It’s a joke. It’s got to be a joke.

There are three easy indications that Representative Thaddeus McCotter isn’t running a serious campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, and you don’t have to look any further than the introductory “splash” screen to his website, McCotter2012.com.

1. A burning flag.

Something’s put holes in the American flag on Thad McCotter’s website. The slightly curled-in rough edge means the flag hasn’t been cut with scissors or ripped. Then there’s the brownish residue on the stripes and stars nearby. That’s a smoke stain. Yep, either personally or through his campaign staffers Thaddeus McCotter has burned the American flag, which is pretty weird considering that he has repeatedly supported legislation to make that act illegal.

2. A gay satanic rock concert

Look to the lower right and there’s some weird, insanely huge guy with his shirt off on a stage. It looks like he’s really been working out, which along with the perfect hair means he must be gay. Moss is growing on his left shoulder, and balancing on his right wrist there’s some weird little three-legged imp with an enormous carrot nose and horns. He appears to be singing like he’s in some kind of American Idol competition, and there are all these people raising their hands to cheer — with what??? Satanic hand symbols. The audience may not all be human; toward the right is someone with an insanely long pinky finger. No serious Republican presidential candidate would feature a gay satanic rock concert on his own front page.

3. The sneer.

Nobody tries to look like they’re bored and you stink when they’re running for President, not if they’re serious. It’s got to be a joke. The whole idea of him running for President has got to be a fake.

Who knows why Thad McCotter is running a fake campaign? Maybe it’s an attempt to draw votes away from Mitt Romney, but I have a better idea. I think that maybe, just maybe, Thaddeus McCotter is trying to make a meta-commentary on the nature of presidential campaign elections in our media-saturated age. Maybe he’s going to turn around and write a rip-roaring book all about it, explaining every nonsensical image and phrase (“Seize Freedom?” Hello?) he got away with. What a fun read that will be. I look forward to reading it. In the meantime, can you find any more elements of sly humor in the McCotter 2012 campaign website? Please share so we all can enjoy.