From the Tuesday edition of the Morning Jolt:

And You Thought We Had Seen the Last of Charlie Crist . . . 

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“Listen, and understand! Charlie Crist is out there! He can’t be bargained with! He can’t be reasoned with! He doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear! And he absolutely will not stop, ever, until he’s elected to some office in Florida!”

He’ll be back . . . or at least, he wants to be:

The Florida Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling last Thursday calling for eight Congressional districts to be re-drawn. One of the districts, currently held by U.S. Rep. David Jolly (R-Indian Shores), covers Crist’s hometown of St. Petersburg and would almost certainly have to be reconfigured as a Democratic-leaning seat. As a Democrat with broad popularity in Pinellas County, Crist is seen as a formidable contender should he decide to run.

“You saw a big groundswell in 2014 to make sure that Charlie Crist was the Democratic nominee for governor. You’ve had some folks talk to him about the United States Senate this election cycle, but this race, being redistricted into his hometown, makes all the sense in the world for Charlie Crist and his return to public service,” said Crist adviser Kevin Cate.

In a sign that many Republicans view their chances of holding a reconfigured Pinellas County district greatly diminished, Jolly next week will announce his candidacy for Florida’s open U.S. Senate seat. By declining to defend the Congressional seat, Jolly’s move may make Crist’s decision easier.

In Tallahassee, however, Republican legislative leaders are weighing their options, including appealing the high court’s ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. Under the ruling, the Legislature would have to re-draw the Congressional districts, something Republicans loathe to do given the potential electoral consequences, including the possibility that Crist, reviled by many on the right as a traitor, might find his way back to public life.

As recently as November, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli (R-Merritt Island) referred to Crist in thinly veiled terms when he told his chamber that voters had “rejected slick politicians who believe in nothing and will say anything just to get elected.”

Seeing as Crist has lost past statewide bids as a Republican, an independent, and a Democrat, does he want to try some new party this time? Green? Libertarian? Socialist?