That's because Americans are clueless about politics. No really, they are. Look it up. Only 30% of Americans can name one of their Congressional representatives. 1 out of 7 Americans don't know what the United States looks like on a map. And in the 2012 presidential election, 40% of registered voters (which is also a relatively small number compared to the total US population) DID NOT VOTE. Again, REGISTERED VOTERS. This information, and lots of other mind boggling statistics is readily available and proves over and over again how little Americans pay attention to politics.

So if people can't even name their Congressional representatives, or their mayor for god's sake, how can you expect them to know anything about what the President actually does? In reality he's a paper pusher, and has almost NOTHING to do with the average American's daily life. Congress? Sure they have power but again, don't affect day to day interactions all that much. State and local governments (emphasis on local), however, have EVERYTHING to do with people's lives. Local governments are what influence the daily lives of Americans. So when they have this warped perception of American politics and think that the president is who dictates their day to day lives, they vote straight-ticket (or not at all) and pay no attention to the candidates who ride off the contrails regardless of their actual capability to be in a political position.

But even so, they continually complain about the national government, especially Congress and the President, and continue to ignore their local and state government policies that actually impact them and that they can actually have an impact on. Instead they remain ignorant.