I wouldn't want to outlaw "lobbying", but I would like to see it become more transparent and accountable and there are supposed to be laws, if I'm not mistaken, that attempt to do just that. But as we all know there are those that seem to be able to skirt around the laws until they get caught and I don't think the penalties are high enough for those that break the rules and it happens on both sides of the aisle.
As far as presidents go I've been alive for the last 13, though I was too young to remember anything about FDR. During my adult life I have always considered Carter to be the worst President that ever held the office, but then along came Obama and I have to reconsider that analogy. IMHO, a Presidents real power lies in his or hers ability to manipulate Congress to achieve their goals and if the majority of Congress is made up with people of the Presidents party the road is generally much smoother. Obamacare would have never passed with a Republican majority and probably most of the bail outs wouldn't have either.