We Won't Back Down on ObamaCare  —  Fighting a law that is unfair, unworkable and unaffordable is reasonable and necessary.  —  Now that the government shutdown has ended and the president has preserved ObamaCare for the time being, it's worth explaining why my organization, the Heritage Foundation …

This is what happened ..... Click to read  —  From FNC CHAD PERGRAM:  —  Urgent: House Stenographer says Holy Spirit woke her up at night to deliver message to the House  —  Karrah Kaplan spoke with the husband of House stenographer Dianne Reidy last night.  There's an emailed statement here from Dan Reidy.

Analysis: Republicans reassess after shutdown debacle  —  The GOP establishment has embarked, once again, on a round of soul-searching.  But this time, the question is: What will it take to save the Republicans from the self-destructive impulses of the tea party movement?

There's no actual debt ceiling right now  —  There's no actual debt ceiling right now.  —  The fiscal deal passed by Congress on Wednesday evening to re-open the government and get around the $16.4 trillion limit on borrowing doesn't actually increase the debt limit.  It just temporarily suspends enforcement of it.

Brian Schweitzer Mulling 2016 Presidential Bid  —  Add another name to the short list of Democrats seriously considering a run for president in 2016.  —  In an interview with RealClearPolitics, former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer indicated that he may launch a White House bid …

The Damage Done  —  The government is reopening, and we didn't default on our debt.  Happy days are here again, right?  —  Well, no. For one thing, Congress has only voted in a temporary fix, and we could find ourselves going through it all over again in a few months.

McConnell's Exit Interview  —  On Thursday morning, I sat down with Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, in his Capitol office.  We discussed his role in brokering the recent fiscal deal, his outlook on future talks, and Republican expectations for divided government.

Saudi Arabia, angered over Mideast, declines Security Council seat  —  (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia, in an unprecedented show of anger at the failure of the international community to end the war in Syria and act on other Middle East issues, said on Friday it would not take up its seat on the United Nations Security Council.

They're Not Going To Take It Anymore: New Generation Of Immigrant Advocates Take Radical Approach  —  The frustration, say immigration advocates, is reaching a fever pitch.  —  That is why, many say, recent weeks have seen activists use chains and pipes to tie themselves to the tires of buses …

October House Overview: GOP Risk Factors  —  Earlier this year, a senior House Democrat ribbed our pessimistic forecast for their 2014 prospects by suggesting, “Why can't you just say 'Democrats can't win a majority in the House, but Republicans can lose one?'”  That admonition has never seemed more appropriate.

In Defense of Kathleen Sebelius  —  The ObamaCare disaster isn't just a management failure.  —  “Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, has no intention of bowing to Republican demands that she resign,” the New York Times reports.  And amid what even the Times admits …

Two Parties Start Work to Avoid Repeat Crisis  —  WASHINGTON — With the government reopened and a debt default averted for now, Congressional negotiators on Thursday plunged into difficult budget talks to avoid a repeat crisis within months, and quickly agreed to lower their sights from the sort …

Michael Barone: Washington Is Partisan—Get Used to It  —  Consensus is elusive in an electorate without the shared memories of the Great Depression and World War II.

The Conservative War on the GOP  —  What was once an uneasy alliance between Tea Partiers and Republican loyalists is increasingly marked by hostility—and many on the right now want a divorce.  —  On his radio show recently, Glenn Beck urged his listeners to “defund the GOP.”

From the Department of Petty Controversies: Schools Cancel Halloween  —  Of all the conflicts to roil our educational system, this one is pretty absurd  —  In the latest example of small-mindedness plaguing our educational system, schools around the country are attempting to ban costumes …

Obama's Edge Over G.O.P. Is Still Unclear After Victory in Standoff  —  WASHINGTON — As the Senate voted Wednesday night on a bipartisan deal to reopen the government and avert a national default, President Obama emerged from the Oval Office prepared to head to the White House briefing room to deliver a televised statement.

Behind the curtain, more waving red flags for Obamacare  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL BARACK OBAMA OBAMACARE PRESIDENT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HEALTH CARE  —  So few applicants have gotten far enough along in Obamacare's enrollment process at Healthcare.gov that insurers are only beginning …

Design Firm Removes All Reference To Its Work On Obamacare From Its Website  —  Teal Media was founded by a former member of Obama's campaign design team.  The firm says it took down all reference to its work on HealthCare.gov “in consultation” with the administration.

Poll: Amid shutdown, Republican falls further behind in race for Va. governor  —  National Republicans may be glad the midterm elections are a year away after polls have shown the party's favorability at all-time lows because of the federal government shutdown.  But one Republican - in a swing state - is caught in the buzz saw.

Tech experts: Health exchange site needs total overhaul  —  WASHINGTON — The federal health care exchange was built using 10-year-old technology that may require constant fixes and updates for the next six months and the eventual overhaul of the entire system, technology experts told USA TODAY.

A Tree Grows in Canada  —  This Friday is Persons Day in Canada, a special day on the country's calendar that commemorates, of all things, a judicial decision.  It was on Oct. 18, 1929, that the Privy Council, a court in London that served then as the highest appeals court for Canada …