It's a fundamental scientific and logical principle that absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence. Moreover, as many of us middle-age to older guys well know, absence of hard evidence is not evidence of hard absence......certainly not until after four hours have gone by and the doctor won't return the phone call.

Do I know for sure that John McCain is thinking seriously about putting Larry on the national Republican ticket with him this year? No. Do my detractors know for sure that he isn't? See there......it's at least a standoff. How wide of a standoff you'll have to ask the Senator.

Doesn't anybody remember that sign above Fox Mulder's basement desk in "The X-Files"? "I Want To Believe"? Did Fox have hard evidence of flying saucers? What ever happened to good old honest-to-goodness blind faith, anyway? Just try this: Narrow your own stance just a bit, close your eyes, click your heels three times and say: "Larry Craig is going to be the next Vice-President of the United States of America."

Still nothing? Try leaving the stall door open and going through the same routine.

Hmmmm.

Well, look. Not being able to verify whether John McCain is thinking about inviting the Idaho senator to join him on the ticket ought not to quell important discussions, like over Craig's positions on foreign policy issues. For example, this fall's Vice-Presidential debate might well contain an exchange like this one:

George Stephanopoulos: "Senator, how do you feel about partitioning Iraq into three autonomous zones?"

Craig: "As a matter of general principle, George, I'm generally opposed to partitions, but if you're going to have them they need to be at least one foot off the floor."

Stephanopoulos: "You didn't completely answer my question, Senator. What about the zones being autonomous?"

Craig: "Look, history is replete with tragic examples of what happens when certain things don't remain anonymous. You're looking at one."

Evidence, shmevidence.........let's put an end to this Vice-Presidential stalling.