Rudy's Nuttiness By Way of Ferrets

Thank you, Michael Wolff, for giving us a blast from the past. Wolff has an article about Rudy Giuliani's craziness, Crazy for Rudy. Wolff recalls arguing with the late Jack Newfield about the former mayor: When Newfield says, "He's just insane!" Wolff thinks Giuliani's "hysteric nature was part of what enabled him to appear so reassuring on 9/11: When everyone is crazy, he, being actually crazy, is calm. When everyone is stunned, he's expressive."

But the best part is Wolff's article is his mention of one incident where Rudy squared off against a passionate pet owner:

It's always worth recapping Giuliani's famous riposte to a ferret owner who called in to the mayor's weekly radio show to protest the city's ban on them as pets: "There is something deranged about you.… The excessive concern you have for ferrets is something you should examine with a therapist.… There is something really, really very sad about you.… This excessive concern with little weasels is a sickness.… You should go consult a psychologist.… Your compulsion about—your excessive concern with it is a sign that there is something wrong in your personality.… You have a sickness, and I know it's hard for you to accept that.… You need help."

You can hear the audio clip here. What's especially great is that this exchange doesn't seem to be mentioned in Rudy's weirdness dossier! At any rate, the Health Code still says ferrets are against the law, even though many pet stores sell ferret accessories.

And Giuliani will celebrate his May 28th birthday in New York City, and he hopes to raise a lot of money in between blowing out the candles. The Daily News reports that he's planning an "all-day, four-borough bash." The agenda is "City Island's Sea Shore Restaurant in the Bronx at 7 a.m., and end at 9 p.m. at the Vanderbilt catering hall on Staten Island. In between, revelers can opt for a lunch at Douglaston Manor in Queens, or a cocktail reception at Bay Ridge Manor in Brooklyn." (Manhattan was left off because Rudy's already held many fund-raisers there.) Tickets start at $100, and $2,300 will get you a briefing AND a photo with Giuliani.