Obama is a traditionalist, which has always been his biggest flaw. He really believes in and wants to sell the idea that the status quo of working within the confines of the existing system is an effective way to continue to govern. He, Biden and other centrists/moderates believe that flaws introduced in that system are repairable. None of them want to accept the fact that the system is in an unrepairable state and that those on the other side of the aisle will continue to poison it at will for their own benefit.
The system has to evolve to prolong this country's existence and way of life.