The late night phone call surprised its recipient, a former senator who was well into his retirement. After a largely successful career in Washington he had left elected office to make a little money in the private sector and to make up for the years of time away from his loved ones—before age got the better of him.

At first he thought the caller was either joking or trying to set him up for some unfavorable press coverage which would further antagonize former colleagues and members of his party who had often found him too independent. But the caller wasn’t a clown or a front man for any journalist or news organization. Indeed the man on the other end of the phone was a respected business leader and former constituent who had long supported the ex-senator on most fronts. As the caller continued the ex-senator became increasingly intrigued with the gist of the proposal being presented.

At the exact same time, in a coordinated fashion, the former governor from another party and from a state in another part of America was receiving a similar call. This too came from a trusted, albeit not always supportive, former constituent. The topic was the same and although the former governor was initially dismissive, the significance of the overture could not be ignored.