It's hard to imagine the Senate without Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy, whose combined seniority approached an entire century.  Here's the current seniority list and where it was just a year and a half ago.

CURRENT SENATE SENIORITY

1.  Daniel Inouye (D-Haw.) — Jan. 9, 1963

2.  Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) — Jan. 3, 1975

3.  Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) — Jan. 4, 1977

4.  Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) — Jan. 4, 1977

5.  Max Baucus (D-Mont.) — Dec. 15, 1978

6.  Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) — Dec. 27, 1978

7.  Carl Levin (D-Mich.) — Jan. 15, 1979

8.  Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) — Jan. 5, 1981

9.  Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) — Jan. 5, 1981

10.  Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) — Jan. 5, 1981

Here's what it was just prior to the 2008 election:

1.  Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) — Jan. 7, 1959

2.  Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) — Nov. 7, 1962

3.  Inouye

4.  Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) — Dec. 24, 1968

5.  Joe Biden (D-Del.) — Jan. 3, 1973

6.  Leahy

7.  Lugar

8.  Hatch

9.  Baucus

10.  John Warner (R-Va.) — Jan. 2, 1979

Tags: Senate seniority, Washington Senators