Political hacks love to equate recess with the stink of jet fumes.

Today, the Senate office buildings were flooded with the intoxicating scents of hickory-smoked swine and sugary baked beans.

Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) banded together to co-host a bipartisan barbecue fest for the entire body. An Isakson aide said Sam’s BBQ 1, an award-winning establishment from Marietta, Ga., provided a spread of pulled pork, beef brisket, baby back ribs, baked beans, mac and cheese, sweet tea and pecan pie for the 70 to 80 Senators who mingled and munched to their hearts’ content.

No word on which of the smoked meats was the runaway favorite. But we’re guessing that because Isakson’s PAC picked up the check, it all tasted pretty sweet to homeward-bound legislators.