Both sides make excellent points about the most effective means for examining the successes and failures of the presidency, but I tend to align more Skowronek. The main reason I tend to agree more Skowronek is his methods provide a more comprehensive view that considers more factors. Presidents in typical fashion are judged based on character, wins are because of the right combinations, and losses are the wrong ones. In this way of thinking every incumbent can be successful; however, this disregards the temporality of the position. Some presidencies are more set up to succeed than others. Considering presidents as a product of the time and using that as a benchmark allows the examination of the change from the benchmark. Presidents that would be considered failures by leadership and characteristic standards could be seen as successful and vice versa. There are many situations that may increase the likelihood that incumbents are successful. Things like the previous president’s alignment, may change the views the American people have towards that president, especially when considering the success or lack of it. Also, important is the way the institutions are leaning. If the previous president was successful incumbents may be faced with a more difficult starting spot, and the opposite may be true. In these scenarios the incumbent is merely a product of the temporal time, and they should be compared with like situations to determine relative success. The president may be influenced by his character, but effectiveness of that character is most limited or expanded by the situations the character is in. They may make different decisions policy wise, but the president is making decisions on the same things, relative to the four situations the incumbent may enter. Using this method should be the primary method, because in the end it is more accurate and applicable. Determining the situation is the first step then the comparison is easy. It also allows for a step-by-step analysis of what decisions will work in the different scenarios the incumbents enter. Using a character view does not allow for this comparison and merely relies on the policy that is implemented as a benchmark.