The power to persuade: a term coined by a man named Neudstadt, is the true measure of Presidential success. If a President is able to use this power effectively, it will help him achieve his agenda.

A great example of this is tax cuts. President Obama made a campaign promise to let the Bush tax cuts expire for people making above $250,000 a year, and extend the tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 a year. He also wants to extend unemployment benefits for those Americans whose unemployment is set to expire at the end of the month. However, with a republican majority, he does not have the power to fulfill his promise of tax cuts. President Obama is attempting to use his power to persuade to reach a bipartisan agreement with the republicans. In this agreement, Obama will extend the Bush-Tax-Cuts for everyone. He will also renew unemployment benefits. The President is using his power to persuade to come away with a half victory rather than a full defeat.

President Obama's first term began in January of 2009. During this time there was a democratic supermajority, which gave the President a huge advantage in pushing through legislation. He began to take this opportunity to push through a health care reform bill, which would essentially give universal health care to America. The President dedicated half of his first term to this project, but in the end came up short. He was no able to pass the health care reform bill. This was, in part, thanks to the loss of the democratic supermajority. It was also a product of the President's failure to control the legislative process and get the bill pushed through in time. Now, still in his first term, he has almost nothing to show for two years of very hard work in the nation's capital.

It seems that the President is beginning to get more of a handle on the power to persuade. He is showing maturity in the fact that he is attempting to reach a bipartisan agreement, to at least push through one of his agendas. This growth is very important in the short term for the President. He needs to project an image of strength and control in Washington in order to be elected to a second term. If President Obama is able to use his Presidential power well before his first term expires, then he has a great bid for re-election. However, if he is not able to get control in the legislative process, he will likely not be elected to a second term. As it is currently going, with the President's arms practically tied and his actions limited, I predict that President Obama will not be re-elected.

The power to persuade: a term coined by a man named Neudstadt, is the true measure of Presidential success. If a President is able to use this power effectively, it will help him achieve his agenda and push legislation through. However, if he does not use this power well, it is likely that the President's agenda will not get accomplished. While there are some factors that can limit the potential of a President, the main focal point that makes a President great is that power to persuade. If President Obama can truly use the power to persuade in the remaining time of his first term, he has a great chance of re-election. If he is not able to get things done, then he will be just another one-term President.