Amidst cheers of encouragement and heated protests, George W. Bush will stand on the steps of the nation’s capitol Saturday and swear in as the 43rd president of the United States.Festivities for the four-day event began Thursday in Washington, D.C., but the exchange of power will take place during the inaugural ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.”This is the start of a new era,” said Jim Kurtenbach, chairman of the Republican Party of Story County.Kurtenbach said the near-even distribution in both branches of the federal Legislature will set a precedent for bipartisan efforts to advance the nation.”I don’t think the American people are patient enough to put up with a lot of sniping,” he said. “They want to see results, and I believe the people are looking forward to seeing the two parties work together.”Although former Texas Gov. Bush will officially take office Monday, Kurtenbach said he stepped into the executive role months ago.”I really don’t think that Monday is the first day of his presidency,” he said. “I think, to Mr. Bush’s credit, he is already behaving as a president, and has been since Nov. 7.”His professional conduct throughout the cloud of controversy, recounts and lawsuits in the weeks following the election already has established the president-elect’s legitimacy as the leader of the United States, Kurtenbach said.”I believe the reason that the vast majority of his nominees are not being strongly contested shows that he has been conducting himself in an honest, ethical manner and is trying to get people who will truly serve our country,” he said.Nationwide, however, a tremor of trepidation is spreading through citizens who still doubt Bush’s leadership ability.”It took so long for us to figure out who was going to be president, that it really didn’t seem real,” said Debbie Kattenhorn, president of ISU Democrats. “Now, it finally hits you. Some of the things that they hope to do, some of us, obviously, have great concern with.”Washington, D.C., is stepping up security for the inauguration, expecting more heated protesters to storm the capitol than for the past ceremonies.However, Kattenhorn, senior in political science, said she does not expect the increased protests to jeopardize the inauguration.”They’re not just protesting Bush, they’re also protesting his Cabinet picks, most obviously [Attorney General-designate John] Ashcroft,” she said. “Secret Service knows how to deal with it, they expect it and it’s so widely known.”With Bush as it’s leader, Kurtenbach said, the United States will come together successfully for the next four years — or more.”I think it’s a day that’s motivating for most Republicans,” he said. “I do believe that Mr. Bush will be a uniter.”