What I Saw At The Hearings

I'd planned a day of writing, but sick kids made that impossible, so I've had the hearings on at least in the background, and sometimes foreground for several hours. As my eyes glazed over, I started noticing stuff going on in the background, such as:

• Mrs. Alito tearing up and leaving the room when Lindsay Graham --defending Alito from charges that he's a bigot-- said something along the lines of trusting Alito's word because of the life he and his wife have lived and the way they've raised their kids. After a few days of abuse, it was a kind comment that finally broke her down. UPDATE: I see Drudge has the story up. Great hostile-looking pix of the Dems, but it wasn't their attack that teared Mrs. Alito up; she was stoic through all that. Graham's defense is what moved her.
• Ed Gillespie was in the crowd practically all day --and hardly seemed to be paying attention. Rather, he was typing furiously into his Blackberry (or similar gadget).
• The combination of a short skirt and plump legs crossed made for precarious family viewing during Sen. Graham's questioning. At least at the angle public television was using. Maybe someone noticed, because a few minutes in, the woman traded seats with a fully closed male staffer.
• Loathesome as he is, I kind of get a kick out of Sen. Schumer. He telegraphs that he thinks he going to "getcha" so far in advance and is so proud of himself all through the long wind-up, you can't help but laugh.