My, how things change. When the 111th Congress was sworn in six years ago, on Jan. 6, 2009, Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., walked down the chamber aisle to be sworn in for her third term — sans her home-state colleague, Republican David Vitter.  

HOH took note in the Jan. 7, 2009, edition of Roll Call:

“If the first day of a Congressional session really is like the first day of high school, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) was totally exiled to the cafeteria losers’ table.”

“Sex-scandal-singed Vitter was spotted navigating the Senate halls solo while his colleagues enjoyed the company of friends and family. But the biggest diss of all came when fellow Louisianan Sen. Mary Landrieu was sworn in.

“All of the other Senators being sworn in were accompanied by their fellow home-state Senator, who walked with them as they approached Vice President Dick Cheney and stood behind them as he administered the oath of office. Landrieu, however, bypassed Vitter and instead asked Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) to stand with her during the ceremony.

“Following the swearing-in, HOH caught up with Landrieu, who explained simply that she had asked two Senators she admired to join her. ‘I asked Sen. Mikulski, the dean of the Senate women, in honor of the extraordinary progress we’re making in electing women,’ Landrieu said. ‘And I asked Sen. Domenici out of my deep respect for his many years of service.’

“Landrieu called them both ‘mentors’” whom she admires. ‘And I could only have two …’

“HOH didn’t get the chance to ask if Vitter was anywhere below that on the short list.

“Stay tuned — maybe next week he’ll get locked inside his locker.”

Vitter, who survived the spectacle of having his name appear in the little black book of Deborah Jeane Palfrey, aka the D.C. Madam, has also outlasted Landrieu, who lost her bid for a fourth term last month in December’s Louisiana runoff.  

Related:

Vitter’s Push to Nix Benefits Roils Senate


The 114th: CQ Roll Call’s Guide to the New Congress


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