The Tennessean Losing Good Peebles: Veteran Government Editor Departs To Texas
Posted on August 22, 2008 at 7:18 pmFirst, you get the Pulle, then you get the Peebles, then you get the pageviews.
Post Politics has learned that Tennessean Government Editor Jennifer Peebles will depart 1100 Broadway two weeks from today for sunny Houston, Texas. Peebles will take the title of Deputy Editor at a new non-profit news site she helped found, Texas Watchdog.
Peebles confirmed the news late this evening, “I’m really excited about going to work for Trent [Seibert], but leaving here is really hard.”
Earlier this month, Post Politics reported that Peebles had helped set up, and would sit on the board of, the startup. At the time, Peebles had every intention of being just a helpful and watchful remote eye from Tennessee for fellow co-founders, Trent Seibert and Lee Ann O’Neal. It appears, however, that the lure of the Astrodome was too much.
Editor-in-Chief Seibert couldn’t be happier that the woman responsible for “75% Texas Watchdog’s vision” will come on board as a full-time staffer.
“She’s one of the best editors I’ve ever worked with over my career and we are all thrilled to get her to come with us on a full-time basis. I feared she wouldn’t leave Tennessee but I believe she was comforted by the fact they’ve got statues of famous Tennessean Sam Houston up everywhere,” Seibert tells Post Politics excitedly. “Truth be told, that makes us all feel right at home. Jennifer can crunch numbers like Stephen Hawking and can see through politicians’ bullsh** like she’s got a radar built into her head. She is instrumental in complex stories.”
Peebles, of course, joins not just Seibert and O’Neal but Matt Pulle as well as Tennessee journalists leaving to contribute to Seibert’s new Texas venture in what is becoming somewhat of a Tennessee journalism brain drain.
“I feel I’m creating a halfway house of sorts. You know, ‘Seibert’s Home for Wayward Journalists,’ or something similar,” Seibert quips. “But it’s my kind of halfway house. We’ve got a bottle of vodka in my bottom drawer.”
Gone To Texas: Trent Seibert Uses His Pulle-Down Menu
Posted on August 20, 2008 at 12:24 pmThat’s right. Former Tennessean scribe, TV newshound and think-tanker Trent Seibert has offered former Nashville Scene-ster Matt Pulle an opportunity to go right back where he left Nashville for the first time: Dallas, Texas.
As a staff writer for the newly-formed 501(c) -to-be, Texas Watchdog, started by board members Seibert, Lee Ann O’Neal and Jennifer Peebles, Pulle will be stationed in his old stomping grounds of Dallas, Texas. Pulle spent three years in between stints at the Nashville Scene on the staff of alt-weekly the Dallas Observer.
Texas Watchdog Editor-in-Chief Trent Seibert can’t be happier regarding his first hiring coup.
“I’m tremendously excited about being able to work with Pulle. He’s a great wordsmith and he’s got an edge in his writing that I like, ” Seibert said when contacted by Post Politics. “As an added bonus with Pulle, we’ll have some creative tension in our newsroom. I think Pulle has slammed all of us (Board Members Jennifer Peebles, Lee Ann and me) at one time or another when he was doing media criticism with the Nashville Scene.”
That said, as far as Pulle is concerned, the pleasure with this new union of former Tennessee journalists is to be all on his side of the table.
“When Trent first came to The Tennessean a few years ago, I was amazed by how quickly he was able to get on the front page with really good, interesting stories–better than what anyone else was writing at the time. Honestly, I was a little jealous. I didn’t get to know him until a few years after that, but he was one of those rare guys who gets you excited about journalism and writing So when he offered me a job at his start-up and a chance to write about politics in Texas, I jumped at the chance.”
The Pulle gig, Post Politics is told, is only a three month firm commitment while Pulle decompresses from his brief eight month respite in Nashville and Texas Watchdog evaluates its position as a startup non-profit.
The fact is, however, Pulle is already on the case. A story regarding a certain Dallas-based money-man who has footed the bill for a certain ex-presidential candidate’s mistress is now live at the new, and now improved, Texas Watchdog.
Messing With Texas: Seibert Leaves Think Tank For Internet Startup
Posted on August 12, 2008 at 8:01 am
Journalist turned think-tanker, Trent “Sweet Tea” Seibert, is turning journalist yet again. The former Tennessean reporter and WKRN investigative journalist who teamed up more than a year ago with the libertarian Tennessee Center For Policy Research to serve as their Director of Government Accountability has departed that organization and the Music City for the home of the Astrodome.
Seibert, with the help of some as yet unnamed benefactors, has started Texas Watchdog described on its new website as “a news Web site and training center that scrutinizes the actions of government agencies, bureaucracies and politicians in Texas.”
While he was loathe to leave Nashville, Seibert felt the opportunity to strike out on his own was too good to pass up.
“Leaving Nashville will be the toughest part. I love this town. It’s a heckuva town. I’ll miss working with Drew [Johnson] and with TCPR. There was a free-wheeling spirit there. We were fighting for a lot of good things: better open records, a more transparent government, more government accountability to residents – the kinds of things I fought for as a journalist,” Seibert tells Post Politics. “But I want to get back into journalism, and this is a phenomenal opportunity to do exactly that, as well as work with two journalists that I greatly respect.”
