Premise:
"No one took the bet."
Hypothesis: They did not want to gamble away their money.

it is not possible to tell

Premise:
"The Republican Party leadership wants Starr to deliver nothing until after the elections (Shields; George Will, This Week ; Gwen Ifill, NBC's Meet The Press ; Tony Blankley, CNN's Late Edition ; and David Bloom, Meet the Press ). In fact, Orrin Hatch's comments on the shows this week should be construed as signals from the GOP to Starr asking him to withhold a report, charges Bloom."
Hypothesis: The Republican Party leadership has held many meetings with Starr about his schedule until the elections.

it is not possible to tell

Premise:
"(Pickled pigs' feet are the opposite of an acquired taste, he writes."
Hypothesis: Pickled pigs feet do not grow on you.
yes