Do Presidents Really Vacation?

Interesting debate has ignited once again regarding Presidents and family vacations.   The White House confirmed Wednesday the Obamas will spend 10 days in Martha’s Vineyard starting next week. It’s their third vacation on the Massachusetts island famous as a summer playground for the rich and powerful, and therefore a fat target in this roller-coaster economy.

“I don’t think Americans out there would begrudge that notion that the President would spend some time with his family,” press secretary Jay Carney told reporters.

Opines the Reliable Source blog at The Washington Post , “Of course they wouldn’t — if the Obamas inflated a kiddie pool and cooked hot dogs on the South Lawn. Once the first family leaves Washington, someone always starts whining.”  Read the full post here .  AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Earlier thread discussion here at HBO on this topic here .

Do you believe a sitting President ever really ‘vacations’ when on vacation?  Do you think a Presidential vacation is reasonable given all the demands that come with the office?