# Why won't anyone in his cabinet stand up to Trump? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 12, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487 "2017-05-12T22:34:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/21 "2017-05-13T21:51:17Z")
Don’t we assume they were hand-picked to not stand up to him? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/22 "2017-05-13T23:30:46Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Don’t we assume they were hand-picked to not stand up to him? Yes–the same way Pence was hand-picked for his commitment to gaze at Trump reverently, in all circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/23 "2017-05-14T00:11:29Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I believe the phrase is “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence” Nope. That’s not the phrase. The phrase you’re reaching for is “opinions offered without evidence are bullshit.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/24 "2017-05-15T13:25:55Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I believe the phrase is “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence” It _IS_ evidence of absence, though; albeit not particularly strong evidence (it probably varies by context). ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/25 "2017-05-15T13:29:55Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Not really. A good cabinet secretary will argue with the president, even if the final decision is the president’s and not his. And a good president will want his cabinet to challenge him. What the hell does any of that have to do with this administration? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/26 "2017-05-15T14:12:20Z")
They were all chosen because they are toadies. The toadies know that their roles are to be sycophants. If they break from those roles, they are fired. They have all sworn their personal loyalty to the Fuhrer. They have all sold their souls and with no moral fiber of their own, they will never be unfaithful to their satanic leader. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/27 "2017-05-15T14:17:30Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > They were all chosen because they are toadies. The toadies know that their roles are to be sycophants. If they break from those roles, they are fired. They have all sworn their personal loyalty to the Fuhrer. They have all sold their souls and with no moral fiber of their own, they will never be unfaithful to their satanic leader. Yeah, I’m going with this one. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/28 "2017-05-15T15:05:36Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Full disclosure: The Economist clearly has no liking for 45, the article they published based on their time with him was pretty scathing. So this may not be an entirely objective account. Just curious, why they could not have objectively reached a dislike for Trump? IMO&E, the Economist is certainly not American-centric, but I’m not aware of any consistent biases other than being western-centric and supportive of international cooperation. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/29 "2017-05-15T21:46:48Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I get he’s a dominating kind of guy, but it’s not like these most of these aides of his are going to starve if he fires them. Most are professionals of one kind or another and could easily get jobs elsewhere. Why is almost no one willing to call him out when he starts doing something idiotic? That makes the assumption that he will start doing something idiotic. So far, he hasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/30 "2017-05-15T21:57:18Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > That makes the assumption that he will start doing something idiotic. So far, he hasn’t. [Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian foreign minister and ambassador](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-high_trumpintel-0504pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.a168c5ff264b) > [@](#): > > President Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in a White House meeting last week, according to current and former U.S. officials, who said Trump’s disclosures jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State. > > The information the president relayed had been provided by a U.S. partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the U.S. government, officials said. > > The partner had not given the United States permission to share the material with Russia, and officials said Trump’s decision to do so endangers cooperation from an ally that has access to the inner workings of the Islamic State. After Trump’s meeting, senior White House officials took steps to contain the damage, placing calls to the CIA and the National Security Agency. You were saying? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/31 "2017-05-16T01:07:54Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian foreign minister and ambassador](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-high_trumpintel-0504pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.a168c5ff264b) Assuming this is true - and I see no reason why it isn’t - it’s not actually illegal for the president himself to do what he’s been accused of. However, I suspect it is nearly certain that the Russians have him compromised and probably in numerous ways and the feds may already be in possession of proof to this effect. Trump probably owes substantial debts to the Russian government or Russian financial concerns. And there is also the alleged tape in which he supposedly receives golden showers. It also makes us wonder if Trump somehow violated federal anti-corruption laws before he ever took office, in which case he probably _would_ be held criminally liable. Given the turn of events over the past few weeks, I suspect that this is why Trump is willing to ignore murmurs from within his own party and seems obsessed with stopping this investigation. