Blogger in Trouble: South Knox Bubba threatened by Owner of Newspaper

This really sucks. Apparently the MSM can dish it out, but they can't take it. Bubba responded to a very intimidating/threatening email from Brian Conley - owner of Knoxville's weekly Metro Pulse - by outing himself.

Anyone from Knoxville know something about Conley?

Anyway, you should check out Bubba's site. I started covering the story in the wee hours of last night and updated it recently, with links to more emails from Conley, other than the ones posted on SKB.

Bubba is getting lots of supportive comments; he could always use some more. You guys should check it out.

This is from Bubba's site:

Here is an interesting e-mail I received Friday:

Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 12:36:18 -0400
Subject: Re: Molly and Ellen
From: "Brian Conley"
To: southknoxbubba@yahoo.com

Mr. Neal:

If I wanted to manipulate you, I'd threaten to run a cover story on bank software designers and the blogs they create, complete with names, photographs, personal credit histories, police records, addresses, excerpts of their political rantings, etc.. But I wouldn't do that, now would I? Anonymity really shouldn't be abused.
____

What a creep! Wonder how Metro Pulse advertisers would like this?

http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2005/06/blogger-in-trouble-south-knox-bubba.html

http://www.southknoxbubba.net/skblog/

Conley, you're the only CONMAN who should be taken to the plank. You and all your gallant lies, amazing isn't that? And he would never out himself for you because you're a propaganda artist-- The EFF protects all bloggers rights. You're outnumbEred.

is no conservative blogger. That's the problem. Now that's he's 'out' or his anonymnity is blown, his conservative customers may go elsewhere.

It's since come out that Conley gives money to Frist and other right wingers.

To: Brian Conley
sure looks like a threat to me----

This how Metro Pulse usually operates?

Just a congrat to you---I don't know you from Adam, and the first
thing about you that the entire world learns is that you like to
threaten people. ----really, congrats.

He's turned Knoxville's alleged alternative weekly Metro Pulse into a nonstop commercial for his downtown development projects and repeated paeans to his "literary friends" most of whom couldn't get arrested outside of Knoxville. He occasionally talks progressive, but his recent hire of Frank Cagle veers Metro Pulse (when they aren't shilling for some downtown redevelopment project)firmly to the right.

He's sort of a spoiled rich ex-college kid who has had a couple of public drinking incidents and gutted everything that was once good about about Metro Pulse. I doubt you would find many ex-staffers with much good to say about him.

This doesn't surprise me.

If you go to South Knoxville Bubba's page Brian Conley has apologized after being called a wanker at Atrios's Eschaton and at Steve Gillard's blog. Of course, Bubba has outed himself. I don't look for this to actually cool down, at least not in Knoxville.

The last time I was there, Conley explicitly said he would NOT apologize. If he's changed his tune, he must have gotten some pretty negative local responses as well. He must have figured it would hurt his business. Steve Gilliard named him as a Bully In Action. My blog was swamped with East Tennesseans all weekend, especially late last night. I had no idea so many East Tennesseans were late nighters!

Hey knoxvilleboy, thanks for the heads up on the apology. To me, it sounds like a phony one, or one he didn't write. But at least he finally figured out that bad publicity could hurt his wallet.

He has quite a few enemies in the area (and not all of them ex-employees). I'm not sure this will be the one that runs him out of control of Metro Pulse, but it certainly adds fuel to the fire. I question how long the "twelve white guys" who run Knoxville will let him keep on in this way. I rather like it because it does point out to a very few of us who does wage control in town and it ain't the voters.

No more webpage. Guess Conley did a lot more damage than I thought.

<<"Sorry to report, but the blog is no more.
Thanks for reading and thanks for your support.

Cheers!
SKB">>

This is a real blow. Bubba said that blowing his cover could be very bad news for his livelihood. I feel like sending Conley and/or his paper an angry email.

