Bloomberg to help steer us towards pragmatism

Michael Bloomberg just wrote in the New York Times I’m Not Running for President, but …

I have watched this campaign unfold, and I am hopeful that the current campaigns can rise to the challenge by offering truly independent leadership. The most productive role that I can serve is to push them forward, by using the means at my disposal to promote a real and honest debate.

In the weeks and months ahead, I will continue to work to steer the national conversation away from partisanship and toward unity; away from ideology and toward common sense; away from sound bites and toward substance. And while I have always said I am not running for president, the race is too important to sit on the sidelines, and so I have changed my mind in one area. If a candidate takes an independent, nonpartisan approach — and embraces practical solutions that challenge party orthodoxy — I’ll join others in helping that candidate win the White House.

This could provoke a fascinating and welcome race to the center: Which candidate can articulate the most compelling agenda of trans-partisan policy. McCain has a good head start if he would only stop disavowing it.

But regardless of how brilliant the candidates are in crafting these solutions they will not go very far without a receptive Congress that also embraces trans-partisanship. And so I hope that the Mayor applies his renowned analysis to divining which candidates for Congress would also deserve his support. And, if he is inspired to stay the course, to promote Campaign and Election reforms that level the playing fields for pragmatic, trans-partisan candidates at all levels of government.