Even the appearance of the three Senators running for President didn't do much to electrify the first day of hearings.

Sen. John McCain took some shots at the plans of Democrats to withdraw US forces from Iraq, using his Q&A with Iraq commander Gen. David Petraeus to argue that the American military surge is working.

"To promise a withdrawal of our forces, regardless of the consequences, would constitute a failure of political and moral leadership," McCain said.

McCain has never been a water carrier for any GOP administration and didn't do that on Tuesday either.  He backed the surge, but also made clear that US and Iraqi advances are lacking in several different areas.

Really, McCain had little at risk in these hearings, since he finds himself in agreement with military commanders and the US Ambassador to Iraq.

Three hours later, Sen. Hillary Clinton got the chance to respond to McCain, but there was little outrage in her voice, as instead she put forward a measured, very low key presentation that featured her concerns about the war.

"I think it's time to begin an orderly process of withdrawing our troops, start rebuilding our military and start focusing on the challenges posed by Afghanistan," Clinton said.

I was struck by Clinton's demeanor during her time, as she never came close to raising her voice and did not try any media blitz on the Iraq War commanding General.

Maybe Team Clinton determined that there was nothing to be gained from a shrill exchange with the Good General.  Maybe they figured it was better to make the case on Iraq on the stump than in a hearing room confrontation.

As for Obama, he was almost the forgotten man, way down the list in terms of seniority on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as much of the day my colleagues and I spent trying to figure out when he would finally get the chance to speak.

That opportunity finally came shortly after 5pm, a reminder to many of the junior Senator from Illinois' rather junior status.

It was also a reminder of how the entire issue of the Iraq War has dropped down the agenda in the past year.  Before the surge was announced last year, there was a lot of talk about GOP lawmakers running from the White House on Iraq.

Now, no one talks about Republicans fleeing from this President on the war, and no one talks about how the Democrats might be able to force change.

In fact, Congressional Democrats in coming weeks will move extra money for Iraq and Afghanistan through the House and Senate, without much talk of adding riders that would end the war now, in 90 days, etc.

Everyone realizes if there is going to be major change on Iraq courtesy of Democrats, that's got a much better chance to occur after the coming election.