Indeed, Seibert is not alone in this venture and the names of his associates and fellow board members will not be unfamiliar to Tennessee media watchers. Lee Ann O’Neal, formerly of the Tennessean as well as the Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times, is on the team as City Editor.
Also on board is currrent Tennessean Government Editor Jennifer Peebles. The 14 year Tennessean veteran and Vandy grad, however, cannot be chalked up as just the latest statistic in the mass exodus from 1100 Broadway. Peebles has no intention of leaving her day job.
The powers that be at the Tennessean are fully apprised of her involvement in the new organization and bestowed their blessing on her activities. Peebles role with Watchdog will be chiefly an advisory one as her former Tennessean colleagues do most of the grunt work on the ground in Texas.
“I am very excited to be part of Texas Watchdog, even though Trent and Lee Ann are really doing all the work,” Peebles explains, “I think two full-time employees is about all our little startup nonprofit is going to handle. I have the greatest respect for Trent and Lee Ann — God bless ‘em, they have taken a leap of faith and are truly putting their whole lives into making this work. Leaving your job (and your health insurance) to move to another state is a big leap. They’ve really put their whole lives into it.”
As its website indicates, the new organization is not only seeking to fill a void in investigative journalism Seibert has seen develop as traditional news organizations cut staff and resources, Texas Watchdog has an evangelical mission as well.
“Our organizational model is a newsroom – that teaches. We’re bringing in bloggers, citizen journalists, journalists from small papers – frankly, anyone that wants to walk through the door. We train them and they produce for our website where we will break news. They leave with the skills of a journalist so they can dig up original content for their own blogs/jobs/desire to fight city hall,” explains Seibert.
So why Texas? Trent breaks it down.
“Texas is a place that people nationally look to see what works and then they duplicate it in their states. (California would have been another logical choice, in that regard.) And Houston is chock full of entrepreneurs. We’re hoping to tap into that community for ideas/cash/support, etc.” Seibert tells Post Politics.
“If it works in Texas, it can work anywhere in the US. And with journalism going the way it is, I think we need more organizations like this in every city in America.”
Texas Watchdog is an independent, nonpartisan corporation currently seeking nonprofit 501(c)3 status. Apply to work with Trent here.
SEE ALSO: Trent on YouTube
Further Refutation Of Al Gore’s Alleged Energy Guzzle
Posted on June 18, 2008 at 7:54 amFurther response from Al Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider on the assertions of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research that despite rennovations Al Gore’s Belle Meade home is still guzzling energy at an alarming rate:
I am happy to provide more information about this from the Gores’ perspective. First, this release yesterday are a mere re-release of old bills. If any of you have ever worked with contractors, you know that renovations take years. The Gores renovated a 80 year old house from stem to stern. This took about 3 years to go through all the ducwork, to install a geothermal system, to replace all the windows, to put in solar panels (which used to be illegal in Bellemeade and took 6 months to reverse).
So, to be clear, the Gores’ achieved Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in November 2007. The reduction in the electricity and natural gas bills–you need to look at both in order to truly evaluate their carbon footprint, really kicked in in 2008. At that point, evaluating both, there is about a 40 percent reduction.
Their natural gas bill has seen the biggest reduction as a result of the geothermal system. For electricity, they purchase green power through their utility, which is called “Green Power Switch.” It isn’t an offset, any customer can purchase green power (solar, wind, methane gas) and its a wonderful program.
MORE: Kay Brooks
Renovating The Image: Gore’s House Steady Guzzlin’
Posted on June 17, 2008 at 3:26 pmThe boys over at the Tennessee Center For Policy Research celebrates a over a year of dining out over exposing Al Gore’s electric bills by exposing that, after extensive renovations, the house still consumes an inordinate amount of electricity:
After the Tennessee Center for Policy Research exposed Gore’s massive home energy use, the former Vice President scurried to make his home more energy-efficient. Despite adding solar panels, installing a geothermal system, replacing existing light bulbs with more efficient models, and overhauling the home’s windows and ductwork, Gore now consumes more electricity than before the “green” overhaul.
Since taking steps to make his home more environmentally-friendly last June, Gore devours an average of 17,768 kWh per month –1,638 kWh more energy per month than before the renovations – at a cost of $16,533. By comparison, the average American household consumes 11,040 kWh in an entire year, according to the Energy Information Administration.
UPDATE 6:15: Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider takes issue with the TCPR release:
Kreider pointed out that the renovations weren’t complete until November, so it’s a bit early to be attempting before-and-after comparisons. In addition, the Gores participate in the Nashville Electric Service’s Green Power Switch Program, which allows them to buy their electricity from renewable sources like wind power, solar power or methane gas from landfills (the house’s 33 solar panels only supply 4 percent of its power needs, per Kreider.) So any energy they burn won’t be burning them a bigger carbon footprint.
