Ferguson: McCain as the Penguin

You don't call a U.S. Senator "That one." That's right.

New That One Site

Check it out.

It has been the rich and varied experiences of That One's life - growing up in different places with people who had differing ideas - that have animated his political journey. Amid the partisanship and bickering of today's public debate, he still believes in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose - a politics that puts solving the challenges of everyday Americans ahead of partisan calculation and political gain.
In the Illinois State Senate, this meant working with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. He also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator That One worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases.
In the U.S. Senate, he has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and a politics that no longer settles for the lowest common denominator. His first law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent. He has also been the lead voice in championing ethics reform that would root out Jack Abramoff-style corruption in Congress.

That One Now a Music Video

I'm glad the handshake refusal was caught.


The debate in 10 minutes

"That One" Won the Debate

Hey, there's already a That One button!

Other than McCain referring to Obama as "that one" (did he have a senior moment?) it was a civil debate.

If McCain went ugly, people would've rejected him outright. I, for one, wasn't in the mood for any more negativity. After Palin's days of relentless covert racist attacks, I'd had enough.

Obama was calm and reassuring and on foreign policy, he's got more wisdom. McCain just thinks he's all that, which is how he would rule and that's what he would do, rule. McCain doesn't seem to have an overarching vision.

Obama's vision is clear. But I imagine a McCain supporter would say the opposite. I just can't follow McCain all that well. He's beginning to sound a lot like his pitbull. He's just too angry. We need someone who can lead. McCain's anger would get in the way.

Poll roundup: Obama won. 
Think Progress gathered some good observations:

10:42: On Fox, Nina Easton notes that we observed the “sinking ship of free-market Republicans” go to the “bottom of the sea,” with McCain’s proposal of a $300 billion “nationalization” of the U.S. mortgage market.

10:41: CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin: “When he referred to Barack Obama as ‘that one,’ I thought that was something people will remember.”

10:40: Kristol says Brokaw did a “disservice” to the McCain campaign by asking “conventional, inside the Beltway” questions. (UPDATE: Fred Barnes says it “was not a real town hall” meeting.)

10:37: Chris Matthews notes the most “bizarre moment of the night” was when McCain “took a shot” at moderator Tom Brokaw, saying “not you Tom” in response to who he would pick as Treasury Secretary.

10:35: CBS’ Katie Couric noted that McCain referred to Obama as “that one.” (UPDATE: NBC’s Brian Williams notes it too.)

CNN analysis
Washington Post fact check

Taxes
9:57 p.m.
Once again, McCain said that Obama raised taxes 94 times. This came up in the vice presidential debate, and it is a bogus charge.

Fact check.org, a non-partisan watchdog, has analyzed the charge.

Of the 94, 23 of those votes were indeed votes against proposed tax cuts. Eleven of them were increases on families earning over $1 million to help fund programs such as Head Start and school nutrition. And 53 were on non-binding budget resolutions that foresaw allowing tax cuts to expire as scheduled. Such out-year projections are meaningless, since non-binding budgets are passed each year.
Fact.check.org ruled the claim misleading.