The mere mention of trade with China often sends members of Congress into verbal convulsions. The mention of the currency battle with the Chinese causes others to sputter and mutter in disgust.

And yet, President Bush's trip there was almost an afterthought for most members of Congress.

Back in the early 1990's, the debates over giving Most Favored Nation status to China were often bitter contests. Democrats led by then backbencher Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) were outspoken in their opposition.

This time, hardly a peep on the floors of the House and Senate.

Maybe everyone has been so wrapped up in the economy, high oil and gas prices, the Iraq War and more, that battling over the Olympics almost seems to be out of place and out of style.

Don't get me wrong - there were a few lawmakers who registered their displeasure over China.

"We have said to the Chinese Government we want progress," said Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) in a floor speech last week about Chinese dissidents. He urged President Bush to say something while at the Olympics.

"The President of the United States--and only the President--has the power to shine the brightest light in the world into the dark cells in China and say to these courageous Chinese citizens that you are not alone."

But it was pretty mild stuff. No thundering speeches and demands for the President to do this or that.

In fact, the most heated criticism came from a GOP lawmaker.

This week, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) gave President Bush a piece of his mind for going to China and not staying at the White House to call the Congress back into session on high energy prices.

"Perhaps our Compassionate Conservative-in-Chief will bring our absent Democrat Congress some 'Made in (communist) China' souvenir t-shirts: 'Bush went to Beijing and all I got was this lousy five week, paid vacation,' " McCotter wrote.

But that rhetoric was really atypical for the Congress.

One might have though these Olympics would have proved more volatile in terms of advance political protests, but the US just hasn't gotten that involved.

Maybe it's that this Commander-in-Chief is almost out of office.