When a Democratic President is elected (who isn’t named Franklin Roosevelt) he (or she) stops being the leader of the Democratic Party and pushing for things that Democrats want. Instead he become “The President”, and thereby has a view of events that extends beyond the provincial interests of the loser Americans who gather under the tattered banner reading “Democrats”
Republican Presidents are not burdened by this urge to be the President of the entire country. They run roughshod over the opposition because they view it as their repsosibilty to work for the voters who put them in office (e.g Republicans).
Obama – Nice guy. Open to compromise. Didn’t give a flying fuck if that meant Democrats would lose in the midterms. “No Party has a monopoly on wisdom.”
Bush – Complete dick. Made it is business to advance policies that set up other Republicans success in midterms. “I have political capital, and I’m going to use it.”
Clinton (Bill) – Super compromiser. Stabbed poors, urbans, gays in the back and didn’t give a fuck about other Democrats winning midterms.”The era of big government is over”
People who regard Obama as a good President are not wrong. People who regard him as a good leader of the Democratic Party are.