This is impossible to predict...
What Obama said in his victory speech was spot on: Obama isn't the change we need... it's the opportunity for change we need. If change really does happen, it will because PEOPLE change.
Americans need to step up to the plate and start living like patriotic people who WANT the nation to be better... not like lazy citizens who EXPECT the government to do it for them. Instead of following politics an hour a day, how about volunteering 1 hour a week with some community service?
One person - even President of the US - can't singlehandedly put the country (and the world) on the right track. Its about a lot more than that.