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WASHINGTON:Given the excitement in Washington this week, one would think that with inauguration of Barack Obama-and the departure of George W. Bush-the economy is about to spring back to life, the troops are all on their way home from Iraq, there will be health care coverage for all and, to quote a certain Obama foe turned Obama Secretary of State, "celestial choirs will be singing and everyone will know we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect."But as Obama takes the oath of office, there is evidence that, as enthusiastic as the public is about the change in power, there are no expectations of quick fixes.The cascade of grim economic news, combined with the calculatedly sober tone Obama has adopted-most recently in his no-applause-line speech to thousands of supporters at the concert on the Mall on Sunday-has provided something of a cushion for Obama."People are going to give Obama more time than they would any other new president because they know he is dealing with unprecedented challenges," said Mark McKinnon, a consultant who worked for a time for Senator John McCain, Obama's Republican opponent in the presidential election."The economic crisis President-elect Obama faces may in some ways help him-it is taking some of the helium out of what would otherwise be stratospheric expectations."Still, if it is now clear that Obama has some time, the next question is, how much? Just how much patience does the country have for turning the ship of state around, no matter how much it likes its new president?Obama's advisers, who have been nothing if not diligent about pushing the idea that none of this is going to happen quickly, tend to avoid allowing themselves to be nailed down on any specific timetable, not surprisingly. "I just don't know," David Axelrod, Obama's senior adviser, said in an interview. "I think that's hard to judge. I think right now people are inclined to give us some time.By time I mean more than months. People understand that it's going to take years."Rahm Emanuel, Obama's designated chief of staff, responded with a terse e-mail message when asked how long he thought Obama had."Will not put time on it," he wrote."I think based on what I see they know these are big problems and cannot be turned around quickly," he wrote. "Public quite pragmatic."By Adam Nagourney
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