Page 918 - Leverage News Today

Last month because they want leverage to try to pressure the moderates in the house and senate to support that larger democratic only approach to expand the social safety net. they believe that could pressure them to back that and theyll give their support for the infrastructure plan. but given that the negotiation over that separate major democratic only proposal is still not even close to finished, it is uncertain what the progressives ultimately do so that is why democratic leadership is sayi...

And -- and they -- and this is their -- they now have numbers and they want to use that leverage. but, you know, the bottom line is in a -- any legislative process, you are going to have to compromise because this is as evan alluded to, this is a big, diverse country and there are different interests and different concerns. and, you know, i -- i believe in a lot of the provisions that are in that -- in the biden package but i dont think he ever thought he was going to get all of them. and -- and...

Here. part of thats the power of the presidency. david just mentioned a moment ago, leverage. presidents do have leverage. they have this ability and it doesnt always work. but you get people into your room. you heard him doing it today. people from both sides of his party and you work on him. one of the things he doesnt like to do is tell people what their politics are. tell them what their -- what their room is, what -- what they have to worry about. whats going to get them elected or not elec...

And how does he bring everyone together? >> you know, john, it -- its not just a question of the capital he has on the line but what the investment that the members feel. many of them are deeply invested in provisions of these bills. but politically they all need to pass it. the -- the -- the idea that biden can fail but the democratic party will succeed in 2022 is -- is nonsense. history has proven that. if -- if -- if he is not doing well, the party will not do well. and this is the centerpiec...

No wonder, in a sense, that they are sprawled across these issues in a major way. joe biden knows he was inheriting a country that has these kinds of fundamental fissures. and the -- the way that he can try to bring people together is get them into the room and acknowledge for not only the fact that they live very different lives, their constituents live very different lives, but if they can agree on these things, this is their moment. and their moment may not last forever. >> and very lastly --...

Been saying this all summer, the only thing we cant do is nothing, right? the details hardly matter in many cases, so the challenge that -- i think for progressives sheer this is the shop that they have. they have from now until probably december before were hitting mid-term election season and they likely lose the house, thats it. so they clearly will trying to exercise their leverage and hold out these threats around the bipartisan bill, but reality is at some point they will have to make a de...

Obama adviser, david axelrod. axe, a lot on the table for president biden today. how much political capital does he have on the line? and how does he bring everyone together? >> you know, john, it -- its not just a question of the capital he has on the line but what the investment that the members feel. many of them are deeply invested in provisions of these bills. but politically, they all need to pass it. the -- the -- the idea that biden can fail but the democratic party will succeed in 2022 ...

Virginia, today an adult males life expectancy is 18 years less than an adult male across the border in virginia, in fairfax county. no wonder, in a sense they are sprawled across these issues in a major way. joe biden knows he was inheriting a country that has these kinds of fundamental fissures. and the -- the way that he can try to bring people together is get em into the room and acknowledge for not only the fact that they live very different lives, their constituents live very different liv...

And for progressives, their -- you know, their frustration has been they feel like theyve been asked to compromise more readily than moderates and moderates are always demanding compromises. and -- and they -- and this is their -- they now have numbers and they want to use that leverage. but, you know, the bottom line is in a -- any legislative process, you are going to have to compromise because this is as evan alluded to, this is a big diverse country and there are different interests and diff...

It in order to maintain their leverage on the larger package. this is typical capitol behavior. its not unusual. they will vote for the infrastructure bill at the end of the day. but jayapal and the rest of the progressives suggest that theyre not going to vote for infrastructure unless they know what the other package is going to look like. >> yeah, well certainly know our first question for congressman jayapal when she is on "morning joe" in a little bit. lets talk about that monday though. is...