President Obama, Pragmatist

I've long told my conservative friends that Obama was never, nor will ever be, an ideological leftist.  He is a liberal in his beliefs and values, but he is operationally a conservative (which I believe is similar to the American character i.e. black emancipation and suffrage, women's sexual and economic freedom, DADT, etc - "Let's do this major social change but let's just do it very slowly so we can make sure it works out all right").  He is willing to deal and compromise to help move the country slowly, methodically forward in--his own estimation--the right direction. When we look back on his presidency, the story will outline progressive ideas and policies legislated, enacted and executed in a conservative manner.