Trump Fires Acting Attorney General • Hacker News Board

Re: Trump Fires Acting Attorney General

#11

Post by rayiner » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 2:47 AM UTC

yeukhon wrote: post #7

Have I ever had a strong disagreement with my boss? Always. Every day. But did my boss fire me? No. But should my boss considered to fire me? Probably. Normally you don't fire someone from your cabinet even if you are just an acting member. You make the person to resign. I don't know the full story, but this goes to show Trump is truly an unique president. He doesn't care what people think of him. He's running the Wh…

While Yates is a hero, she didn't merely disagree. She actively countermanded a directive from her boss.

Re: Trump Fires Acting Attorney General

#12

Post by Spooky23 » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 2:48 AM UTC

I despise Trump, but I don't think it's it's acceptable for a civil servant to insert themselves into the news. If you're getting an unlawful or unethical order, you follow the process, suck it up or resign in protest.

By going rogue and making yourself the story, you're attacking the office of the president. It's a bad idea, bad precedent and will have bad outcomes.

Re: Trump Fires Acting Attorney General

#13

Post by hueving » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 2:48 AM UTC

ivl wrote: post #2

If I understand it right this is the first time an AG has been relieved for purely political reasons. If the AG doesn't think it's likely they'll win a defense, that usually doesn't cause an issue. As an edit: it probably wouldn't have been reasonable for her to put up an intentionally weak case, but if the order isn't able to stand up in court, then what? The major worry for me is Trump's seeking to punish anyone wh…

>The major worry for me is Trump's seeking to punish anyone who shows disloyalty.

This shouldn't be surprising nor worrying. This is how hierarchical leadership works and it's fully expected that anyone under the President may be forced to do whatever the President wants. It's the entire reason there are 2 other branches of government.

Re: Trump Fires Acting Attorney General

#14

Post by davesque » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 2:49 AM UTC

ams6110 wrote: post #10

ivl wrote: post #2

If I understand it right this is the first time an AG has been relieved for purely political reasons. If the AG doesn't think it's likely they'll win a defense, that usually doesn't cause an issue. As an edit: it probably wouldn't have been reasonable for her to put up an intentionally weak case, but if the order isn't able to stand up in court, then what? The major worry for me is Trump's seeking to punish anyone wh…

She's an interim AG, holdover from the prior administration. Wasn't going to be there long regardless.

As true as this is, the symbolism behind this action is really troubling. If the attorney general claims that something may be illegal and unenforceable, people should listen. This comes off as purely political and makes it seem as though Trump will just fire anyone who disagrees with him, regardless of whether or not it makes sense to do so.

Re: Trump Fires Acting Attorney General

#15

Post by Spooky23 » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 2:49 AM UTC

yeukhon wrote: post #7

Have I ever had a strong disagreement with my boss? Always. Every day. But did my boss fire me? No. But should my boss considered to fire me? Probably. Normally you don't fire someone from your cabinet even if you are just an acting member. You make the person to resign. I don't know the full story, but this goes to show Trump is truly an unique president. He doesn't care what people think of him. He's running the Wh…

You serve at the pleasure of the political official. Forcing people to resign is more about saving the boss' face than the employee.

Re: Trump Fires Acting Attorney General

#16

Post by bmh_ca » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 2:50 AM UTC

ivl wrote: post #2

If I understand it right this is the first time an AG has been relieved for purely political reasons. If the AG doesn't think it's likely they'll win a defense, that usually doesn't cause an issue. As an edit: it probably wouldn't have been reasonable for her to put up an intentionally weak case, but if the order isn't able to stand up in court, then what? The major worry for me is Trump's seeking to punish anyone wh…

> If I understand it right this is the first time an AG has been relieved for purely political reasons.

I kind of thought you must be joking, since revolving AGs were a hallmark of the Bush Jr era, to legalize torture, etc. But in case not, here is a decent place to start:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dismissal_of_U.S._attorneys_...

Re: Trump Fires Acting Attorney General

#17

Post by kristiandupont » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 2:52 AM UTC

yeukhon wrote: post #7

Have I ever had a strong disagreement with my boss? Always. Every day. But did my boss fire me? No. But should my boss considered to fire me? Probably. Normally you don't fire someone from your cabinet even if you are just an acting member. You make the person to resign. I don't know the full story, but this goes to show Trump is truly an unique president. He doesn't care what people think of him. He's running the Wh…

>He doesn't care what people think of him.

I don't know about that..

Re: Trump Fires Acting Attorney General

#18

Post by yeukhon » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 2:52 AM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #11

yeukhon wrote: post #7

Have I ever had a strong disagreement with my boss? Always. Every day. But did my boss fire me? No. But should my boss considered to fire me? Probably. Normally you don't fire someone from your cabinet even if you are just an acting member. You make the person to resign. I don't know the full story, but this goes to show Trump is truly an unique president. He doesn't care what people think of him. He's running the Wh…

While Yates is a hero, she didn't merely disagree. She actively countermanded a directive from her boss.

I do that if I know it isn't right. You may argue she should just resign. But perhaps, and I don't want to make any assumptions, somebody just want to give him a hard time and stand up for his/her belief against Trump for as long as possible. The old saying, you can't do anything unless you are in the position. You can resign and next person take over can kiss Trump's ass. Do something while you are in the position that can do something.

Re: Trump Fires Acting Attorney General

#19

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 2:52 AM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #11

yeukhon wrote: post #7

Have I ever had a strong disagreement with my boss? Always. Every day. But did my boss fire me? No. But should my boss considered to fire me? Probably. Normally you don't fire someone from your cabinet even if you are just an acting member. You make the person to resign. I don't know the full story, but this goes to show Trump is truly an unique president. He doesn't care what people think of him. He's running the Wh…

While Yates is a hero, she didn't merely disagree. She actively countermanded a directive from her boss.

[deleted]

Re: Trump Fires Acting Attorney General

#20

Post by jskell » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 2:52 AM UTC

Shocking, and also politically/tactically very stupid. Why not just use his base's newfound dislike of Yates (the fired AG) as leverage to get Sessions (his AG nominee) confirmed? Which confirmation was all but assured; but now...

I thought his campaign was brilliant, tactically; but this is amateur hour.