Why oh why couldn't it have been a blogger like bill hobbs (who now claims he is not a blogger)???

hurt on SKB's tormentors.
Here's the current SKB refugee blog:
http://funhouserock.com/funhouse/phpBB2/index.php

Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Not OK Now


A bomb was dropped on the Tennessee blogosphere this afternoon as blogger SouthKnox Bubba suddenly upped and quit. His old site was here, but it's been completely taken down and replaced with a "Game Over" graphic. No idea if the old site will come back in some form or not at this time.

There is some email from a few folks who were able to contact SKB. Try the Say Uncle link above, or go to Newsrack Blog for what little is known tonight. Both link to a lot of other folks who are talking about his. It appears to boil down to blogging becoming a hassle for Bubba and him wanting to spend more time with his family. But the fact that the entire blog and all its archives, and everything to do with the Rocky Top Brigade, are all gone argues for something more. He didn't just stop, but completely obliterated all traces. That's odd.

From Knoxville, SouthKnox Bubba, or SKB or Bubba, is Tennessee's premier liberal ("progressive" became his word of choice about mid-way through last year) blog, and the number two or three blog in the state, after internet legend Instapundit and maybe tying with Tennessee's premier conservative blogger online newsmagazine Bill Hobbs. SKB argues his Democratic politics passionately, fiercely and well. It drew a lot of other liberals and progressives to his blog. He was also a loud critic of Knoxville's "good ol' boy" network that ran the civic and development front. It was this criticism that may have led to his quitting.
More: http://halfbakered.blogspot.com/2005/07/not-ok-now-bomb-was-dropped-on.html

Post from SKB's blog (via observant reader):
06/19/05 21:25

It seems an incredibly bad idea to post your home address, and your employer's name and address on your blog.
My advice, if you value your job, is to remove every page from this server, and plan your next move (perhaps start another new blog).
Load a blank page for the site. Site gone. All pages gone. Forever.
Your call, but that's what I'd do in your situation, if I wanted to maintain my career track.

Just Looking

in the comments section on my blog. I gave me the creeps. Another comment advised everyone to go to a site where he'd posted Bubba's real name and street address. I haven't been blogging very long, but things like this make me wonder why I do. I'm sure Bubba got tired of it too.

I think it is time to take this to the national blogosphere. It was nice that Steve Gillard and Atrios gave it some press at the time. It is time that they know that the threats continued and the result is that SKB has shut down. Read the new blog and notice the shilling for coverups by Knoxvillians who just want to enjoy living in a vibrant urban community.

Knoxville always made me sick. I'm glad to be away.

for the person that posted it to the
new blog. I do very well recall seeing it posted on
SKB's blog, however, I can't remember well enough to
vouch for it being verbatim from the original.
At the time I thought of it as just another trashtalk post.
I can no longer find the copy that was posted to the new blog,
but skirob has been deleting some posts.
Seems he really wants everyone to just forgetaboutit.
Kind of pisses me off. I could be way off base here, but it makes me feel as though the guy's just using SKB's demise as his personal vehicle of opportunity.

that posted it there.
You let the bad guys get away with this and before long it
could turn into open season on bloggers.
Best way to handle it is to return the favor -10 times in kind.
I can't remember where, but I recall one area blogger
posted something to the effect of:
'Don't worry, bubba. We've got your back'
Well? How about it bloggers?

I posted this below to k2k and they promptly deleted it. I emailed the owner asking why and he said he didn't know either the who or the why. Told me to check back in a couple days if I hadn't yet received an explanation from the mod that deleted it.
The date indicated is the day I received it.

