See, I was going to let Cokie "my dad was the majority leader and my mom was a congresswoman and my brother is the chief lobbyist for WalMart and who the hell are you?" Roberts’ view of Senator Obama’s "foreign, exotic" trip to see his elderly grandmother go, because I’m just that kind of populist chick, and also because I thought it was just so silly that it would die on its own.

It seems, though, as if I misunderestimated the New York Times

Minimizing public appearances may have provided less fodder for those detractors who have portrayed his vacation spot as elitist or exotic. Last weekend, Cokie Roberts, an ABC News analyst, said, “I know his grandmother lives in Hawaii, and I know Hawaii is a state, but it has the look of him going off to some sort of foreign, exotic place.” Ms. Roberts added, “He should be in Myrtle Beach if he’s going to take a vacation at this time.”

Well, I’m certainly not in a place to tell Cokie "because he annoys me, dammit, that’s why you should impeach him" Roberts how regular folks vacation (me, I went to a sleepover camp in a Franciscan convent in New Jersey), so I’m going with the experts to tell you how the hoi polloi vacation.

OK, maybe the hoi polloi don’t technically use vacation as a verb. Luckily, we know how the real voice of the people hang. Here, one of the Senator’s guests (a list of attendees is here) discusses the famous barbecue weekend

The campaign booked the senator’s aides and reporters into one of the only big hotels in town: the Enchantment Resort, a five-star hotel nestled so far back in the picturesque red rock canyons of Sedona that most in the group found that their cell phones were out of range. To cope with the stress of being incommunicado, people booked massages at the hotel spa and went on hikes, including one on which an instructor sought to help participants unblock their "inner chi." "Let me tell you, I’ve got a lot of chi today," joked Steve Duprey, a close friend of McCain’s from New Hampshire who has been traveling with the campaign. Others played golf, went swimming or simply explored the hotel compound. "I haven’t walked this much in eight months," one campaign regular confessed. Perhaps this scene gives some insight into why McCain jokingly refers to the media as his base.

Mr Martin, of the Politico (who bought a nice bunch of flowers for Mrs. McCain) is disturbed that anyone would call the McCain’s nice bucolic cabin a fancy house. Ms. Cox, of Time, points out that the nice bucolic cabin where the barbecue was held (there are four on the property) isn’t the McCains’ actual home, but journalists weren’t allowed to see that.

What we do know about for sure is the comfortable bourgie blue collar bungalow colony the proletariats of the press stayed in

The campaign booked the senator’s aides and reporters into one of the only big hotels in town: the Enchantment Resort, a five-star hotel nestled so far back in the picturesque red rock canyons of Sedona that most in the group found that their cell phones were out of range. To cope with the stress of being incommunicado, people booked massages at the hotel spa and went on hikes, including one on which an instructor sought to help participants unblock their "inner chi." "Let me tell you, I’ve got a lot of chi today," joked Steve Duprey, a close friend of McCain’s from New Hampshire who has been traveling with the campaign. Others played golf, went swimming or simply explored the hotel compound. "I haven’t walked this much in eight months," one campaign regular confessed. Perhaps this scene gives some insight into why McCain jokingly refers to the media as his base.

No weirdness. No furriness. Nothing that would make ordinary americans uncomfortable.

Just regular amurkin food

TASMANIAN SALMON
potato wrapped, smoked bacon,
mustard glazed dandelions, pinot noir jus

BUFFALO TENDERLOIN
cold smoked, quail sausage, sweet potato risotto,
blackberry chipotle demi-glace

SEA BASS
tasmanian crab, heirloom tomato and mache salad,
meyer lemon lavender vinaigrette

SQUASH BLOSSOM
with vegetable ratatouille, forbidden rice,
carrot and golden raisin broth

BUTTER POACHED LOBSTER AND CANDIED SCALLOPS
citrus pasta, champagne butter, caviar

RACK OF COLORADO LAMB
olive crusted, grilled vegetable manchego tart,
oven dried tomato jus

and manicures and pedicures like the folks at Mrs. Roberts’ WalMart get

Eastern Ananda Ritual Manicure 45 Minutes $75
This manicure ritual is inspired by the 5,000 year old science of Ayurveda, using oils and herbs to balance the mind, body and spirit. This relaxing manicure begins with a detoxifying soak infused with Frankincense. Your hands will be drenched with warm Jasmine oil followed by a ginger mask that exfoliates dry skin with tumeric, sea salt and eucalyptus. This treatment is further enhanced with traditional Ayurvedic Marma Point massage.

Eastern Ananda Ritual Pedicure 60 Minutes $80
Allow yourself to treat your feet and legs to the same Ayurvedic experience available for your hands and arms as is described above.

