President Obama - Egg-nog-ural Address

The election of the 44th President of The United States in November of last year caused many people to break out the holiday cheer a little early in anticipation of a new era of change. Obama's Inauguration on January 20th caused much the same reaction, as hopeful people poured into the streets to show their support. Both days had that near-holiday atmosphere about them. Both days will likely go down in history. But President Obama's Inaugural Address was fundamentally different from President-Elect Obama's acceptance speech.
As his now famous acceptance speech was written to celebrate the moment, to take a collective step back and look at what had been accomplished, it rightfully took on an almost joyful tone. It could be described as a pep talk to get the world through it's last two months of Bush, giving us something to really look forward to in the New Year. He also had an "element of surprise" for his acceptance speech, in that everyone was anticipating the election result, not the speeches afterwards, which benefited him when he pulled a first-class speech out of his pocket.
His Inaugural Address, however, had no element of surprise, and had less celebrate. He couldn't draw out the "look at me! I'm a black President!" factor much further, so he had to cut a path between looking back, looking down, and looking forward. And he managed it brilliantly. Following Winston Churchill's example, he promised no easy way out, but stated to Americans that through their time-tested hard work and determination, they could pull their country out of a spiral into the economic abyss. He also renewed Americas perpetual promise to extend a helping hand to those who need it.
Obama also promised "an end to the petty grievances and false promises, recriminations and worn out dogmas" that have plagued American politics in recent years; a new way forward in conjunction with the Muslim world; and, perhaps most importantly, to Obama at least, a return to the old, true values that used to drive America.
As for the new President's oratorical skill, he's the only human being capable of captivating the world with the instructions to an IKEA furniture set. He is incapable, so far, of speaking poorly, and always presents as thoroughly convincing, and comfortable in front of an audience. He has passion and energy, but not in overwhelming or inappropriate proportions. He says what needs to be said, and isn't afraid of saying. All in all, he's just plain brilliant.
In the words of Robin Williams, he's just a tanned Kennedy.