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The Brooklyn Garbage Man

I have done parodies of northeastern US garbage men for many years for people in Tennessee. It gives them a flavor of the northeast, not just accents but interactions. I typically present him as a Brooklynite, although Philly or Boston work just as well. This example is, I believe, highly relevant when thinking about Trump.

I have read 'the transcript' of 'the call' to Ukraine. I've read the complaint as well. I don't hear it the way the complaint states it, and absent something more specific than this I don't even see that Trump has committed a crime. I have an attorney friend who is equally sure he has, although he says "Aw, come on. This doesn't pass the smell test." Of course, for impeachment you do not have to meet legal definitions of proof, since it is a political process, but you do need more than smell. It is necessary, absent a super-majority, to convince some members of the president's party to abandon him, and smell won't do it. There has to be more, and so far there is not. It looks particularly bad when considering Democrats have been agitating for impeachment since the day after Trump's election. But back to the smell test, which that is relevant for the Brooklyn Garbage Man.

If you live in any northeastern city, you will have an interaction something like this shortly after you move-
'Hey, good to meet ya. I'm Reggie, I head your garbage crew. You new here, right?"
"So we pick up ya cans evry Tuesday 'cept if there's a holiday on a Monday, then it's Wednesday, OK? Hey, them's some mighty nice cans ya got there! Metal, right? Not the plastic shit. Don't you worry, we're gonna take real good care of them cans. You dan' have to worry 'bout 'em. OK? Come see me if ya has a problem."

Translation- 100.00 every quarter and 300.00 at Christmas. In Reggie's hand, thank you. Gift certificates to McDonald's? Fuhgaddaboudit. Cash. Please. You do that, your cans get emptied, your Christmas tree gets picked up, your overflow from parties gets picked up. And if you don't....Well, nothing was said, but....

"Hey, I'm sorry about them cans, but what can you do? I mean, your alley's real narrow and it's a big truck. I do the best's I can, but the city ain't responsible for ya cans."
"Uh, listen sir, we's not supposta pick up anything that's not in ya cans. Nothin' loose, see? No big trash or overflow. We don't do none of that. You gotta go to the dump with that. Oh, them? Your neighbors? It was just a favor, ya know, a one-time thing 'cos he's got a hernia or somethin'."

And if he's hauled in (so to speak) on a complaint of taking bribes-
"I got no idea what your talkin' about. I don't ask for nothin'. You never heard me say a word now did'ya? Did I ever ask for a thing? Sure, lotsa of the neighbors are generous, it's a nice neighborhood and we help keep it that way, but I'm a civil servant, I'm union. None of that funny stuff. I just do favors sometimes, is all."

And the Brooklyn Garbage Man never actually asked for a thing, never promised anything, no quid pro quo. Everyone knows how it works, but nobody heard it, or saw it.

The Brooklyn Garbage Man is how most things work. The arm around the shoulder. The friendly advice. Let me help you out. Let me help you understand. Never a direct word, never a threat, none of the stupid 'if you don't do this I will do that' you get in the movies so the idiots will understand. If you don't get it you don't get to play. Money always involves a favor, a beating or a death. That's as true between nations as it is in the street, just with bigger numbers and silkier threats made by men in 2000.00 suits.

Trump's call is one version of this. He asked for help, he asked for a favor. Did he link anything to it? No, not in words, not officially. Biden, loudmouth that he is, boasted he got a Ukrainian prosecutor fired. Never say that, never even admit there was a call. Now they're trying to manufacture a crime committed by Trump. It's not going to stick, in my opinion, but the Dems achieve two aims. One, they get to make Trump look bad. Two, they get rid of Biden. I doubt the Dems want an old, white MAN to lead their party, especially one with a touchy-feely problem. They want Warren, and it looks like they will get her. Getting Trump? I don't think so. The Brooklyn Garbage Man is too smooth for that. Sure it stinks, but that don't mean it's garbage.....

Ted

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