I could really care less if I never hear from Samuel the unlicensed plumber's apprentice Joe the Plumber ever again -- in fact, I would be much happier if I never did -- but this story from Politico is just too good to pass up. Apparently "Joe" grilled McCain on the Wall St. bailout out and came away, shall we say, dismayed.

Politico:

Joe Wurzelbacher lashed out Tuesday at former GOP presidential nominee John McCain, the man who made Wurzelbacher famous as “Joe the Plumber.”

Wurzelbacher told conservative radio host Glenn Beck that he felt “dirty” after “being on the campaign trail and seeing some of the things that take place.”

Recalling a conversation he had with McCain about the $700 billion financial industry bailout in September, Wurzelbacher said: “When I was on the bus with him, I asked him a lot of questions about the bailout because most Americans did not want that to happen.”

“I asked him some pretty direct questions,” he continued. “Some of the answers you guys are gonna receive — they appalled me, absolutely. I was angry. In fact, I wanted to get off the bus after I talked to him.”

Not surprisingly, Joe can't get enough of Sarah Palin.

While Wurzelbacher was critical of McCain during the interview, he had nothing but praise for his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. “Sarah Palin is absolutely the real deal,” he said.

Do I foresee a Palin/Plumber 2012 ticket? This blogger can wish, can't he?

UPDATE: John Amato

Joe the Plumber is a hack and a total fraud. I know you know that already. I just like saying it. He's got his fifteen minutes out of McCain and then throws him under the bus. Without McCain he'd probably be trying to weasel some food stamps for himself. Now, he's working hard to cash in on that wingnut welfare. I will instruct my writers to not mention him again unless he's being frog-marched.

I'm so sick of this freaking clown already. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinions, but this guy is a full-blown McCain surrogate now and McCain should be forced to repudiate this kind of divisive crap.

ABC:

"McCain has fought and bled for our country, loves our country," said Joe Wurzelbacher, aka "Joe the Plumber," who has campaigned throughout Ohio with and on behalf of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "There's too many questions with Barack Obama and his loyalty to our country. And I question that greatly."

Fox News' Neil Cavuto tried to clarify: "You're not doubting that he's a good American. Or you are?"

"His ideology is completely different from what democracy stands for," said Wurzelbacher.

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Plumbing must be the most popular profession in the United States today after no less than two dozen references last night to John McCain's new BFF, "Joe the Plumber." NBC's Milwaukee affiliate, TMJ4, caught up with another plumber who has what I believe a more realistic view on the election.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average income for a plumber is around $43,000. There's no question that any plumber making that much money (or 5x that amount) is better off under Barack Obama's tax plan. Furthermore, middle class folks are more likely to add that extra bathroom or redo their kitchen when they finally get some relief. In the case of "Joe the Plumber", as the Senator articulated last night, he will get tax credits for the new jobs he creates. Also, and this is something I fault Obama for failing to mention, his health care plan will help to dramatically reduce costs for employers whereas McCain's "plan" will levy an additional tax. In other words, taxes can't simply be viewed through the prism of income taxes. There are other areas where Barack will cut taxes that will, in the end, be a net gain for someone in "Joe's" position.