Why is the president of the US powerful?

If you want a big government that takes care of you from cradle to grave and controls the economy, you will want to go with the left-wing (Democrats). If you want a smaller government that lets you plan your own life and business ventures and collects lower taxes, then you would go with the right-wing (Republicans. ) . In either case, you want someone who knows what to do in a crisis, is a good speaker and can work with Congress to get his programs passed.