Dahlia and John,

Are you watching the hearings and wondering whether they are about Sonia Sotomayor or about a bunch of senators who can't get over the thrill of gavel-to-gavel TV coverage? That said, this long morning of opening statements has been somewhat revealing so far. The Republicans are coming out swinging—and not just Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. Lindsey Graham just hit a nail that will be pounded repeatedly this week when he referred to Sotomayor's comment about wise Latina judges making better rulings. "If I'd said anything like that, my career would be over," Graham told her. It is Sotomayor's job to nod and smile just a bit for when the camera pans to her. She'll get her chance to reframe the discussion, and introduce herself, this afternoon.

So far, does the senators' display of aggressive stances, pro and con, surprise you? Is it clear from this morning's opening what the main battleground and tone of the hearings will be?

Emily