Spitzer resigned this morning. Silda stood by his side again with bags under her eyes and her hands behind her back. As I watched the speech, my eyes were on her, more than him.

I’m fascinated by her reaction, mostly because I’m quite sure that I wouldn’t be so cool. I would react emotionally in a Donna Hanover style. It would be unbecoming and loud. Perhaps her decision to stand by her men was motivated by an interest in protecting the children. If that’s the case, then I admire her. I’m not sure that I would be so rational and cool.

Others have had their own spin on Silda. Hirshman sees it as a morality tale for opt-out moms.

I agree that staying at home is risky behavior (and so does Allison). I also think that staying at home is worth the risk for some women.

But in this particular case, Hirshman’s opting out lecture doesn’t work. Silda’s problem is the dissolution of her marriage and public humiliation, not poverty. Silda could have her pick of paid positions in politics or in law in a second. Paid employment would not shelter her from the public humiliation that she now faces.

My mom had still another take on events. She stopped by today with some chicken soup for my sore throat.

I asked her if she watched the speech. She said yes.

"How about Silda?", I said. She said, "women are stronger than men."

Dr. Manhattan says that political families have their own rules of behavior that forces them to keep up the public face at all times.