Julian Zelizer : For decades , Republicans shied away from the kind of oppositional statements toward Medicare proposals uttered by Barry Goldwater and Reagan in the early 1960s for fear that voters would remember how they had stood firm against benefits that turned out to be enormously popular . President Obama promising to take action even though his agenda stalled in Congress . He says Obama is doing what other presidents have done , but there are risks to reliance on executive orders . 00:52:04 Next president could quickly reverse Obama 's policies , and lack of congressional support weakens them .
Julian Zelizer : President Obama promising to take action even though his agenda stalled in Congress . He says Obama is doing what other presidents have done , but there are risks to reliance on executive orders . 00:52:04 Next president could quickly reverse Obama 's policies , and lack of congressional support weakens them .