President Obama took the oath of office (twice) amid some of the biggest fanfare that has ever accompanied a president's ascension to office. Supporters celebrated his inauguration for a number of reasons, but for many his taking the oath marked the end of the Bush Era. With any change of office, its last holder leaves saddled with responsibility for everything that happened on his watch, good or bad, regardless of whether he was entirely liable for it. President Bush is certainly no exception. With the economy in shambles, on top of the ever unpopular Iraq war, it's little wonder that Bush exited with some of the lowest approval ratings in history. Fifty-three percent of the country voted for Barack Obama, and even more now support him, including Republicans. There is little doubt that a large portion of the country is looking to the new President to solve all of our dilemmas.

Unfortunately, this scenario is unlikely, and no one seems to understand this more than Barack Obama himself. Obama's inaugural address was replete with reminders that his task will not be an easy one. From the very beginning he made clear to the audience that the world will not change its course from the moment he takes office, stocks will not immediately soar, and employers will not suddenly welcome back those they have let go. His chronicling of the negative forces facing our country at this time stood as a stark contrast to the euphoria sweeping his audience. As he progressed, however, the new president used this basis as a way of trying to inspire his audience under the banner he used throughout his campaign: hope.

As the pundits discussed his speech shortly thereafter, many noticed that his speech lacked the "Ask not what your country can do for you" type of line; that is, it wasn't a speech with a lot of staying power. This is not because President Obama, who is clearly a great orator, balked at his biggest moment; it is because he understands the high expectations his supporters have for him, and the realistic probability that those expectations will not be met right away. In a sense, his speech can be broken down as saying "I know you're all excited, but let's not forget that things aren't good right now, and they are not likely to get better soon, but they will if we try hard, etc."

Obama's first days in office also served as his acknowledgment of the predicament he is in. One of his first official actions was to close prison at Guantanamo Bay in a highly publicized event. This action served as a clearly visible break from the previous administration, a sign to all that change has come. What is interesting is the contrast in publicity given to his lift on the ban against giving U.S. aid to groups that promote abortion. Though just as big a divergence from Bush's policies, abortion is a much more divisive issue than Gitmo. This is a prime example of the Catch-22 that faces the new president: people want change, but not in every respect. Many people voted for Obama who had voted for Bush before, and if he takes too much of a hard stance on ideological issues, he may face losing their support. On the other hand, if he does not address the more politically charged social topics, then he risks alienating his core base who expect a Democratic president to represent their point of view.

Luckily for him, social issues are on the back-burner until the economy comes around. If and when it does, the support it will generate for him will help him weather the criticisms that may come when he decides to address the hot topics. I expect that President Obama, whose quick rise up the political ladder demonstrates his political adeptness, will understand how to address the issues that face him in a way that allows him hang on to his broad support. President Bush, who took on divisive issues right away and in a steadfast manner, serves as a good example of what can happen if things don't turn out well.

Many experts agree that the excitement over Bush leaving office, plus the fact that most people don't think that things can get any worse will result in President Obama having a particularly long "honeymoon." I am inclined to agree. However, I also feel that if during that time Obama doesn't deliver in one way or another, particularly when it comes to the economy, there is going to be serious discontent among many of his supporters, especially moderates and conservatives who don't align themselves as strongly with his ideology. This is the crowd he needs to pay particular attention to: not only if he wants to be re-elected, but also if he wants to garner support for his social agenda. He has promised change from the very beginning, and if things stay the same for too long, he will lose his biggest asset.