But those pining away for him to change his ways will likely have to keep pining. Because following the playbook of those who came before him is not why Obama ran for president. It’s also exactly why many of his supporters — including some who now pose indignation — gravitated toward him in the first place.

His presidency hasn’t been perfect. But every day of it up till now has been the fulfillment of the promise of the kind of president he always said he would be: a practical problem solver untethered to the legacy of petty fights and image-first tactics, which seemed to be hindering any resolution of our biggest challenges.

On Election Day next year, the Obama narrative will finally be accepted, and a verdict on it will likely be rendered.