VERY QUESTIONABLE FINANCIAL SHENANIGANS ON THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS: HAS McCAIN REVERTED TO HIS OLD CROOKED WAYS?

McCain's got his own version of a coalition of the willing down in South Carolina. And, like Bush's in Iraq, they're willing as long as the bribes are flowing their way. McCain's first ever brush with national celebrity was when he was caught stuffing his face at the trough that came to be known as the S&L scandal-- he was one of the Keating 5. A consultant told him the only way to save his tarnished reputation and his political career would be to create an image that looked clean.  So he got involved with a bunch of clean stuff-- like McCain-Feingold and his bogus "Straight-Talk Express, and this whole maverick shtick. But always lurking beneath the surface was the grubby, grasping, cheat, the real John McCain.

And according to yesterday's Columbia State the ugly face of the real McCain was exposed for everyone in South Carolina.

John McCain’s presidential campaign has paid more than $30,000 in 2007 to a South Carolina senator and the sons of two other prominent elected officials, all of whom have endorsed the Arizona Republican’s bid for the White House.

Mr. Forked Tongue Express has state Senator Mike Fair and the sons of Representative Gloria Haskins (Bryan) and Adjunct General Stan Spears (Stan, Jr.) on his payroll. Fair and the two kids' parents all endorsed McCain (of course). "The endorsements and jobs are not related, McCain’s top political consultant in South Carolina told The State Tuesday." Who would ever imagine they would be?


DID YOU KNOW CRAZY OLD McCAIN WAS A BEACH BOYS FAN?

I didn't either. But apparently he likes singin' Beach Boys songs when he's confronted with tough diplomatic questions. Pat over at Nitpicker did a great post this morning called Crazy Talk Express and answers the question on many people's minds: "Good God; John McCain is Nuts." McCain was out trying to harvest wingnuts in South Carolina when one kook Republican primary voter, eager for the bombing of Iran to begin, asked him when America would "send an airmail message to Tehran." Fortunately, a Romney "tracker," looking for a McCain "macaca-moment," was there to capture it all.

McCain began his answer by changing the words to a popular Beach Boys song. “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran,” he sang to the tune of Barbara Ann.

How do you think this sets him up to deal with Iran diplomatically?

Watch the video over at Crooks and Liars.


UPDATE: McCAIN ISN'T CLASSY ENOUGH TO BE A BEACH BOYS FAN-- HE WORSHIPS AT THE ALTER OF VINCE VANCE & THE VALIANTS

Here's what McCain was trying to sing. (And, yeah, that's Vince.) Jon Solz contemplates what most people thought was impossible: a worse presidency than Bush's!

You want more music? OK, try this!

McCain, in Las Vegas yesterday trying to suck up some gambling moolah, said if you don't like his singin' "lighten up and get a life."


UPDATE: MOVEON DOESN'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD ANOTHER RECKLESS PRESIDENT

Take a look at the Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran" ad MoveOn just finished.