The conversation seems to have drifted to a premise that when the other faculty didn't agree with him he called them morons. But the only basis for that is that

The conversation seems to have drifted to a premise that when the other faculty didn't agree with him he called them morons. But the only basis for that is that he is being outspoken now. His contention is that simply by trying to be innovative and contributing is ways that might make other faculty look (deservedly) bad, he was punished. The tenure vote he describes reminds me of the Blanket Party scene in Full Metal Jacket (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCNqKrX1sx8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCNqKrX1sx8), and I think it is the same lesson: conform or suffer the consequences.