SEE ALSO:
Mens News Daily
The Nashville City Paper
Grantham Is Talking
Stop the ACLU
Jennifer Peebles
Terry Frank
Bill Hobbs
Mike Slater
Webutante
Kay Brooks
Stacey Campfield
The Guerilla Women
Tennessean
Always Be Closing
Posted on May 18, 2008 at 1:35 pmDrew Johnson of the Tennessee Center For Policy Research bolsters his non-partisan credentials by coming out strongly against the House Republican Caucus closed meeting last week:
“Tennessee really has a history of a sort of smoke-filled back room mentality. That’s where deals are done and this really reeks of that,” said Drew Johnson, president of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, a government watchdog group.
He said House Republicans pulled the same thing last year.
“These people, after all, are public servants,” Johnson said. “They are here to serve you and me. There’s nothing that they should be discussing that they can discuss to us as voters, as taxpayers.”
House Republicans have little to say about what happened last night.
State law said that legislative bodies can close meetings, but only to discuss matters of national or state security or to consider an impeachment investigation. The law is unclear regarding caucus meetings.
House Republicans did not break any laws by closing off the caucus meeting to media.
Live By The Code
Posted on May 8, 2008 at 10:24 amMatt Pulle does a bit of court and code sleuthing after the Bredesen administration seemed to balk a bit at handing over correspondence over the Bredesen Bunker issue to the Tennessee Center For Policy Research:
Interestingly, the governor’s stance on emails ignored the one-time counsel of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office. Frank Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government and a former editor at The Tennessean, says that an attorney at the AG’s office once warned state lawmakers not to put anything in an email they wouldn’t want to run on a billboard on West End Avenue. But now the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office is arguing for secrecy, citing an obscure 2005 case involving the—you guessed it—Giles Board of Education.
permalink | Comment on this post
Tennessee First Lady Andre Conte Slams “Partisan Hacks” In Uncovered Bunker Era Memorandum
Posted on May 7, 2008 at 3:48 pmMatt Pulle, with an assist from GQ Drew and Big T, uncovers some interesting correspondence from our First Lady during the height of the Bredesen Bunker era:
“I know Mr. Johnson has some interesting conspiracy theories, but I think this time he’s really grasping at straws,” says Bredesen spokeswoman Dana Coleman. “The reality is that his request was a fairly sweeping one that involved searching for files held in three different places.”
That may be true—the center is known for its rather cumbersome requests—but surely the administration wanted to keep at least one email under wraps for as long as possible. In December, Conte, who has been the public face of the project, sent a note to state architect Mike Fitts. Here Conte—who is referred to as “FL,” for first lady, in many administration emails—comes off as part Cruella de Vil, part Christian motivational speaker as she encourages Fitts to continue touting the project in the face of bitter criticism.
“You are doing a magnificent job of deflecting hits and correcting erroneous information regarding Conservation Hall,” the FL writes. “This is an innovative design and a long time coming—what a shame partisan political hacks have targeted the project out of meanness of spirit and selfishness.”
Conte concludes her note with a hearty dose of good cheer.
“Keep a song in your heart and a smile on your face” the FL assures Fitts. “We will prevail.”
SEE ALSO: Bill Hobbs
permalink | Comment on this post
The Tennessee Pork Report: The Soft Launch
Posted on April 22, 2008 at 6:47 amSome forty hours before its official release during an 11am press conference this Wednesday, “GQ” Drew Johnson and Trent Seibert of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research have released their discoveries on waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer funds in their 2008 Pork Report to their friends on Facebook.
See the report in all its PDF glory here.
The Tennessee Pork Report: It’s Coming
Posted on April 18, 2008 at 2:06 pmTrent Seibert will be there along with a large pig. What more can you ask for?:
The Tennessee Center for Policy Research (TCPR), Tennessee’s free market think tank, in conjunction with Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), the nation’s premiere taxpayer watchdog, will release the 2008 Tennessee Pork Report: Waste, Fraud and Abuse of Your Tax Dollars Exposed at a press conference on Wednesday, April 23. The report is the third annual Tennessee Pork Report, the Volunteer State’s only comprehensive examination of the waste of taxpayer dollars committed by politicians and bureaucrats at all levels of government in Tennessee.
What: Tennessee Pork Report Release
Who: The Tennessee Center for Policy Research and Citizens Against Government Waste
When: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Senate Library in the Tennessee State Capitol (Across from the Senate Chamber)
Recent Comments
All these comments are just proof that Tennessee is a backwoods, white trash redneck...
All these comments are just proof that Tennessee is a backwoods, white trash redneck state, that...
# LeftWingCracker writes “Would people REALLY rather have Mr. 894-Out-Of-899 than...
The Messiah only had to go back forty-five years to find a Democrat that would defend the...
How is he going to rebuild our military when he’s said repeatedly he plans to cut...
I’m going to have to take an Advil. Maybe three or four. I have discovered that...
C’mon. Barry is still mulling over what he should do. He will be mulling it over while...
Wouldn’t it be refreshing if ALL the candidates told the truth about...
It’s sad, but can’t you really just replace all the usage of the words...
Obama can write any script he wants at this point. He is great at delivering a...