I still believe Presidents are figureheads. Like consciousness, presidents are there to communicate and motivate, internally and externally, what has already been decided. But they have almost no options.

That is why it is possible to have political poseurs such as Reagan and Bush Jr as Presidents.

Of course, a President can influence appointments based upon perceptions of his/her power, and the power of the political machine they have built up. But what else?

You can't be me, I'm taken