Senators are politicians, after all, so it's not surprising that they love their schmoozing time. Today was no exception, as the vote to release bailout money to the president-elect became a veritable smorgasboard of senatorial socializing.

New Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) was welcomed heartily by members of both parties on his first day as an official member. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) pointed happily to Burris' new senatorial pin (which they wear on their lapels during every session day) and playfully brushed the shoulder of his dark suit. Burris voted to give his senatorial predecessor, Barack Obama, $350 billion of bailout authority.

North Carolina's ideologically disparate senators, newcomer Kay Hagan (D) and Richard Burr (R), huddled together on the Democratic side, while Vice President-elect Joe Biden (D-DE), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) accepted valedictories for what could be their last vote before joining the Obama Cabinet.