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 …

At Al Smith Dinner, Colbert Doesn't Spare Politicians  —  When the comedian Stephen Colbert took to the dais on Thursday for his keynote speech at the Al Smith white-tie charity dinner, the annual gathering of New York's Roman Catholic elite, he immediately flashed a sly glance at Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, sitting a few seats away.

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 …

Health Website Woes Widen as Insurers Get Wrong Data  —  Insurers say the federal health-care marketplace is generating flawed data that is straining their ability to handle even the trickle of enrollees who have gotten through so far.

Cory Booker Plans To Start Marrying Same-Sex Couples At 12:01 A.M. Monday  —  The senator-elect is slated to marry the couples in the wake of a trial-court ruling requiring marriage equality in the Garden State.  The only question is whether the New Jersey Supreme Court will put same-sex couples' weddings …

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.

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.

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.

The Truth About the Obamacare Rollout  —  The feds botched the website.  But the states are doing much better.  —  The federal government is open and paying its bills, which means you can start looking at the other big story from the past few weeks: The startup of Obamacare's marketplaces.

How to Win in Virginia as a Liberal Democrat  —  Unlike Mark Warner and Tim Kaine before him, Terry McAuliffe is touting a distinctly left-leaning social agenda.  —  No one would confuse Terry McAuliffe with a policy wonk.  The Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Virginia is more likely to be found slapping backs than cracking books.

Ted Cruz Not Looking for ‘99 New Friends’ in the Senate  —  Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, doesn't have many friends in Washington these days and he says he doesn't need 'em.  —  “There's an old saying that, 'Politics, it ain't beanbag.' And, you know, I'm not serving in office because I desperately needed 99 …

How the GOP Slowly Went Insane  —  The current moment in politics came about slowly, not suddenly, but it doesn't make it any less of a national emergency.  —  When I was a kid, all I knew about Michael Jackson was that he was crazy.  He had a monkey named Bubbles and some kind of oxygen chamber …

Redskins and reason  —  In re the (Washington) Redskins.  Should the name be changed?  —  I don't like being lectured by sportscasters about ethnic sensitivity.  Or advised by the president of the United States about changing team names.  Or blackmailed by tribal leaders playing the race card.

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?

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.

Daniel Snyder's Best Possible Answer to Critics of the Redskins' Name  —  The owner could use this opportunity to talk about real reform when it comes to Native American issues.  —  Another football season is upon us, which means another opportunity for America to engage in another autumn ritual …

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 …

Ted Cruz Failed To Disclose Ties To Caribbean Holding Company  —  An old college friendship led to financial entanglement with a Jamaican private equity firm and a British Virgin Islands holding company.  Neither was disclosed during his 2012 campaign.  —  Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz …

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 …

Conservatives, Get a Grip on Reality!  —  Those who thought shutting down the government was a winning strategy should have their heads examined.  —  Here's a question for conservatives and Republicans: Going into the 2012 Election Day, or even in the last few days before Election Day, did you think Mitt Romney was going to win?