(Credit: Reuters) Preparing to leave the White House with favorable numbers approaching the astronomical highs he entered with in 2009, Barack Obama remained consistent to the very end. At his final presidential press conference Wednesday, Obama expressed his hallmark optimism on issues of equality, while demonstrating his passion for the technocratic details of issues like redistricting. President Obama began his 165th press conference, one of several farewell addresses he’s delivered in his final days in office, by thanking the White House press corps. “You’re not supposed to be sycophants, you’re supposed to be skeptics.