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.

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 …

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 …

How Low Can Congress Go?  —  NOTABLES  — A 40 YEAR LOW: Approval of Congress is at a new low in 40 years of polling, Americans' approval of their own representative in Washington is underwater for the first time and a record number of registered voters are inclined to look for someone new in 2014 …

Marco Rubio: Postponing Obamacare mandate a “prudent approach”  —  (CBS News) Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., says he will introduce a bill to postpone the Affordable Care Act individual insurance mandate until HealthCare.gov is fixed.  —  He called effort to postpone the Obamacare measure a “prudent approach.”

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 …

Man Spends 4.5 Hours on Obamacare Hotline But Still Can't Sign Up  —  Yesterday in the Rose Garden, President Obama touted the Obamacare hotline and recommended people call to sign up for Obamacare.  “[T]he point is the call centers are available,” Obama said, sounding as though he were in the middle of an infomercial.

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.

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.

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.

Nineteen Organizations Spend More Than $1 Million a Month Lobbying  —  Lobbying the federal government is a big business with nineteen companies and trade associations spending over $1 million a month lobbying during the third quarter.  —  Organizations are required to disclose how much they spend …