Durbin: Medical device tax repeal could be ‘on the table’  —  Washington (CNN) - A repeal of the medical device tax may be a point of compromise between the House and Senate as the two houses of Congress work to end the government shutdown, the number two Democrat in the Senate said Tuesday.

GOP's most shameful shutdown moment  —  There are many candidates, but comparing Obamacare to the Fugitive Slave Act reveals much — and may take the prize  —  Republicans in the House of Representatives have shut down the United States government - and are threatening to throw the nation into default …

Democrats Mull Divulging Emails With Boehner Staff as Shutdown Fight Gets Personal  —  Reid's office is considering leaking emails between his chief of staff, David Krone, above, and Boehner's chief.  (CQ Roll Call File Photo)  —  Senate Democrats are considering leaking a series …

Why This Is Not Just ‘Washington Breakdown,’ in 3 Graphs (and 1 Story)  —  Tea Party members say they are expressing the public's will.  Gee, if only there were some way to judge popular sentiment in a democracy.  —  From the Washington Post this morning:

Some State Exchanges Delayed Until Afternoon  —  Some states running their own health-insurance exchanges are having delays Tuesday morning, the first day of enrollment under the Affordable Care Act.  —  Minnesota's health insurance exchange, MNsure, won't be able to open until Tuesday afternoon …

Surprise!  Obamacare health insurance exchange websites don't work; HealthCare.gov a total mess  —  No need to shut it down.  The Obamacare health insurance exchange websites don't work. … Who will be blamed for this mess? … [Update]  —  Welcome to HealthCare.gov!

Rand Paul: Open the government  —  Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday said he would support a short-term funding measure “to keep the government open while we negotiate.”  —  “I think what we could do is pass a very short term, maybe not six weeks, but what about one week, so we could negotiate over a week …

‘Boss’ Chris Christie: How I'd solve it  —  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says the shutdown in Washington can be blamed on everybody, but it is especially a failure of leadership on the part of the president.  —  “No matter where the partisanship is, the failure is in people not bringing people together to get it done.

FERC nominee bows out  —  President Barack Obama's nominee to lead FERC announced Tuesday that he had pulled his name from consideration in the face of mounting opposition from coal supporters and a stalemate in a crucial Senate committee.  —  The fall of the former Colorado utility regulator Ron Binz …

‘House Of Turds’: NY Daily News Mocks Boehner As Shutdown Arrives (PHOTO)  —  A prominent New York City tabloid marked the first government shutdown since 1996 on Tuesday with a cover that parodies a hit political drama and mocks House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).

Ted Cruz's dad rips RINOs, Obamacare  —  Ted Cruz's father, Rafael, ripped into the 25 “Republican in name only” senators who broke with his son's budget brinksmanship, endorsing primary challenges against them, during a speech Friday night in Colorado.  —  The Republican senator's dad …

Cory Booker goes negative vs. Steve Lonegan  —  Democrat Cory Booker is launching his first negative spot today against Republican rival Steve Lonegan in the New Jersey special election for U.S. Senate, calling his rival “too extreme” for the state.  —  The spot comes two weeks out from the Oct. 16 special election.