Health insurance exchange launched despite signs of serious problems  —  Days before the launch of President Obama's online health ­insurance marketplace, government officials and contractors tested a key part of the Web site to see whether it could handle tens of thousands of consumers at the same time.

Conservative group widens IRS lawsuit  —  A conservative group announced Monday that it was broadening out its lawsuit against the Obama administration for the IRS's singling out of Tea Party groups.  —  The American Center for Law and Justice, which first sued administration and IRS officials in May …

Gov. LePage lets slip what he really thinks about Maine people  —  At a speech to a conservative audience in Falmouth last week, Governor Paul LePage made a statement that is deeply revealing.  —  Informed that the event was wrapping up, LePage said he had two more points to make.

Inside The Meeting Where Obama And Reid Vowed Not To Be ‘Taken In By These Crazy People’  —  WASHINGTON — Barack Obama and Harry Reid needed to clear the air.  The relationship between the president and the Senate majority leader had been deteriorating since 2011, with Reid losing respect …

Poll: Major damage to GOP after shutdown, and broad dissatisfaction with government  —  Video: Will voters remember the shutdown next year?  Incumbents usually win elections.  But after a shutdown, near-default and historic lows in Congressional approval, voters are claiming they'll reverse that trend in 2014.

Man Spends 4.5 Hours on Obamacare Hotline But Still Can't Sign Up  —  Yesterday in the Rose Garden, President Obama touted the Obamacare hotline and recommended people call to sign up for Obamacare.  “[T]he point is the call centers are available,” Obama said, sounding as though he were in the middle of an infomercial.

Meet the New Hillary  —  Back on the campaign trail for the first time since 2008, the former secretary of state has a new celebrity and gravitas—but some of the same old flaws.  —  FALLS CHURCH, Virginia — On Saturday, Hillary Clinton was a campaigner again.

Michael Bloomberg to buy big for Terry McAuliffe  —  Michael Bloomberg's pro-gun-control super PAC will drop $1.1 million on ads for Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the final two weeks of the Virginia governor's race.  —  The billionaire New York City mayor's money will be siphoned through Independence USA PAC …

Democratic Takeover of the House Is Still a Long Shot  —  Democrats will need Republicans to continue self-destructing, among other things, to return to the majority in 2014.  —  Those who already are saying that the House of Representatives is now “in play” are getting a little ahead of their skis—forgetting a few key factors.

Marco Rubio: White House hiding ‘ugly things’  —  Sen. Marco Rubio on Tuesday hit the Obama administration for a lack of transparency on Obamacare, saying the White House is withholding information so people won't see the “ugly things” of the law.  —  “I think what they're worried …

Hannity Dials Obamacare Call Center, Operator Says No One Likes It  —  At the top of his radio program today, Sean Hannity called in to an Obamacare call center.  Hannity was able to get through to an operator after only several moments of waiting.  He spoke to the operator for nearly 10 minutes …

U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2012  —  U.S. ENERGY-RELATED CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS DECLINED 3.8 PERCENT IN 2012  — The 2012 downturn means that emissions are at their lowest level since 1994 and over 12 percent below the recent 2007 peak.

Texas Judge Quits GOP Over Social Issues, Shutdown (VIDEO)  —  Carlo Key, a Republican judge in Bexar County, Texas, announced Monday in a campaign ad that he was leaving the Republican party and will run for re-election as a Democrat.  —  “I cannot tolerate a political party that demeans Texans based …

Republican Mega-Donors Quietly Celebrate Chris Christie's Marriage Surrender  —  Activists are angry, but GOP elites are praising Christie's step away from culture war.  “I mean, he's a rare guy who's been able to appeal to people with sincerely held beliefs on both sides of this issue.”

Considering the Fairness of JPMorgan's Deal  —  Some on Wall Street have portrayed JPMorgan Chase as a victim of government zealotry.  —  The bank is close to striking a $13 billion settlement over mortgage practices — the largest sum a corporation has ever paid to resolve government investigations.

Rand Paul pushes constitutional amendment on Congress  —  Forget the Vitter amendment.  Rand Paul wants to make sure that Congress can't ever again write laws with provisions specific to lawmakers.  —  The Kentucky freshman Republican has introduced a constitutional amendment …