Cry Me a River

Shakespeare's Sister is skeptical of Alito's wife's tears. I don't know; I cry at the drop of a hat, so I tend to assume tears are genuine. I don't think it matters much either way.

The point is that sincere or not, that's why she was there. It's a win-win for the Republicans: either Alito's questioners are spooked into gentler questioning, or they do their jobs with the gloves off and upset the little woman. Crying is gravy, but they had already written the script for her being upset (one way or another) by the Democrats' caddish behavior.

I have some sympathy for Alito's wife. These hearings are a rough process, as well they should be. It can't be easy for her to hear a lot of criticism of her husband; it can't be easy for any politician's wife. If she was really upset, that's too bad.

And the people to blame for it are the ones who put her there in order to use her tears as political theatre.

Update: What Ezra said.

[That's all, folks]