A bucket of warm spit, considered

The Hill newspaper in Washington went to the trouble to ask the 97 US senators who aren't running for president whether they'd be interested in being vice president.

For its efforts, it got a lot of the usual political pablum, many demurrals, and more than a few flat "No's."

But it also drew some actual humor, mostly from Republicans for some reason.

"No, I don't like going to funerals," said Judd Gregg of New Hampshire.

"I plan to stick with my current job until I get the hang of it," said Edward M. Kennedy, a Democrat who has represented Massachusetts for 46 years.

"Once is enough," said Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000. "I already have the T-shirt and I'm proud of it."

Said Bob Bennett, a Utah Republican: "Of course. Big house, big car, not much to do. Why not?"

And Larry Craig, an Idaho Republican who had been in the news for other reasons recently: "I would say, 'No Hillary.' "