>> > From: thrwaway76@a...
>> > Date: Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:40 pm
>> > Subject: Re: Bubba News
>> >
>> > "Brian Conley, on behalf of KPA (but maybe not, I also think the
>> rest of the
>> > gang is terrified of what BC might say next), is doing the same
>> thing the
>> > Bush spin-doctors are doing regarding Rove/Plame: they're trying to
>> divert
>> > attention away from the point by questioning the veracity of the
>> messenger.
>> >
>> > Here's the point: KPA is saying "the City" changed everything. So, I
>> assume
>> > they're blaming the Ashe administration. I'm saying, it looks to me like
>> > KCDC was supposed to – or is supposed to prepare a "comprehensive
>> > Development Agreement" as outlined by the Council Resolution
>> adopting the
>> > KPA proposal, and Mamantov's letter, that contains language to
>> legally bind
>> > KPA to the private investment and anchor tenants. This language would
>> > legally obligate them to turn in ALL invoices to KCDC.
>> >
>> > And, no, the money that people unconnected with KPA invested in the
>> > redevelopment area cannot apply to KPA's proposed $8 million in tenant
>> > improvements. Any KPA "team member" like David Dewhirst's investment
>> in the
>> > Watson's Building would count. (Jon Kinsey said in the 7/15 KNS
>> story, "We
>> > never said that was all ours. "Some of it was ours.") No, the
>> proposed $8
>> > million has to come from KPA. And the invoices have to be turned in
>> to KCDC.
>> >
>> > Jon Kinsey is saying things like, "I feel really good that we've
>> delivered
>> > on everything we said we would," Kinsey said. "We've been very
>> consistent in
>> > our proposal." And, "…I bet we're approaching that $22 million total
>> now."
>> >
>> > Problem is there aren't any invoices in the KCDC public file that show
>> > anything other than what's in the WMA report -- unless they've added
>> some
>> > since June. Even if they have added some since June, using Jon Kinsey's
>> > words, "I bet" they won't come close to $22 million.
>> >
>> > The taxpayers just have to have something more solid than
>> "feelings". If the
>> > invoices are not in the KCDC file then they don't exist for the
>> public. That
>> > 's like Conley saying, "I suspect my brother will proceed with plans to
>> > renovate those buildings" (Charter Federal and AmSouth). Something more
>> > solid than "I suspect" is required when the public has forked out
>> millions
>> > of dollars on what was supposed to a public/private deal.
>> >
>> > So, the questions are:
>> >
>> > 1. Who, in the chain of authority didn't do their job or covered up
>> > something?
>> >
>> > 2. Did the Ashe administration materially change the terms of the
>> project
>> > without informing the public, which is my take on what KPA is saying?
>> >
>> > 3. Did KCDC purposely avoid preparing the comprehensive Development
>> > Agreement? And if so, why? At whose instructions?
>> >
>> > 4. Did Council's advisor/s fail to inform Council that the Phase I
>> > Development Agreement materially changed what was proposed and
>> adopted by
>> > Council in concept, knowing that no other legal development
>> agreement was
>> > forthcoming?
>> >
>> > 5. Did Council's advisor/s fail to advise Council that the Phase I
>> > Development Agreement did not contain language holding KPA to the
>> private
>> > investment and anchor tenants because Council's advisor/s thought the
>> > "Comprehensive Development Agreement" was forthcoming?"
>> --- End forwarded message ---
>

Of course that would be great, but when I suggested to some of Metro Pulse's biggest advertisers that I would like them to reconsider their ads with MP or I'd have to reconsider doing business with them, their responses were a merry "Then bye!" And these are companies that I do a 5 figure business with each year.

No, Metro Pulse cannot be assailed despite the fact that under Conley it has become totally unreadable.

If you're gonna attack Conley it will have to be by delving into the Kinsey Prohasco deal with the city of Knoxville. Who has the balls to do that? Not any newspaper in east Tennessee. Not any TV station in east Tennessee.

for one, we can convince the MSMers that they're about to be scooped. BTDT.
I believe you're right, the Kinsey Prohasco deal is the key.
My guess is they hit bubba with a slap suit. The timing makes sense, considering the looming WFP vote. They probably hinted they might consider withdrawing if he shut down the site and kept his mouth shut. I've seen this exact tactic used in the recent past (long story).

I've been trying to drum up some help, but it's been tough.
The unofficial SKB refugee blog went to crap right off the bat.
The owner is trying hard to discourage anyone from pursuing the issue. Seems like people are more interest in playlists, video games, promoting their business, catfighting and getting laid than taking care of SKB business. It's sad. There are some people interested, and a few that are calling for 'ass-whoopins' -if we could just come up with a way to organize them.
Check this space tomorrow.

