Pundits of a certain (dying) age will tell high-larious stories about how LBJ had an entire Congressman's extended family murdered in order force him to vote for the Civil Rights Act, or whatever, then throw up their hands at the idea that Joe Biden can convince anybody to do anything.
Not that I'm advocating murder, just pointing out that the idea that arm twisting is a past art, and not a current possibility, is... well, a useful excuse for inaction!