Saint John McCain shows his inner lizard

Saint John is starting to show some of the unfortunate "How Dare You Question Me" characteristics of the current occupant of the White House:

When Jean Diamond asked Sen. John McCain a polite but tough question about federal spending last weekend, McCain turned churlish.

"I'm not getting anything I really need and my grandchildren are getting saddled with $9 trillion in debt," said Diamond, a Keene retiree. "Why should I vote Republican?"

Because, McCain replied, Democrats have also voted to increase federal spending.

"Maybe," the Arizona Republican suggested, "you should vote for the vegetarians."

Diamond was not amused by McCain's sarcasm. "Republicans are in charge of three Houses," she snapped back. "You have no excuse."

McCain shook his head. "Yes, ma'am," he said, peering at the 500 people gathered at the town meeting. "I knew we should have cut this thing off."

This exchange is very revealing about the so-called "Straight Talk Express", for it shows that McCain exhibits all of the traits of the modern Republican leader:

1) Refusal to answer a question

2) Anger at having his record questioned

3) Blaming Democrats

4) Willingness to only speak to a friendly audience

5) A belief that dissenters should not be able to speak to him.

All this may make him the perfect successor to George W. "Easier if I were the Dictator" Bush, but if there's anyone out there who still believes in the "Straight Talk Express", this should put an end to any such delusions.