Dennis Hastert’s announced retirement gives us a chance to again plug this book — the number one best seller as determined by the people who comment in this blog.

I’d provide a link to Amazon, but they don’t really need the extra traffic.

By the way, I’ve got a copy of the book that’s been passed around more than a cheap metaphor at the end of this sentence.

With much of Republican Washington caught up in David Kuo’s book — how could he so disloyal? How could he betray so many people?  Is this hypocrisy re-defined?– it’s refreshing to see it’s still possible to work for famous politicos, write a book based on your experience that’s not entirely flattering, and still come out smelling like a rose scholar.

The New Republic profiles someone who’s done that — Eron Shosteck and his stumbling, bumbling Rep. Charles Lattan, a Congressman who’s wholly fictional based somewhat on the not-nearly fictional career Shosteck had on the Hill working as Dennis Hastert’s press secretary (more recently, Shosteck was Extreme Mortman’s best man, and and I was his.  Of course, calling Shosteck a best man is like calling a wall in China great.)

Noam Scheiber writes:

Shosteck is understandably coy when discussing his muse. “Some of the scenes are based on actual events,” he says. “Others are completely products of my imagination. It’s up to the reader to decide which is which.” Given what we know of Hastert’s performance during the Foley scandal, that shouldn’t be too challenging. These days, it’s hard to read up on Shosteck’s protagonist without inferring a thing or two about the man who runs the House.

Judge for yourself by ordering on Amazon.  And here’s the best news you’ll hear all day – It’s eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping.

What Extreme Mortman is hearing and what Extreme Mortman is plugging these days:

I’ve learned that marvelous, mischievous media maven Marvin Kalb is working on his next book, something special on the 2004 presidential race that has direct bearing on the 2008 race. Stay tuned in this space for more details.

And while I’m plugging books, two more book-spine-tingling treats for politics lovers come to mind. Eric Dezenhall, America’s top crisis manager/funnyman has yet another book out: “Turnpike Flameout”. It’s Insightful, funny, another brilliant master-stroke. I call it a must-read. In fact, I must read it some day. And what a great book party at his swanky downtown Connecticut Avenue digs above the DC Improv. If anyone can pull off fine Jersey cuisine – featuring strolling mini-cheese steaks – it’s Eric Dezenhall. Oh, the cholesterol.

And you’ve got to purchase Potomac Beach by Eron Shosteck.

Surely you remember Eron from such hits as “Pencilneck” at The Hotline, Elvis
impersonations at weddings, like his own, and “The President’s Neck Is Missing.” Well “Potomac Beach” tops them all, sporting the Federated Association of Taters (FAT) and the Coalition Representing American Plumbers (CRAP).
And speaking of the Hotline, former Hotline pit boss turned NPR political editor Ken Rudin writes in his Political Junkie column about “Eugene McCarthy’s multiple running mates in 1976.”

Which got me thinking back to simpler, happier times, the Seventies. Lots of folks had multiple running mates in 1976 – we were so innocent then! And penicillin still worked.