Today's profile in courage:

When Sen. John E. Sununu (R-N.H.) saw reporters approaching him last week, he took off in a sprint, determined to say as little as possible about a nonbinding resolution opposing President Bush's troop escalation plan expected to come before the Senate today.

"You know where I stand," the senator, who is considered politically vulnerable back home, said repeatedly as he fled down stairways at the Capitol. "I'm still looking."

Pretty shabby for a senator from New Hampshire, where the state motto is "Live free or die."

"I'm still looking" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.