Who thrives in politics today?

I was reading about Rep. Patrick McHenry in the Washington Monthly recently, and his rise to power. It got me thinking about the kinds of people that are attracted to politics right now. Who enjoys the intense competition? The constant spotlight? Is this kind of person the best kind of person to run a highly diverse nation in need of profound cooperation and healing? I personally don't think so. Our current system selects for the most ruthless competitors and party loyalists out there: those are the ones who succeed. What if we set up a system that selected for the best collaborators? The people most able to participate in deep dialogue and deliberation? This would certainly be possible, but it would be a much different process...and produce much different legislators...