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/32 "2017-05-16T01:22:37Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > We’ve seen how Trump deals with confrontation. He gets very uncomfortable and then walks away ending the conversation. He acts much tougher when there is no-one standing there ready to punch him in the mouth. The guy is as a cowardly whiny little bitch. And then twitterlashes then in the morning. > [@asahi](#): > > Assuming this is true - and I see no reason why it isn’t - it’s not actually illegal for the president himself to do what he’s been accused of. However, I suspect it is nearly certain that the Russians have him compromised and probably in numerous ways and the feds may already be in possession of proof to this effect. Trump probably owes substantial debts to the Russian government or Russian financial concerns. And there is also the alleged tape in which he supposedly receives golden showers. It also makes us wonder if Trump somehow violated federal anti-corruption laws before he ever took office, in which case he probably _would_ be held criminally liable. Given the turn of events over the past few weeks, I suspect that this is why Trump is willing to ignore murmurs from within his own party and seems obsessed with stopping this investigation. Who cares if it’s illegal? It’s STUPID and not something a President should do. It’s the behavior of a careless, ignorant, adolescent doofus whose tongue is disconnected from his pea-sized brain. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/33 "2017-05-16T02:54:45Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian foreign minister and ambassador](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-high_trumpintel-0504pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.a168c5ff264b) > > You were saying? The Bullshit excuse making the rounds is that Trump did not actually disclose the name of the sources. Trouble is, the news article NEVER CLAIMED that Trump disclosed the name of the sources. It’s like being accused of shoplifting, and then vehemently denying that you shot the store clerk. Yes, it’s stupid, but it sucks in the rubes, and the Fox News viewers, and that’s enough. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/34 "2017-05-16T22:22:38Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > The Bullshit excuse making the rounds is that Trump did not actually disclose the name of the sources. > > Trouble is, the news article NEVER CLAIMED that Trump disclosed the name of the sources. It’s like being accused of shoplifting, and then vehemently denying that you shot the store clerk. Yes, it’s stupid, but it sucks in the rubes, and the Fox News viewers, and that’s enough. And McMaster was the one offering the ‘the article is false because he didn’t shoot the store clerk’ defense. I heard today that Trump has steamrollered through Sean Spicer’s credibility, destroying it—and now he’s steamrollering through McMaster’s credibility. When this is finished, no one in Trump’s orbit will have one shred of respectability left. It’s the end of the careers of McMaster, Mattis, Tillerson, Preibus, and the rest. By going along to get along, they’ve ravaged their own reputations. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/35 "2017-05-17T03:10:48Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > And there is also the alleged tape in which he supposedly receives golden showers. I’m unaware of anyone claiming to have a video tape of the alleged golden shower(s). There was a claim that it occurred, but AFAIK, no one claims to have video evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/36 "2017-05-17T08:57:37Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > That makes the assumption that he will start doing something idiotic. So far, he hasn’t. You’ve kissed his ass so much, your breath smells like self-tanner, butt-crack sweat, and desperation. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/37 "2017-05-17T14:24:46Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I get he’s a dominating kind of guy, but it’s not like these most of these aides of his are going to starve if he fires them. Most are professionals of one kind or another and could easily get jobs elsewhere. Why is almost no one willing to call him out when he starts doing something idiotic? Why are grown men and women so petrified of him? Why won’t anyone say directly to his face “You have to stop this nonsense!” Which one of them has a reason to do this? ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/38 "2017-05-17T14:42:14Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > You’ve kissed his ass so much, your breath smells like self-tanner, butt-crack sweat, and desperation. It is Clothahump. No one is more lacking in the qualification to recognize the idiocy than him. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/39 "2017-05-17T14:43:30Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > You’ve kissed his ass so much, your breath smells like self-tanner, butt-crack sweat, and desperation. That’ll earn you a warning, Superdude. Do not insult other posters. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487/40 "2017-05-17T14:44:54Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > It is Clothahump. No one is more lacking in the qualification to recognize the idiocy than him. And a warning for you, as well. Don’t insult other posters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-anyone-in-his-cabinet-stand-up-to-trump/786487.md?page=3)