Gents, a few questions came to mind when I was watching Joe Postone talking about having to "watch over his shoulder." I personally believe he doesn't have to, could you imagine that headline? And the federal crackdown. Do you all think it is the thought of the danger, more so than the actual possibility of retaliation?
So my question is: How at risk is a wise guys life? I'd imagine a made guy is a little safer than an associate because it's still front page news when a wise guy is clipped, and they have to go through the commission, unlike an associate. But say someone fucks something up, steps on someone's toes etc... What's the chance of them actually getting whacked? Or would they just say, hey you're done with life get the hell outta here, and shelve them?
Thoughts?
The way some got shelved instead of whacked is interesting isn't it.
I think first of all that if you are a new jack, you are getting whacked and not shelved because there is nothing to shelve. You simply haven't been around long enough nor built up enough street cred, residual income, or whatever, to be "retired". So I think it helps when the gangster is older and accomplished/respected.
Also, when that older accomplished gangster is well connected and/or thoroughly dangerous, like a Frank Costello, it's simply too dangerous to whack them. You tell him to get out and don't come back. This was done with Frank, Bonanno, and Joe Biondo. Joe Biondo supposedly stole from Carlo Gambino and he was not whacked. Go figure. In Lupo the Wolf's case, I think he was just respected as a killer by other killers, and as a part of Italian American history, and so he was left alone and told to go his own way.
