[Steve_Seattle]

"Oooops. Didn’t get “permission.” Of course, you don’t “need” “permission.” Not in Barry Orwell’s America of 2015."

The story says he DID get permission from the city's ethics office, so they can't say he was insubordinate.

[BradyLS]

The story states the mayor said that Cohcran didn't get the needed permission:

Mayor Kasim Reed said Jan. 6 that Cochran's failure to obtain proper city permission to publish the book and his refusal to remain silent about the matter during an investigation contributed to the firing.

Cochran said he got verbal permission from the city ethics officer and sent a "copy" to the mayor:

Cochran said he received verbal clearance to publish the book from the city's ethics officer and provided the mayor with a copy that Reed acknowledged receiving, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Though Cochran spoke to religious groups about his suspension, he said he obeyed the city's specific instruction not to speak with the media, according to the AJC.

I don't know how you send a "copy" of verbally-granted permission. I believe him. I think he's being rail-roaded for his beliefs. But whether he sought it and got it—or not—he still had to ask and, of course, he really shouldn't have to in a free country.

Anyway, I forgot my /sarc tag for my original drive-by snark!