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.

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.

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.

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 …

Take this, conservatives: Criticism only makes Obamacare stronger!  —  Ignore most conservatives attacking Healthcare.gov — but it's a mistake to assume Obama's got it under control  —  Let's stipulate that the conservatives crying crocodile tears for uninsured Americans who've …

McCain considering seeking reelection in 2016  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday that he is considering running for another term in 2016, when he would be 80 years old.  —  “I'm seriously thinking about maybe giving another opportunity for you to vote for or against me in a few years from now …

Confronted With Example Of Obamacare Success, GOP Rep Freaks Out  —  A CNN host confronted a Republican congresswoman on Tuesday for dismissing some of the successes uninsured people have has in signing up for Obamacare, accusing the GOP lawmaker of rooting for the law's failure.

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.

U.S. Drone Strikes Killed Pakistani Grandmother And Workers, Amnesty International Claims  —  U.S. drone strikes killed a Pakistani grandmother and 18 civilian labourers last year, Amnesty International said on Tuesday, shedding new light on a major source of tension in U.S.-Pakistani relations.

The Employment Situation in September  —  While job growth remained solid in September, there is no question that the focus of policy should be on how to achieve a faster pace of job growth by increasing certainty and investing in jobs, rather than the self-inflicted wounds of the past several weeks …

Beverly Young to Charlie Crist: Stay away from memorial service  —  A host of dignitaries from Washington to Tallahassee to Tampa Bay will be on hand to honor the late U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young at his memorial service Thursday.  —  But one particularly prominent politician won't be welcome at First Baptist Indian Rocks: Charlie Crist.

Have Barack Obama and Eric Holder Caused an Increase in Mass Murder?  —  Attorney General Eric Holder said today, in a speech to a convention of police chiefs, that mass shooting incidents have tripled in the last few years: … So Holder is telling us that since he took over as AG, mass shooting incidents have tripled.

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.

Mario Cuomo, Vocal Foe of Italian Stereotyping, Finally Sees ‘The Godfather’  —  Mario M. Cuomo's hate-hate relationship with “The Godfather” has been well documented.  For four decades, he refused even to see any of the movies or, presumably, to read Mario Puzo's book.  He all but denied that the Mafia existed.

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 …