@article{2015:rockman:heading_to,
title = {Heading Toward the Finish Line: The Obama Presidency and American Politics},
year = {2015},
note = {As the presidency of Barack Obama nears its end and attention has
begun shifting to the ambitions of a multitude of aspirants for their
party’s nomination, this article explores two main issues: Why are
expectations for what presidents can (and say they will) accomplish so
far out of balance with what is achievable? And what are the
implications of continuing deadlock in the American political system
for the de facto balance of power among its political institutions,
particularly regarding presidential unilateralism and the importance
of the courts in deciding controversial political issues? The article
examines President Obama’s evolution over various points in his
presidency from making some efforts to reduce the partisan discord in
Congress and the country to concluding there was virtually no
possibility for that ambition to succeed. Consequently, over time
Obama became less willing to bargain with the opposition Republicans,
especially as their status turned out to be more powerful over the
course of his presidency. Instead, he became more reliant for the most
part on his party’s base and on exercising the controversial
discretionary powers of the presidency.},
journal = {ZSE Zeitschrift für Staats- und Europawissenschaften | Journal for Comparative Government and European Policy},
pages = {189--220},
author = {Rockman, Bert A.},
volume = {13},
number = {2}
}