I doubt that he is already passed the "give time" stage. It has been... what, a year now? Probably a little less. What i have seen from past cabinets (who also take 4 years a cycle if they don't fall) is that the first two years are set-ups of things to finish in the last two years.
And then still you can only judge a politician past their term as a ruler because in hindsight everything changes and how they leave the country for their succesor should also be taken into account.
In any case, Obama has fixed one major issue that still gives him my support and which apparantly goes unnoticed in America - he has reinstigated the faith the whole world has in America back to the level it was during the Clinton years. Both Russia and China are once again warming up to the ol' US of A and really in the long term this might be worth even more then a $4000 cut in a student loan or a revised healthcare.
The Doctor will see you now
Promoting Lesbianism --> 
