If politicians always did the popular things at the beginning of their term they would be far less likely to be voted back in. Unfortunately the news cycle and

If politicians always did the popular things at the beginning of their term they would be far less likely to be voted back in. Unfortunately the news cycle and therefore the voting public has a short memory. It does suck a bit that the system incentivizes being strategic with the timing of key decisions, but politicians who didn't do so would be hurting their chances of reelection.