Today’s Links: October 4, 2012

OPINION

LARRY KUDLOW: “Romney Politely Cleaned Obama’s Clock
“Mitt Romney politely cleaned Barack Obama’s clock tonight. A lethargic and at times tired looking President Obama was out-hustled, out-facted, out-energized, and out-informed by Former Governor Mitt Romney. Completely unlike Romney’s convention speech, tonight he focused on strong economic issues, developed his philosophy of limited government, and convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is in fact a pro-growth tax reformer who wants to lower the rate, and broaden the base in a revenue-neutral fashion that will actually create jobs and spur the economy. This is the first time I have been totally convinced of his tax reform bonifide and principles. Elsewhere in the debate, Romney had to correct President Obama on a number of issues, including oil tax breaks, healthcare issues, job training programs in the federal government and even how Obamacare works.”

DAVID WEIGEL: “What Losers Look Like”
“This is what losing looks like: five stoic strategists for the Obama campaign camped out in the spin room. They do not deny that Mitt Romney just beat the president on all the points that count in TV debates. How can they, when even the foreign press, heavy in accent and fond of existential questions, keeps asking why the president blew it? In one corner stands David Plouffe, the president’s chief strategist, fielding question after question about optics.”

ANDREW SULLIVAN: “Liveblogging the Debate
“Look: you know how much I love the guy, and you know how much of a high information viewer I am, and I can see the logic of some of Obama’s meandering, weak, professorial arguments. But this was a disaster for the president for the key people he needs to reach, and his effete, wonkish lectures may have jolted a lot of independents into giving Romney a second look.”

NEWS

DEBATE – Everything Jim Lehrer said at the debate
“It’s OK, it’s great. No problem. Well, you all don’t have — you don’t have a problem, I don’t have a problem, because we’re still on the economy. We’re going to come back to taxes. I want move on to the deficit and a lot of other things, too. OK, but go ahead, sir.”

ADVERTISING – Facebook Hits Billionth User, Reveals First Major Ad From Global Agency of Record
“Facebook has reached a striking if inevitable milestone — its active user base is now a billion strong, up from 900 million in April just before its IPO — and it’s commemorating that achievement with a brand ad designed to both celebrate those who log on every day and to spread the Facebook gospel as part of the tougher task ahead: reaching the next billion users.”

INNOVATION – New DNA Test Can Spot Gene Diseases in Babies
“Scientists have discovered a way to decode DNA in babies in just days instead of weeks, preventing unknown genetic diseases that could cause death. The idea is to combine faster gene-analyzing machinery with new computer software that uses a baby’s symptoms to narrow down suspicious mutations with just a push of a few buttons. The hope is to start treatment earlier or avoid futile care for lethal illnesses.”