Canadians surely don't begrudge our elected leaders — including even the prime minister — some time off now and then. A summer vacation, or at least some down time with family, is not something that would be controversial or of concern to most Canadian voters. This prime minister, who has shown a surprising amount of political acumen for a rookie prime minister, has failed on both counts with his August Italian getaway. Furthermore, it's not as though the government grinds to a halt when the prime minister is on vacation. In the meantime, though, there is some degree of sacrifice that's required in being the prime minister.