Native Stone Ritual Manicure 45 Minutes $75
This Native American inspired herbal hand treatment begins with a refreshing geranium infused soak. Your arms and hands will be treated to a hot oil massage and mask, infused with warming ginger and cooling jasmine. This healing hand treatment is enhanced with a warm basalt stone massage. Your experience ends with a light desert rain infused with Tea Tree extract.

Native Stone Ritual Pedicure 60 Minutes $80
Enjoy the same herbal and warm stone treatment described above for your arms and hands on your legs and feet.

and this sort of domestic, not-exotic spa services

Palm Reading 60 Minutes $145
Your hands can disclose the story of what we have been creating in our lives. It shows us the new and exciting possibilities that await us. This reading will inspire you with creativity and rejuvenation.

Astrology 60 Minutes $260
Using the time and place of your birth, the astrologer interprets life patterns and tendencies, and will offer you insights. A 24-hour advance notice is required to book this service. Your astrologer needs birth date, birthplace, and time of birth prior to appointment.

Tarot Card Reading 60 Minutes $145
Tarot cards can offer practical guidance, and self-knowledge, which may open channels of intuition. During this session, you are guided through several interactions with the cards, and given an interpretation of meanings.

Resonance 60 Minutes $205
This is a sound therapy session which will incorporate tuning forks, Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls and Tinchas to create harmonic vibrational resonance for health and well being. Vibration is based on the scientific principle that all matter resonates to a precise frequency. Sound also assists us in stimulating and recharging stagnant or blocked chi (energy) to relieve stress, assist in clearing issues and allowing changes to flow into your life with ease and grace.

Past Life Regression 90 Minutes $260
Regression Therapy is the mental act of going back to an earlier time, whenever that may be, in order to retrieve memories that may still be influencing an individual’s present life. Hypnosis is used as a tool to access the subconscious mind.

Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultation 60/90 Minutes $145/$205
We highly recommend starting your Ayurvedic experience with this powerful and insightful consultation that provides an in-depth look at your particular dosha type. Our expert consultant will discuss lifestyle changes and additions that will support your well-being in all areas affecting physical, mental and emotional balance.

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment 90 Minutes $205
The skin will be dry brushed to increase circulation and begin the exfoliation process. A blend of Indian herbs, which detoxifies and nourishes the skin, will be applied and rinsed off. This is followed by a massage with a dosha specific oil. You will then be wrapped with steaming herbal sheets while a head and neck massage is given. Your treatment will culminate by being escorted to a lounge chair for a cup of balancing tea and some time to meditate on the perfection of your life.

Shirodhara 60 Minutes $145
This treatment begins with a clarifying Ayurvedic facial. Your skin will be cleansed, a masque will then be applied that is most suitable for your skin type, and your face will be toned. The Shirodhara portion of the treatment begins with a slow pouring of warm oil onto the forehead. This stimulates the pituitary gland, helps balance the endocrine system, and relaxes the nervous system. You will then receive a very gentle scalp massage, and excess oil will be squeezed out of the hair. According to Ayurveda it is advisable to leave the oil in the hair and scalp overnight to balance the Vata Dosha.

Dosha Balancing Wrap 60 Minutes $145
The top layer of the skin cells will be lightly brushed to allow the oils to deeply penetrate. You will then be massaged utilizing the exotic, aromatic oils of India. These oils are chosen to balance your specific dosha of Vata, Pitta, or Kapha. Finally you will be cocooned, in an herbal infused sheet and receive a head, neck and scalp massage.

Abhyanga 60 Minutes $290
Abhyanga is a traditional Ayurvedic full body massage using two therapists who will work in synchrony. The Abhyanga is a “light touch,” rather than a deep tissue massage that gently encourages cellular toxins to be moved from the cells into the bloodstream so that the body may effectively eliminate them. The end result of Abhyanga is a deeply relaxed physiology and enhanced feeling of well-being. For the ultimate experience add on the 30-minute Shirodhara as described below.

Abhyanga and Shirodhara 90 Minutes $350
Immediately following your 60 minute Abhyanga, one of your therapists continues with a slow pouring of warm oil onto the forehead using a specific pattern for approximately 15-20 minutes. Then you will receive a very “gentle” scalp massage so as not to stimulate the Vata dosha but massage the oils into the hair and scalp. The excess oil is then squeezed out of the hair and it is advisable to keep the remaining oil in the hair overnight to continue “Vata pacification”.

Which, whatever, girl Kermit. Have fun. You’re entitled to your opinion. You’re not, on the other hand, entitled to your own facts, unless that’s part of the congressmans’ (and womans’) daughter package.

And in that case, you’re only entitled amongst people you lunch with. Leave us out of it.

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