Obama had quite the mandate to walk into the White House and address the mass looting Wall Street did, as well as the housing market crisis. He failed on both counts and it has marred his presidency, and the economy.
Obama rarely attacks republicans or Wall Street. The last time he truly tore into anyone was when he took it to Paul Ryan (with him in the audience during the speech, no less). Outside of that it's just been the same "come on guys" rhetoric. I'm not asking him to throw us red meat, and I think he draws lines well enough when he has to. He's simply not the type of politician who tears into opponents, at least not anymore; dude was kind of ruthless on the come up in Chicago. I'm fine with that. I just wish he would make his positions clear instead of constantly letting republicans drive the narrative.
And I'd argue Obama's actions are geared towards achieving "big things" regardless of poor policy, with short term politics constantly in mind. He's still talking up the 4T Grand Bargain. That type of deal would no doubt impress S&P, but it doesn't help anyone but Obama with mythic independents. That's all it is. Cutting billiosn/trillions during a recession makes absolutely no sense, nor do the various entitlement cuts and changes
