Maybe the City’s way of transparently paying money to the Sharpton family as opposed to under the table?
That was just my thought too...
Bill #1: Bill? Yeah. It's Bill.
Bill #2: Hi. Bill. Having some problems with the old Ball-and-chain I see.
Bill #1: Well, just because your wife is a lesbian, that doesn't mean she's maintenance free. Am I right?
Bill #2: Don't I know it.
[Laughter on both ends.]
Bill #1: Listen, about that. First, I really appreciate your trying to take some of the wind out of O'Malley's sails with your own 'campaign.'
Bill #2: Glad to do it. Gotta make all the challengers look as crazy as possible -- as crazy as, well, me.
Bill #1: Well, Liz and Marty aren't that far off your mark even on their good days...
Bill #2: Right, and it won't hurt to be properly positioned if Hill keeps taking these body blows.
Bill #1: 'Position' ... 'Body' ... 'Blow' ... and Hillary all in the same sentence? Dude you are killing me!
[Howls of laughter on both ends.]
Bill #2: Yeah I just threw up a little in my own mouth. Anyway... So what's up? The Secretary of HUD is still on the table I assume?
Bill #1: Sure, but listen. We got a problem. Sharpton is threatening to back off on the pressure of The Urban Initiative we started in Ferguson last year. That's particularly troubling after 'Operation Baltimore' was such a success, and we were gearing up for our national roll-out in late June, early July.
Bill #2: What's his problem now?
Bill #1: Tax thing.
Bill #2: Well that's Big-Zero's deal. Federal Beef. No idea what he's up to with that.
Bill #1: Just trying to keep the Rev on a short leash. Seemed to work pretty well with Jesse and his kid.
Bill #2: I guess. Jackson has been awful quiet lately.
Bill #1: We also aren't sure if Barack isn't playing us. He's done it before. Long story short: we need to keep Hill'ry out of the news, so the The Urban Initiative has to be a 'GO.' You can only derail so many trains.
Bill #2: So how can I help?
Bill #1: With the heat on the Foundation we can't really help Al out with his troubles directly. So I was thinking we might funnel a few mil into the City with some eco-friendly-subway study or something, and you could hook him or one of his family members up to a sympathetic judge. Somebody you or Andy has drinks with and might be looking for a Federal Bench gig in 2017...?
Bill #2: No problem; I've got just the guy. I'm guessing with the usual arrangements as far as expenses and overhead?
Bill #1: Yep. Probably $5 million with a Keystone markup to grease the skips all around. My girl will call your girl. Make sure it's a burner.
Bill #2: Duh.
Bill #1: We'll be in touch.
Bill #2: Bye.
[End Transcript.]