There was a period from '09-'10 when he could have basically done whatever he wanted. Democrats controlled the government and Obama came in on a wave of popular support after Bush was blamed for crashing the economy. Instead of bringing about the change he promised, though, he allowed himself to be stopped and chose compromise instead of change.
Then the Republicans took back their lost seats in 2010 because he lost support for his compromises.
There was a period from '09-'10 when he could have basically done whatever he wanted. Democrats controlled the government and Obama came in on a wave of popular support after Bush was blamed for crashing the economy. Instead of bringing about the change he promised, though, he allowed himself to be stopped and chose compromise instead of change.
Then the Republicans took back their lost seats in 2010 because he lost support for his compromises.