Top Items:


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 …
Discussion:
Booman Tribune, The Plum Line, Talking Points Memo, Roll Call and No More Mister Nice Blog
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GOP braces for shutdown fallout — House and Senate Republicans are still spooked by the ghosts of shutdown past, with many fearing a brutal political fallout that could threaten their party in the run-up to the 2014 midterms. — Despite a firm belief that the public is on their side …
Discussion:
CNN, Outside the Beltway, The Hill and The Other McCain

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.
Discussion:
Politico, ABC News, Daily Kos and Red Alert Politics

Government shutdown: John Boehner's private fight for Hill health subsidies — With the federal government nearing shutdown, House Speaker John Boehner stood on the House floor Monday and called on his colleagues to vote for a bill banning a “so-called exemption” that lawmakers and staffers receive for their health insurance.
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Daily Kos

Those Banana Republicans — They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Why is it that the Republicans in Congress seem so determined to prove this maxim? — Let's start with the Affordable Care Act, a k a Obamacare.
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE, Hullabaloo, National Review, Daily Kos, The Verge, The Daily Banter and The Hinterland Gazette


Six Headlines About The Government Shutdown That Will Destroy Your Faith In Journalism — The government shut down because a small group of Republicans, led by Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX), insist on linking continued funding to repealing, defunding, or delaying Obamacare.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Center for American Progress, The Huffington Post and Naked Politics

In Congress, a not-so-brief case of delusion over government shutdown
Discussion:
Balloon Juice and The Raw Story

Sen. Durbin: “It's conceivable” …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, The Daily Caller and National Review

Yes, they really did it; With no deal, the shutdown has happened
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Reuters, The Daily Beast, Brains and Eggs, Via Meadia and The Reaction

Government shutdown begins as gridlocked Congress gives up
Discussion:
The Hill, Scared Monkeys, CNN, Weasel Zippers and WND


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!
Discussion:
National Review, NewsBusters, Hot Air, Althouse and The Lonely Conservative
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CNN Poll: Will Obamacare help you? — Less than one in five Americans say their families will be better off under the new health care law, according to a new poll. — But a CNN/ORC International survey released Tuesday morning also indicates a majority say the Affordable Care Act …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and The Other McCain


Full steam ahead for Obama healthcare law
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …

Some State Exchanges Delayed Until Afternoon
Discussion:
Wonkblog, Hit & Run and Washington Free Beacon

President Obama: Expect months of ‘glitches’
Discussion:
Pirate's Cove

Less than one in five say ObamaCare will help
Discussion:
The Right Scoop


The House GOP's Legislative Strike — In January, demoralized House Republicans retreated to Williamsburg, Virginia, to plot out their legislative strategy for President Obama's second term. Conservatives were angry that their leaders had been unable to stop the expiration of the Bush tax cuts …
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House GOP seeks conference with Senate Dems on shutdown
Discussion:
Firedoglake, americanthinker.com, CNN and The Reaction


Conservatives With a Cause: 'We're Right'
Discussion:
Politico, The Hairpin, WJLA-TV and Wall Street Journal

Reid rejects House Republicans' offer to appoint funding conferees (Video)
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Booman Tribune and New York Times


‘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).
Discussion:
The Hinterland Gazette, Balloon Juice, Paul Krugman and Mediaite


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 …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland and The Moderate Voice


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:
Discussion:
The Dish, Taylor Marsh, Shakesville, Connecting.the.Dots, The Frying Pan and The Moderate Voice


Christie says shutdown debate would look very different if he was in charge — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Monday blamed President Barack Obama for “not bringing people together” during the government shutdown debate and said the president would be ultimately responsible for a funding stoppage.
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars and susiemadrak.com
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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 …
Discussion:
Hot Air, The Right Scoop and National Review


The glitchy error-filled misadventures of creating an account on healthcare.gov — BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL BARACK OBAMA OBAMACARE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN — A friend and I spent the morning trying unsuccessfully to create an account on healthcare.gov and shop for cheaper health insurance.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and National Republican …


A Portrait of Jewish Americans — American Jews overwhelmingly say they are proud to be Jewish and have a strong sense of belonging to the Jewish people, according to a major new survey by the Pew Research Center. But the survey also suggests that Jewish identity is changing in America …
Discussion:
New York Times, Associated Press and Israel Matzav


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 …
Discussion:
E2-Wire and Washington Free Beacon