Charlie Crist's New Book Should End 2014 Doubts

If there are any doubts that former Gov. Charlie Crist intends to run for governor in 2014, the announcement this week that a book he wrote -- "The Party's Over: How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat" -- should end them. The book is being released in early February, right in time for Crist to begin his gubernatorial campaign. Dutton, the publisher, is promising a no-holds-barred memoir in which Crist shows why he switched sides and became a Democrat.

Dutton pledges the book will offer insights on Crists journey from inner circle to persona non grata, thanks to his literal embrace of President Obama and his very frank opinions on Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and other top-tier Republicans. Readers can expect to read why Crist believes that Democrats have the right vision for Florida and the nation" and what hes learned as a member of both parties and why he remains convinced that the two-party system can still work -- with the right leadership. Perhaps Crist gained some insight into why the two-party system can still work when he left the GOP to campaign outside the two-party system with no party affiliation.

Crist offers a focused indictment of the failings of the Republican Party, naming names and identifying where things went wrong, the publisher promises. 'The Partys Over'is as far from politics as usual as you can get.

Actually, it sounds like Crists book is pretty much as close to politics as usual as you can get. Crist plans to run for governor and is using a book and the publicity around it to advance his ambitions and make a little money. Its not uncommon. While there are a few books from politicians that continue to be read -- JFKs "Profiles in Courage" and Barry Goldwaters "The Conscience of a Conservative" come to mind -- most of them, from both Democrats and Republicans, quickly end up in the discount bin of the major booksellers. Win or lose, expect to see Crists book there after the election.