Presidential power

I think there is a disconnection between what the US voter thinks the President, any President, can do and what he is capable of politically. They like to feel that their President is powerful and they assume that this means he is like the Mikado; he only needs to think that something should be done and it is done. It is a failure to pay attention during their civics lessons at school I suppose. There are other arms of government that have to formulate and approve legislation.The voters voted for them as well. If the Congress and the Senate are not persuaded that it is in their electoral interests to support the President than he becomes largely toothless.

In short, whether you like it or not, Obama is sure to be doing what he can, and “what he can” is exactly what the voters made possible for him.