So many bad puns to be made about being "hobbled" by the confirmation process, so little time.

Suffice it to say Judge Sonia Sotomayor was not laughing this morning when she fell and broke her right ankle at New York's La Guardia Airport. Not to be knocked off her scheduled meetings with senators, however, Sotomayor flew to D.C., went to the White House for meetings and THEN went to the hospital. (We hear her destination was George Washington University Hospital, trauma center to the political stars, including President Ronald Reagan when he was shot and Vice President Dick Cheney when his ticker gave him problems.)

The result for Judge Sotomayor, as you can see, is a pretty hefty cast on her right leg, with a walking bootie, a set of crutches, and a purse-carrying aide to get around Capitol Hill. Here, she's on her way to meet with Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA).