those who haven't seen it, the piece is subtitled "What Barack Obama can learn from  Bill Ritter" and features Ritter drawn as a Wyatt Earp-style Western sheriff - star and all.)

"The Governor will be delivering brief remarks at the Democratic National Convention today at Invesco Field at Mile High between 4:30 and 5 p.m. If you can't tune in you can visit www.colorado.gov/governor after his speech to read the full text," reads another.

It's the type of back patting typical of politicians on both sides of the aisle. Because hey, if they don't do it, who will?

It's not the message, it's the medium - or rather, the combination of both, says one Republican rabble-rouser who charges that state resources are at work promoting the governor, who is up for re-election in 2010.

State Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, points out that the notes sent from a state e-mail address veer away from "keeping up with the governor" and into the type of self-promotion some might call campaigning.

And in Colorado, no state resources can be used in that way.

Judge for yourself: A link to another questionable newsletter article is here. And the two e-mails follow in their entirity.