pushover?
Obama clearly prefers to deal with issues not by shooting from the hip but by giving them as much analysis as he is able. Speaking softly also has a lot advantages politically over Bush's "bring 'em on" style. As for carrying no stick, you either don't get any the news or you are just a blatant liar.
Further, "...the current situation in Russia, China, the Middle East, Iran, and the rest..." hasn't changed a whole lot since Bush left office. Bush handed Obama this pile of shit to deal with after his own utter failure to do so, and it's preposterous to think Obama could solve everything in one year.