The case for All (or mostly all) or nothing

[NNguyenMD]

I have been thinking about the situation on capitol hill all week, trying to figure out what the strategy is or back-up strategy will be if the Human Infrastructure bill dies before the smaller infrastructure bill.

This Friday the daily Podcast interviewed Congresswoman Jayapal, it was a great interview, and after listening to this I feel more confident than ever that after 5 decades in public service, Joe Biden's number one priority isn't to win reelection, or even to keep up with the poll numbers, or helping the party survive the 2022 midterms. I am convinced that he is on board with human infrastructure or bust, and will call both Manchin and Sinema's bluff, as well as the moderate Dem caucus.

If I am Joe Biden, I am given this enormous generational opportunity to fundamentally transform how the nation invests in its own citizens. Its a compelling argument that he would spend every last bit of political capital, pull every lever of power at his disposal to see this through. Because what would be the point of passing a bipartisan infrastructure bill without the human investment. It would be worse than a compromise, it would be seen as betrayal and failure to advance Biden's own agenda.

The scenario of passing the bipartisan infrastructure bill in absence of the human infrastructure bill would be viewed as a categorical failure of his administration in the eyes of so many people who came out in 2020 to support him. Joe is a brilliant and shrewd old school politician, he understands this better than anyone, and that he has to come through with the promises made to Bernie and the progressive caucus. Otherwise there is no victory, not even a moral one. There may be some level of compromise to the final amount, but I am convinced that both Manchin and Sinema or overplaying their hand when it comes to reading Joe Biden and the progressive caucus. I don't think Joe Biden is concerned if he sees a second term for president or not, and he would spend every last bit of political capital he has, even if it meant failure.

If won't be long when Joe Biden will be retired from politics, and when that day comes, Joe Manchin and Kristen Sinema will still be navigating their path to political survival, and progressives will make them pay for their sabotage.

I love Congresswoman Jayapal, I hope that when this is all over and both bills are passed, that she is elevated to the Speaker of the House or presidential candidate one day.

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Well said.

[Alice Kramden]

2. K&R n/t

[Irish_Dem]

3. I agree with your assessment of Biden's mindset and will add a few things.

I agree that he is all in.

I think he is channeling his anger into steely determination, and will use his superb political skills to win this battle for the American people.

He watched as the GOP screwed over and played games with Obama.
Biden made up his mind that he would not put up with this crap if he ever got to the Oval Office.

And yes he doesn't care about his own political future at this point.
He is going to use every ounce of his capital, skill and acumen to make his agenda a reality for the American people.

I also think Biden deliberately set the original price tag of the bill quite high and added some programs that could be cut.
He almost came out and said that in his comments to congress the other day: "Don't look at the price tag, look at the specific programs."
Cueing them to start slicing out programs that are low priority or can be modified.

This is a clever strategy on several levels. It gives cover to the conservative Dems who can claim they whittled down the price tag.
And gives the progressives what they want while looking like consummate team players and compromisers.

At the same time, Biden gets the bill he he had in mind all along.

Also this strategy cleverly silenced the GOP who remained silent as they watched the Dem mud wrestling/kabuki theater play out.

I also want to throw something else into the assessment. I don't mean to go ethnic stereotype, but in my mind this has to be considered when trying to evaluate Biden's mindset. He is old school Irish Catholic, his mother's family is from a village close to where my grandparents were born and raised. Biden's mother was a big influence on Joe, and she famously threatened a Catholic nun who made fun of Joe in school.

I am quite familiar with this psychology. Perhaps the GOP underestimated Joe and believed the side Joe shows to the public. Like the men in my family, Joe is a handsome, charming, affable, hail fellow well met kind of guy. Smart and savvy, but humble, doesn't doesn't brag, but rises to the top in the chosen profession.
However, lurking behind the scenes is the person who loves a bar fight, and will be the last man standing come hell or high water. I don't mean to single out the men, as the women in the family will fight you and fight you hard if you cross them badly or threaten them or their kids in any way.

Joe has adopted the American people as his extended family and he is going to go all Irish on those who line up against his people.

I could be all wrong about this, but I have degrees in both psychology and political science, and lived with the Irish side of Joe's psychological equation.
So my .02.