Stroking the funny bone of the Senate

In an attempt to add more political humour to our lives (as if the U.S. government weren't already enough of a joke), the staff of Zug.com posed as a 10 year old boy doing a social studies project and mailed all 100 members of the Senate, asking each of them what their favourite joke was. While Rick Santorum gets a gold star for sending a response on paper, he effectively proved that he hasn't any witticisms (at least none appropriate for a 10 year old...perhaps he has finally caught wind of the new slang meaning for Santorum). Meanwhile, Pennsylvania's other Senator, Arlen Specter, didn't even reply with a form letter. I do believe that I may live in the state with the two worst senators. Maybe I should have stayed in New York until Hillary Clinton finished her term (though she had neither a joke nor a reply for this "project").

Overall, I was impressed by the senators who did bother to reply to the prank, even those who dictated what to write to their secretaries. It gives the impression that they are actually taking their roles as public servants seriously. The vast majority of politicians seem to forget that small detail: when one is being elected by the people, one is effectively a public servant and should work in the best interests of the public. [Of course, having never been elected, George W. Bush doesn't have to really worry about all that "public servant" business.] It is entirely likely that the replies were merely just good public-relations, however, as in depth as some of them were, I have to believe - or at least hope - that some of these Senators are actually decent people.

At least some of them have a sense of humour.