by John McCormick
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to hold a roundtable discussion on tort reform and medical malpractice in about 30 minutes at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
But the real roundtable discussion will take place this evening over cigars in Highland Park, where a fundraiser for the Republican frontrunner is expected to net about $100,000 for his presidential bid at the home of seafood import mogul Tom Mazzetta.
“I hope weather holds out, or I’m going to be in trouble,” said Mazzetta, confiding that his wife, Cindy, will not allow cigars to be smoked inside the house.
Mazzetta, who himself is not a regular cigar smoker, said plans call for a smoking tent behind his home.
Giuliani, known as something of a cigar aficionado, is expected to light up with those donors who want to partake following a dinner with about 35 guests.
“For those that are attending the event who enjoy cigars, they will have a chance to go out back and shoot the breeze with the mayor over a cigar,” said Frank Vitello, who lobbies for Mazzetta. “It should be very casual and intimate.”
Mazzetta, president of Mazzetta Co., a privately held Highland Park-based seafood importer and distributor, said he has never before held a presidential fundraising event – or even given to a presidential candidate – before this year.
“He helped our country in some of the worst times,” he said. “He handled things under pressure extremely well.”
At the tort reform event, participants were expected to include the president of the Illinois Hospital Association, the president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the chairman of the board of the Illinois State Medical Society. The discussion is to be moderated by Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross, who is Giuliani’s state campaign chairman.
Giuliani’s campaign said the candidate was not available for a telephone interview.
Earlier today in Minneapolis, Giuliani stressed his electability and said he is the only GOP candidate who can successfully wage a nationwide campaign.
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Comments
I wonder if Rudy Julieannie will be bringing some of his home video tapes for the good people of Highland Park to watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_90nRRoXK8
Posted by: John E | October 18, 2007 4:50 PM
Rain, rain, rain...
And maybe some high winds too...
Make them smoke in the garage.
Posted by: danny | October 18, 2007 5:10 PM
I like to smoke fish, but they are really hard to keep lit.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 18, 2007 6:08 PM
I hope I don't smell the smoke from here.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | October 18, 2007 7:41 PM
Baravelli: [through speakeasy's door] Who are you?
Professor Wagstaff: I'm fine, thanks, who are you?
Baravelli: I'm fine too, but you can't come in unless you give the password.
Professor Wagstaff: Well, what is the password?
Baravelli: Aw, no. You gotta tell me. Hey, I tell what I do. I give you three guesses. It's the name of a fish.
Professor Wagstaff: Is it Mary?
Baravelli: Ha-ha. That's-a no fish.
Professor Wagstaff: She isn't? Well, she drinks like one. Let me see: Is it sturgeon?
Baravelli: Hey, you crazy. Sturgeon, he's a doctor cuts you open when-a you sick. Now I give you one more chance.
Professor Wagstaff: I got it. Haddock.
Baravelli: That's-a funny. I gotta haddock, too.
Professor Wagstaff: What do you take for a haddock?
Baravelli: Well-a, sometimes I take-a aspirin, sometimes I take-a Calamel.
Professor Wagstaff: Say, I'd walk a mile for a Calamel.
Baravelli: You mean chocolate calamel. I like that too, but you no guess it. Hey, what's-a matter, you no understand English? You can't come in here unless you say, "Swordfish." Now I'll give you one more guess.
Professor Wagstaff: ...swordfish, swordfish... I think I got it. Is it "swordfish"?
Baravelli: Hah. That's-a it. You guess it.
Professor Wagstaff: Pretty good, eh?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | October 18, 2007 9:01 PM
I'll pass.
Posted by: Abby Hoffman | October 18, 2007 11:21 PM