One reason modern presidents seem to fail is that they are expected to do too much.  Presidential powers are extremely limited, particularly on the domestic front.  According to my government textbook America’s New Democracy, over 80% of the time presidents either fail to secure passage of their major legislative agendas or must make important compromises to win congressional approval.  “If a president seems less capable in domestic policy, it is not due to disregard for public desires, but rather the limits imposed primarily by legislators closely tied to diverse voter preferences.”  We as a voting public tend to give the president too much credit - positive or negative.  The simple fact is that he or she has limited means to affect change.

However, when considering for whom you plan to vote this coming primary and general election season, consider the things of which our next president will have some control.  First, there are foreign affairs; I don’t mean just the war in Iraq, which is of course part of it, but also, the way the US is represented and understood by the rest of the world.  How will our relations with China, India and Russia evolve, as these economies continue to outpace ours?  What will Iran and other potential and current nuclear powers do in relation to the West?  Will the US use its military might to secure primary resources and attempt to democratize the world, or extend itself for more humanitarian efforts with no hope of return on investment?  These questions will be answered by the next president, more or less independent of Congress. 

In addition, the president holds great power in the appointment of judges.  Of course the Senate generally has the final say, but nominations come from the White House.  Our next president will likely appoint not only another Supreme Court Justice, but lower federal court judges with nearly as much power.  The interpretation of the Constitution is a critical tipping point of our society, and therefore the people with that charge are of critical importance.  Consider well who we might want in those positions of power, and remember the president will be very influential in this arena.

The jury is still out in the Thronson household, but I think beginning with the right questions can ultimately lead to better answers.  Don’t base your vote on a “gut connection,” as Matthew Dowd describes our last two elections in Applebee America.  Consider well the limited powers of the president, and who you might want to represent you in the world as well as in the future of law interpretation.