Do you see anything actually defamatory in the _Gatekeeping in Open Source_ blog post, like false factual statements?
Shambaugh might qualify as a limited public figure too because he has thrust himself into the controversy by publishing several blog posts, and has sat for media interviews regarding this incident.
Seems like a tough road to hoe.
It’s “row”. The expression is “a tough road to row”. This refers to the fact that rowboats are notoriously difficult to operate on dry land.
worth a try!