Once upon a time, there was a woman who represented her employer in client relations. She had been doing her job well for about thirty years and was now working to assist a growing, but fragile client.
Unbeknownst to her, her boss’ boss had been told she was not doing what he wanted, which was actually corrupt. She stood in the way of her boss’ boss accomplishing is illicit task. The big boss even hired an attorney to dig up dirt and bad mouth her to the client and others.
Sadly, her boss did nothing to support her. He actually participated in the process. Her long time good service did not matter. When the bad-mouthing hit the press, she was chagrined.
She was eventually fired. Yet, what puzzled her is why did they not just fire her? They did not need to drag her name through the mud. They could have simply replaced her.
This is not a fable. The woman’s name is Marie Yovanovitch and she was the US ambassador to Ukraine. Her boss is Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his boss is Donald Trump. The attorney is Rudy Giuliani.
Let’s set all the machinations aside. Of course, the president has the right to fire anyone. But, why did he have to run down Yovanovitch’s name and sully her reputation? That is a damn shame. It also speaks volumes about the relative character of those involved.
musingsofanoldfart 
It does speak volumes, as will the firing of Alexander Vindman. And, had Ms. Yovanovitch’s employer been any but who it was, she would have had a very good case against him, but Trump, we have been told and shown, is ‘untouchable’. I notice one of your keywords for this post is “decency” … there is no decency in the Trump administration … not one shred.
Jill, Pandora has been unleashed. These Senators will now silently stand by as the vindictive one seeks revenge on those who testified. Some have even piled on Romney. To be blunt, I am embarrassed by the lack of conviction in these GOP Senators who, at the very minimum, should have admonished the president for his actions. Keith
I am thoroughly disgusted with every GOP member of Congress at the moment. As for the Senators … my hope is that all who are coming up for re-election this year — which includes Mitch McConnell and Susan Collins — lose ‘bigly’.
Jill, I had higher hopes for Collins. As for McConnell, he has been a poster child for what is wrong with Waahington dating before the age of Trump. Keith
The past 3 years have been a mud battle. Fairness and justice have been locked away.
Erika, the president has his own definition of fairness. I got mine and I get yours, too. This is an embarrassingly low period in US history. Keith
Embarrassing indeed and I am sorry for all my friends over there who never supported this government.
Thanks. The ones who do are being malserved and don’t know it.
That’s the problem. They are not questioning it or are simply scared not to walk with the seeming majority which only gathers because they are scared to raise their voices.
Erika, so true. To me, obvious transgressions are written off that he is rough around the edges. Keith
Note to Readers: Interesting piece in The New York Times.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/the-republican-party-has-embraced-its-worst-self/ar-BBZKzEU?ocid=spartandhp
He and his enablers are cruel and disgusting. I have absolutely no respect for anyone who votes for him.
Janis, if Marie Yovanovitch was their daughter, they would not be too happy with this corrupt president. Keith
Great swerve in the last 2 paragraphs.
It takes immense effort to wrap my mind around the fact that many of the folks who voted for DJT (and even plan on repeating the mistake) are otherwise sane and decent. Making peace with quantum entanglement is easier.
Mellow, he is the most corrupt and deceitful president in my lifetime, including Richard Nixon. I alternate between referring to his rule as regal or mob-boss like. Keith
Tho not an expert on US history, I am quite sure he is the most corrupt and deceitful POTUS ever.
He would get my nod as the most corrupt ever.