Here's a little something to sleep on:

>> > From: thrwaway76@a...
>> > Date: Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:40 pm
>> > Subject: Re: Bubba News
>> >
>> > "Brian Conley, on behalf of KPA (but maybe not, I also think the
>> rest of the
>> > gang is terrified of what BC might say next), is doing the same
>> thing the
>> > Bush spin-doctors are doing regarding Rove/Plame: they're trying to
>> divert
>> > attention away from the point by questioning the veracity of the
>> messenger.
>> >
>> > Here's the point: KPA is saying "the City" changed everything. So, I
>> assume
>> > they're blaming the Ashe administration. I'm saying, it looks to me like
>> > KCDC was supposed to – or is supposed to prepare a "comprehensive
>> > Development Agreement" as outlined by the Council Resolution
>> adopting the
>> > KPA proposal, and Mamantov's letter, that contains language to
>> legally bind
>> > KPA to the private investment and anchor tenants. This language would
>> > legally obligate them to turn in ALL invoices to KCDC.
>> >
>> > And, no, the money that people unconnected with KPA invested in the
>> > redevelopment area cannot apply to KPA's proposed $8 million in tenant
>> > improvements. Any KPA "team member" like David Dewhirst's investment
>> in the
>> > Watson's Building would count. (Jon Kinsey said in the 7/15 KNS
>> story, "We
>> > never said that was all ours. "Some of it was ours.") No, the
>> proposed $8
>> > million has to come from KPA. And the invoices have to be turned in
>> to KCDC.
>> >
>> > Jon Kinsey is saying things like, "I feel really good that we've
>> delivered
>> > on everything we said we would," Kinsey said. "We've been very
>> consistent in
>> > our proposal." And, "…I bet we're approaching that $22 million total
>> now."
>> >
>> > Problem is there aren't any invoices in the KCDC public file that show
>> > anything other than what's in the WMA report -- unless they've added
>> some
>> > since June. Even if they have added some since June, using Jon Kinsey's
>> > words, "I bet" they won't come close to $22 million.
>> >
>> > The taxpayers just have to have something more solid than
>> "feelings". If the
>> > invoices are not in the KCDC file then they don't exist for the
>> public. That
>> > 's like Conley saying, "I suspect my brother will proceed with plans to
>> > renovate those buildings" (Charter Federal and AmSouth). Something more
>> > solid than "I suspect" is required when the public has forked out
>> millions
>> > of dollars on what was supposed to a public/private deal.
>> >
>> > So, the questions are:
>> >
>> > 1. Who, in the chain of authority didn't do their job or covered up
>> > something?
>> >
>> > 2. Did the Ashe administration materially change the terms of the
>> project
>> > without informing the public, which is my take on what KPA is saying?
>> >
>> > 3. Did KCDC purposely avoid preparing the comprehensive Development
>> > Agreement? And if so, why? At whose instructions?
>> >
>> > 4. Did Council's advisor/s fail to inform Council that the Phase I
>> > Development Agreement materially changed what was proposed and
>> adopted by
>> > Council in concept, knowing that no other legal development
>> agreement was
>> > forthcoming?
>> >
>> > 5. Did Council's advisor/s fail to advise Council that the Phase I
>> > Development Agreement did not contain language holding KPA to the
>> private
>> > investment and anchor tenants because Council's advisor/s thought the
>> > "Comprehensive Development Agreement" was forthcoming?"
>> --- End forwarded message ---
>

But I also fail to see how those five questions will ever be answered. Bubba could have had any amount of free legal representation but for whatever reason has chosen not to. Most of Knoxville's "liberal" community spends it time talking about how sophisticated and urban they are while trying to avoid "cruelty free tomatoes". This allows people such as Conley free reign.

I'm game to go in if there something brewing however.

scheduled to vote on the WFP plan?

my 'questions' post has been removed
from the k2k discussion group.
What does that tell you?