YOU CAN'T EVEN BE IRONIC ANYMORE – AT 7:56 A.M. ET:  We began yesterday's edition of Urgent Agenda with an ironic and sarcastic report on the president's latest vacation:

BULLETIN:  PRESIDENT GOES ON VACATION TODAY – AT 8:05 A.M. ET:  President Obama leaves for Cape Cod after lunch today, starting a 10-day vacation with his family.

We thought you'd like to know about this, and to be assured that the president and first lady are finally getting some time off.  My goodness, there are people who actually begrudge our leader this bit of time in the sun. 

Our knowledgeable readership obviously got the sarcastic tone, given the fact that this is the Obamas' sixth vacation this year.  Little did I realize that the next day, this morning, the AP would say almost the exact same thing, and mean it seriously:

VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. (AP) - Finally, President Barack Obama can relax on vacation.

The Gulf oil leak is plugged. The last combat troops are out of Iraq. And Congress is on its own summer break. 

You can't make that up.

At least Britain's Telegraph, which was on to Obama early in his administration, gave us the reality in the first paragraph:

The Obama family will begin their sixth holiday of the year today, an 11-day sojourn in Martha’s Vineyard, the island destination of the wealthy and well-connected American elite.

That'll play well in Peoria. 

Bill Burton, the deputy White House press secretary, said that the US president was “going to spend a little time recharging his batteries” at the Massachusetts island ahead of the November midterm elections.

“There will be some hiking, some time at the beach, some time at the ice cream store - all the sort of things you do when you’re at Martha’s Vineyard. You enjoy the people and the good food.”

We're sure the unemployed and underemployed are impressed. 

This White House might have its collective tin ear checked.

August 20, 2010