Failed candidate becomes author

The failed Republican candidate for governor will publish a book next month. Dino Rossi, the former state senator who lost the election to Gov. Christine Gregoire by 133 votes and a long court battle, has written a book with tips about leadership, business, politics and life. But I doubt it will offer much new in the way of inspiration.

From the Associated Press:

In between campaigns, Rossi turns writer

By DAVID AMMONS
AP POLITICAL WRITER

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- Dino Rossi, taking a sabbatical from politics but still treated as Republicans' once and future candidate for governor, is turning to the printed word to keep his name fresh in people's minds.

He's written a book about his rags-to-riches life, the Election from Hell and his thoughts and aphorisms on government, business, politics and living a good life. The hardback edition, published by his own new publishing house, with a first printing that could hit 25,000 copies, will be pre-sold on the Internet.

First copies will roll off the press next month, one year after Rossi won the governor's mansion by 261 votes and a recount by 41 votes. The office slipped out of his grasp, though, on the third count and Democrat Christine Gregoire was declared governor. Rossi lost a court challenge in June and now says, "I've moved on. I moved on a long time ago."

Part of Rossi's new post-campaign life was writing "Dino Rossi: Lessons in Leadership, Business, Politics and Life."

He has blurbs from Rudy Guiliani and John McCain, both presumptive presidential candidates who have written books, and from Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

Don't expect sex, sensationalism or delicious payback attacks of an Olympia tell-all, though. The book combines autobiography and business tips with political and campaign narrative - all told with his sunny, make-lemonade-when-life-gives-you-lemons approach.

Although he defends his conservatism, including his opposition to abortion, in what he describes as a Democratic-leaning "blue state," he portrays himself as a different kind of conservative, mindful of the needy and willing to cross the aisle to find allies. He says he grew in a "Scoop Jackson Democrat" family and refuses to call Democrats the enemy or even the opposition.

The book will be Rossi's main public voice for a time. He has eschewed the role of governor-in-exile and rarely does political analysis. He isn't taking sides on this year's ballot initiatives, and has largely unplugged from politics for now.

Click the link for background, for what Rossi has been up to since being declared a loser again, and for a sample of some of his musings. Undoubtedly the book will make the Republican Gift List -- a courtesy gift to thank donors or to inspire the Coulter clones. I don't think Rossi has much to teach about leadership or business or politics or life with the exception that he did exit the political stage mostly gracefully. I look foreward to seeing this in the bargain bin.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.