ABSTRACT
Paradoxically, the election has freed the president to execute policies without congressional authorization that may or may not survive his administration–to the delight of his liberal base when executive actions conform to its liking. That is why presidents with rare exception have necessarily, with more or less success, been compromisers. It means that a president may find himself at odds with the significant portion of his base that eschews compromise. If there are compromises that have to be made, the party leader has only his party or coalition partners to worry about and, of course, public opinion. The leader above the fray may become isolated in the bubble of his leadership and out of touch with the diverse constituencies that compose the electorate. The leaders are members of the houses of Congress elected by their colleagues, whose main responsibility is to their constituencies.
