CHRIS DODD’S COUNTRYWIDE SHUFFLE ISN’T PLAYING WELL IN CONNECTICUT:

Sen. Dodd has finally released paperwork for his controversial mortgages, but the fact that he waited so long to do so has hurt him politically. . . . Sen. Dodd created his own maelstrom. He waited too long to release the documents. What was he thinking?

I don’t think he actually “released” the documents, though. He just let a few reporters glance at them without making copies — the “idiot’s treatment.” He should actually release the documents to public scrutiny.

A NEW BOOK FROM ELIZABETH EDWARDS, and people wonder if she’ll write about Rielle. If she doesn’t, what will she say?

GAY MARRIAGE HAS BECOME NORMAL: “A lesbian couple who led the fight for gay marriage in Massachusetts has filed for divorce.”

BACON IS NOW AN “Internet phenomenon.” I blame John Scalzi.

“BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE:” India Warns Obama Over Kashmir. “It’s possible that at this time there are elements, perhaps in the administration who are harking back to the pre-2000 era.”

MY PET GOAT.

Heh. Via Althouse.

TRADE WAR AVERTED: Obama backs down on “Buy American.”

PRAYERS AND CONDOLENCES for Amy Welborn.

A BAD REVIEW FOR CHRIS DODD’S MODIFIED LIMITED HANGOUT GAMBIT: Dodd gives journos the idiot’s treatment on mortgage document disclosure.

MY MONEY’S ON BACON! Mr. Bacon vs. Monsieur Tofu Action Figures.

ANOTHER STORY ON THE SPREAD OF SURVIVALISM:

Survivalists have a long history in the United States. But what used to be the preserve of anti-establishment loners, cultists and gun nuts has gone mainstream. . . . “The cross section of the readership is changing too. Before, most of my readership was conservative Christians. We’re seeing a lot more left of center.”

I guess that explains why books like this one are doing so well. But, please, won’t somebody remember the zombies?

And, yes, I was ahead of the curve on this story.

TIGERHAWK: Do not pick on Wells Fargo for the Vegas trip. “The people complaining that Wells Fargo ought not have a corporate function in Las Vegas because it benefited from the ‘bail out’ are wrong. There are at least three reasons.”

VIDEO: Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher on Capitol Hill.

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: “Millions of Americans don’t have either Daschle’s or Geithner’s resources, yet they pay dearly to go to accountants, honestly turn over all their records, and then pay the full amount of taxation in accordance with their understanding of the law, and the advice they receive from professional accountants. Yet men both much richer and much more informed about the U.S. tax code not only don’t do that, but feel no compunction to rectify mistakes unless they cause embarrassment enough to thwart their careers. Two subtexts as well: there must be many more Daschles and Geithners floating around Washington who don’t show up on the radar unless they want a top political appointment; and, two, the old liberal creed that taxes are good and patriotic and are avoided by greedy, selfish conservative elites seems shattered by these examples.”

I agree with this: “Any more of these stories and we will be on very dangerous ground, since the message is a terrible one to the American people: You pay your full amount, but our elites not only do not, but won’t unless they get caught. This is all about as good an argument for a flat tax as one can imagine.”

WELL, SURE, WHEN YOU PUT IT THAT WAY, it doesn’t sound so good:

At the dawn of the Obama Administration we have witnessed: four high-level appointees blow up over various issues, tax and otherwise (Richardson, Daschel, and Killefer get axed; Geitner stays); the appointment of at least 12 lobbyists to positions in the Administration — in direct contradiction of campaign promises; a pork-laden economic stimulus bill without precedent in US history; and the reversal of campaign positions concerning controversial policies like rendition.

But hey, it’s only been two weeks.

UPDATE: Drudge weighs in:

HOPE AND CHANGE: U.S. to Get the Boot from Central Asia Base? “Stunning news from Moscow: Russian news agencies are reporting that the government of Kyrgyzstan will close Manas Air Base, a vital conduit for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.” I thought once Obama was President everyone was going to like us.

UPDATE: Reader Jeff Weimer emails: “I was told that if I voted for McCain, our ability to work with other nations to achieve our goals would falter. They were right!”

ANOTHER UPDATE: Ouch: “The Russians are managing to screw us in Afghanistan as badly as we screwed them 20 years ago.”

MORE: From Bob Krumm, an “I told you so.”

And is this a Russian about-face? “It certainly appears that they’re twisting the screws and testing President Obama.”

It’s also possible that there’s more to this story than we’ve gotten so far, and that it’s not as bad as it looks. I certainly hope so, and I imagine President Obama does, too.

SHOULD LAW PROFESSORS BE “Facebook Friends” with students? Seems harmless to me.

WHAT TO DO WITH VACANT MALLS: Questions on retrofitting suburbia.

MOE LANE: I do not say to Congress, “Do not pass a resolution condemning the Armenian genocide.” But, he says, don’t be surprised at what happens next. . . .

OBAMA’S China problem. Only it’s our problem, too.

PRESS REVOLVING DOORS AND FAVORITISM: “There’s a debate?”

MICHAEL SILENCE IS UNIMPRESSED with Wells Fargo: “Bailed-out banking giant Wells Fargo is planning more than a week of corporate junkets at Las Vegas casinos.” But it sounds like this is actually a reward for salespeople. If you’re hurting for cash, you probably want to reward salespeople who do a good job. Or am I missing something here?

REPLACING TOM DASCHLE with Phil Bredesen? That would be a good move for Obama, but Tennessee kinda needs him.

DOES SAUNA USE help with colds?

ROBOT RIGHTS for battlefield robots.