September 15 -- for those of us in New York who take the subway in the morning have become intimately familiar -- was primary election day.  The pamphlets and pamphleteers for city comptroller, public advocate and Manhattan district attorney have been a constant reminder for the past six weeks.  In a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 6-to-1, the Democratic primary is effectively a general election.  However, the Democratic primary for the big office -- mayor -- was just that, a Democratic primary.  In seven weeks, the winner of last night's primary Bill Thompson will face the "Republican" and Billionaire Michael Bloomberg in a true general election.  

September 15 -- for those of us who watch cable news and follow politics in Washington -- was a day for admonishment.  Our national House of Representatives spent the majority of a day of business, and the national media made story one the censure of one Representative Addison Graves Wilson, Sr. of South Carolina.  There was talk of "white Hoods riding throughout the countryside" and "a waste of time" as the Representative -- previously unknown outside of Columbia -- became -- depending on your ideological position (or choice of cable channels) a celebrity and a pariah.

 Last evening I attended a primary night party for an incumbent mayor who did not face a primary.  It was one of the most complete, diverse and non-ideological political events I have ever had the pleasure of attending.  It was a victory party without a vanquished opponent.  Master of Ceremonies, Padma Lakshmi of Top Chef spoke glowingly of the Mayor and her ability to "comfortably sleep at night" because of the Mayor.  Opening speakers spoke further about the Mayor's eight years of achievement on the areas of counter terrorism, environmental policy and public education.  Finally, Mayor Bloomberg spoke for fifteen minutes about his achievements in front of a 20 foot high banner blaring "Progress.  Not Politics."

Which one of these worlds do we live in?  Is it the ideological extreme where decorum is gone and screaming at the President of the United States at a joint session of Congress serves as a vehicle for fundraising on both sides?  Is it a world where true achievement and non-ideological excellence is available for the few lucky enough to be in the bubble of Manhattan under the umbrella of a $16 billionaire?

How do we push toward the latter without having it require the rare combination of resources and public advocacy that come with extreme wealth and singular personalities?  How do we chuck the former... permanently?

In order to chuck the former -- as David Brooks wrote so brilliantly this week -- we must push toward a society where moderation and modesty are celebrated.  The individual egotist and the passing 6-car pileup of the day must be "beneath dignity".  We must celebrate the style of Roger Federer and shun Serena Williams.  In Mike Bloomberg we find a style that should be emulated by those in public life with less resources.  Results and accountability over emotion and celebrity.

Chris is an attorney working in the private sector in New York City.  He served as co-chair of field operations for McCain Manhattan during the 2008 campaign (which became famous for having the audacity to promote itself on the Upper West Side).