"This Just In...Sasha Kicks Malia's Sand Castle All To Hell...And We've Got The Story..."

If you’ve never seen the classic western movie, “Shane”, then the next line will make no sense, per se’, to you.

“Shane…come back…..Shane…”

The line popped into my head, with a minor variation to be disclosed in just a minute or two, when I came across this “story” featured as a “top of the news” link on the home page of the zany comedy troupe known as CNN.com


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The first family is heading to Massachusetts next month for some rest and relaxation.

White House aides said President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia will spend the final week of August together in Martha's Vineyard, a favored vacation spot for then-President Bill Clinton and his family in the '90s.

The aides confirmed on Friday what had been rumored for months but had been kept under wraps for security and other reasons, including the fact that vacation plans are very sensitive in the middle of a painful recession.

Aides have privately held open the possibility that Michelle Obama and the girls may arrive at the vacation spot a few days earlier while the president works on a variety of issues, including his push for health reform.

I can’t begin to tell you how exquisitely appropriate, not to mention ironic, it is that this little piece of “need to know” information is being hyped on the very same home page that still has the passing of Walter Cronkite listed in that same top of the news pile.

And still at the top of that pile, no less.

Because history will validate that there was probably no other professional journalist in our lifetimes who knew better the difference between should care and who cares than Mr. C.

I totally get that the advent of twenty-four seven on air/online news service has created a monster than needs to be fed more often than Audrey, Jr., resulting in just about piece of anything that comes down the pike/wire service worth consideration as an “item”.

The legendary late Mr. Cronkite and his peers had “only” to fill a thirty minute newscast once per weekday.

But, still…

The First Family’s family truckster destination is listed only three stories after the passing of a news icon and just before the space shuttle’s record setting rendezvous with the space station.

Thank God Barack and Michelle and the girls didn’t head out for Wallyworld with Aunt Edna strapped to the roof of the car or we’d be in for minute-by-minute updates.

I’m all about communication.

And I passionately believe that knowledge is power.

But, to paraphrase Forest, Forest Gump…

“I am not a smart man…but I know what news is…”

So did Mr. Cronkite.

“Walter…come back…Walter…”