There are things on both sides here which make me stop and scratch my head.  As most people have caught on, you can only do what you have the power to do.  Trying to strong-arm a city with the strength of New York is a foolish exercise, done by someone who believes that we play by a book of rules where all follow the same rules and justice is meted out on the basis of fairness.  Every once in awhile the collective syndicate in this country needs to be reminded of the nature of our business.  Here was one reminder.

As for the New York side, I have to wonder why in the hell they would offer up one of their own for punishment when it appears that it could have been swept under the rug?  If one of their own was the only witness, and one of their own committed the act in question, isn't it a violation of Omerta to run to another family and confess their deeds?  Even if it is not a violation of Omerta, it certainly seems to be a foolish act...again, done by someone who believes that there was some obligation admit their own wrongdoings.  What the hell kind of criminal organization exposes themselves to retribution when their offensive acts could go unnoticed?  I'm not seeing very mobster-like activity coming from that end...at least until they decided to say "Fuck that guy, let's just kill him".

All these words being thrown around, like "integrity", "honesty", "rules", and "compensation"...take that shit to your next Boy Scout meeting.

Whatever happened to words like "deceit", "double-cross", "knife in the back", "manipulate", and so many others that should be defining our business?  I sometimes wonder if too many of our mobsters are not cut out to be criminals.

cruel asked for it to be left now cant it be left?

we know both sides of the story and i know where my loyalties lie...a misunderstanding and what not but just let cruel's blood line play a fair game he was a great leader and for everyone know was not in his shoes to openly abuse him is just ridiculous 

Braniac, I don't think very many of the button men who are discussing this issue really give a flying fuck what a couple thugs want or think.  Go make me a sandwich before I put your mother to work for me.

thug or not doesnt make a difference right or wrong rank doesnt mean that much when your right how dare anyone discuss cruel when he was one of the best leaders to date

What Cruel's next of kin wants, or doesnt want is not irrelevant. He has neither the power, nor the postition to make this discussion go away.

How ironic that I was just discussing the status quo where people do not understand the nature of our business, only to have you respond that rank does not matter when you are right.

Let me try to educate you for a minute.  Rank does matter in this thing of ours.  "Right or wrong" does not matter.  Only POWER determines what is right or what is wrong.  Your Boss can tell you that the sky is green, and if he does, you might as well go on living your life thinking the sky is green.  You may know deep in your heart that the sky is blue, but if you value your survival, you will live your life acting as though the sky is green.

What Cruel's next of kin wants, or doesnt want is irrelevant. He has neither the power, nor the postition to make this discussion go away.

Excuse me, I mispoke a moment ago.

I'd also like to add that being right is at times subjective to whether you have the power to make it so.

Don't really live up to your name, do you Braniac?

To be fair, he is claiming to be a Braniac, not a Brainiac.  I can only assume that he enjoys a good whole-grain muffin or a cereal loaded with fiber.

Ah well...who doesn't?

I always start my mornings with a good muffin. Preferably a young one.

oh dont worry i'll live up too it :)

One thing's sure, RK wouldn't have fallen out with NY like this.

He wouldn't have had the brains to actually fall out with anyone. He used to struggle to fall out of bed.

I tried really hard to keep out of this because the actions before and after this event are nothing to do with my position within the family of The Lions Den, but here goes ..

I never really knew Cruel, but all the same, I liked him, still do, I felt he was a good leader, a good auth and was right for the rebuild of Las Vegas, but as soon as he tried the "demanding" approach to compensate for an MIA that was killed by a New Yorker, after he had already had replies, he dug his own grave, he was rude, disrespectful and most of all, impatient for results.

Braniac,
What Cruel's son wants is of no one's concern, who cares? he's nothing more than a Thug in this world and I'm sure he'll appreciate that fact, so please, don't try and take authority here.

As for the actions taken by New York, Congratulations Godfather, well done for not sitting around and allowing someone to bully your city, your actions were justified and New York salutes you.

As for anyone else who has a problem with last nights events, you'll make very bad Godfathers, TheDean protected New York from someone who seemed to be way over there head with power and someone who attempted to bully their way to a result that could have quite easily ended a lot easier and with a lot less deaths.

I think Cruel's son has taken his father's death very maturely. Kudos to you!

And on that though, I will go have a fried egg now :)

Cruel's son has indeed accepted his fathers death gracefully, but then, that was never in question.

Now, I've listened to everyone here, and I've got some thoughts on the matter.

TheDean - The only mistake I'd say was that you waited too long.

FakeManCP - I love you.

as for saying rank does mean shit FakemanCP,

dont try and blind me with your ignorance if theDean or Roman died and their sons tried talking in the street would you tell their lowly ranked ass too Shut Up?

Nah your ears would be pricked up and still dancing to that drumbeat so for you too say rank is the only meaning is ridiculous.

Power is in friendship unity etc so if you think rank means it all you would Ditch Any of your friends when they fall out of power is that it?

Lights a cigarette and sighs.  I see nothing really changes

when will it ever...