Capitol Hill – “No fist fights yet,” muttered Sen. Kit Bond (R., Mo.) as he left the Senate’s first meeting of the 111th Congress.

Indeed, today’s Senate swearing-in ceremony was largely free of the controversy that had been expected around the rejection of two almost-senators — Al Franken of Minnesota, and Roland Burris of Illinois. Franken’s successful election result, while likely to survive a legal challenge, remains unofficial. Burris’s appointment by Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D.) to the seat vacated by President-elect Obama is perfectly legal, but is marred by accusations that Blagojevich had been trying to sell the Senate seat.

The only drama surrounding Burris had taken place hours before the doors to the chamber were opened, when the former Illinois attorney general showed up at the Capitol and was turned away by the secretary of the Senate. He then crossed the street for a press conference at an outdoor podium near the Russell Senate Office building. Actually, Burris merely made a prepared statement from an outdoor podium, angering the mob of reporters who had hoped to question him but were instead forced to stand in the cold rain and question his lawyer.

Off the Senate floor today, senators preferred other topics to the two men who were not there. Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D., N.D.) discussed the budget deficit. Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D., Mont.) discussed tax policy. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I., Conn.) discussed Obama’s nominees. Franken, whose election is tied up in litigation, was nowhere to be found. The previous night, Democrats had backed away from their threat to seat him.