No one was crying over Pres. Obama’s “spilled milk” joke last night, but there were plenty of tears in the House Chamber this morning as Rep. Gabrielle Giffords resigned from Congress. With Giffords by her side, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz read a letter from the Arizona congresswoman who was shot by a deranged gunman in her home district in January, 2011.

“I will recover and will return, and we will work together again for Arizona, and for all Americans.”

A three and a half minute standing ovation followed. The event was carried live on the cable news channels. “Holy cow, cue the waterworks,” said CNN’s Kyra Phillips. “It is hard not be moved by what we’ve just seen in the House,” said Chris Jansing on MSNBC. “Not a dry eye in the House… or here either,” said Martha MacCallum on Fox News.