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.

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.

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.

A Disaster The Democrats Didn't See Coming  —  I have to say I found his remarks far less contrite than they should have been.  Where is the unqualified apology?  Where is the commitment to basic accountability for this clusterf**k?  Instead, we have all these positive rationalizations and excuses in a confusing technical lecture.

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 …

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.

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 …

Nineteen Organizations Spend More Than $1 Million a Month Lobbying  —  Lobbying the federal government is a big business with nineteen companies and trade associations spending over $1 million a month lobbying during the third quarter.  —  Organizations are required to disclose how much they spend …

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.

Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary  —  Technical information:  —  Employment: (202) 691-6559 * sminfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/sae  —  Unemployment: (202) 691-6392 * lausinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/lau  —  Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov

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.

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.

Jeb Bush: Obama should spend more time on the golf course...with Boehner  —  Could Washington's dysfunction be solved by golfing?  Former Florida governor and potential 2016 Republican presidential contender Jeb Bush says it might just do the trick.  —  In an interview with “Politics Confidential …