The first family’s Vineyard jaunt will come after a much touted “vacation” to the Gulf of Mexico this weekend that will last approximately 48 hours. Presumably, the Obama clan will be downing gulf shrimp to prove that it’s safe to eat (the president, for his part, must be really tired of shrimp at this point) and splash in the water to show that it is not, in fact, laden with oil. But will this really count, in the eyes of the American public, as a ringing endorsement for gulf tourism? The president is also scheduled to speak with local officials and get an update on the latest on the BP oil well — not exactly vacation fare, but more like a business trip with the kids. The transparency of this Florida photo-op is almost painful when you consider the media (and outrage) that is likely to be generated over the Obamas’ coming long, luxurious and presumably golf-filled getaway to the tony Vineyard…

I’ll let recreational stoners off the hook here and just put it out there: What’s happening over at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.? For a team that was so incredibly skilled at managing the message and reading the pulse of the country throughout the long, hard campaign slog, it has been weirdly, tragically tone deaf these last few weeks. George W. Bush, not someone known for his nuanced approach to anything, managed to keep his head down during the dark days, clearing brush in Crawford, abstaining from the golf course, and waving goodbye to his wife as she took off on low-cost (and domestic!) camping trips. For a country that’s hurt, an economy that’s limping, and a base that feels bruised, President Obama and his team would do well to descend from that high horse and put their feet back on the ground.