The Taming of the Times

Anyone notice that the New York Times story by Jo Becker and Adam Liptak about Sotomayor raising "questions about her judicial temperament and willingness to listen" was subject to a headline makeover this morning? The headline this morning? "Sotomayor's Sharp Tongue Raises Issue of Temperament." The headline now? "Sotomayor's Blunt Style Raises Issue of Temperament." Dana Goldstein at Tapped caught the original headline it for what it was. Jess pointed out a while back that the Times swapped its obit from "Bea Arthur, TV Battle-ax, Dies at 86" to "Bea Arthur, Star of Two TV Comedies, Dies at 86." Any bets on what the headline writers there are teeing up for the confirmation itself? "Harridan's Harrowing Ride?" "Shrill Shrew Shatters Senate?" "Vetting the Virago?" Good times.