Obama doesn't have a magic wand. He can't make Ben Nelson disappear or clone Al Franken 59 times. In order to get things done he has to compromise, deal, and cuddle with assholes.
My problem is with him caving on battles that could be won, and acting like the president holds no power outside of deciding what American citizen to assassinate overseas today. He didn't fight for the public option, he didn't fight for tougher financial regulation, etc; seems like the next thing is to not fight to nominate Elizabeth Warren to head the new consumer financial protection agency. As if he doesn't have the power to recess appoint her, or any of the tons of nominees who have been obstructed by the GOP for months.