The Republicans were not going to allow Obama's preferred tax cut version to get through congress, and because the mid-term elections swelled Republican ranks better prospects in the new year with the next congress would be even more unlikely. But don't take my word for it. That's what Bill Clinton said, along with endorsing the tax cut deal by saying he didn't believe there was a better deal out there. See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYHDPxohkrc

He failed on his most important mandates? In the middle of a historic financial catastrophe which nearly triggered a full-blown depression (which under his watch the freefall was stopped successfully and the stock market is now largely recovered) he gets a historic healthcare law passed which had been attempted and failed at for more than 50 years. And because it's only 90% instead of 100% of the desired outcome it's a failure? Why not give credit for what it is, and opportunity for improvement it provides? Social Security, one of the most important social safety nets we have was not what it was when it first started either. This doesn't even get into passing the biggest financial reform laws (against powerful lobbies) since the Great Depression. No, I see it another way. This president has already had a very busy two years.