Senseless debate (no offense intended). It NEVER would have happened. Gotti was a greaseball highjacker in Paul's eyes. Right or wrong, who was more CN or not, isn't the question. It never would have happened.
As a matter of fact, had Paul named Jimmy Brown or Frankie DeCicco underboss, Gotti never could have pulled it off. Anyone but Bilotti, and Gotti's lucky if he still has two stripes in '86. Assuming he's not dead or in the can for something stupid.
But, to his credit, everything fell into place for him. He did pull it off, so he does deserve credit. But he got lucky, if you consider a five year run, then life in a cage lucky.
Wasn't Bilotti also a greaseball street thug? Gotti didn't like or respect Castellano, but I don't think he would have killed him unless he had to do it. He felt cornered by the Ruggiero tapes and his brother and best friend were on those tapes dealing junk. They would have both been killed and Gotti was facing death or demotion too. At that point it was kill or be killed and Gotti struck first.
