How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
He'd make the world safe for drug dealers in return for a piece of the action, but he didn't personally cut the coke or bag the marijuana. (2.12.25)
Despite his criminal activity, Bulger somehow maintains a solid reputation in Southie. He's not just any old gangster—he's their gangsters. He only exploits outsiders—not Southies. Of course, we know the sad truth: no one has inflicted more damage on Southie than Bulger.
Quote #8
"Hey, announced Bulger at one point to the DEA agents, "we're all good guys."
How so?
"You're the good good guys. We're the bad good guys." (2.12.88-90)
In Bulger's head, he's Han Solo—the good guy who doesn't play by the rules—when in fact he's straight-up Darth Vader. He's the villain. Despite its obvious absurdity, this twisted moral justification fuels Bulger's criminal activity throughout his career.
Quote #9
The defense attorneys [...] were portraying Flemmi as if he were "Junior G-man with a license to kill."
"Isn't that preposterous?" mocked Wyshak. (3.20.11)
It might be preposterous, but it's a fairly accurate depiction of the twisted relationship Flemmi and Bulger develop with the FBI. Connolly and Morris have turned a blind eye to crime after crime—and murder after murder. Why shouldn't Flemmi believe that he has a license to kill? He certainly hasn't been treated like your average murderer.