William James' "The Moral Equivalent of War" was one of the best essays I've ever read, and it's the only essay I've ever read in the course of (kind of) watching a debate.  I found his piece a useful mental respite during the many times the 78 candidates rehashed the same talking points and rhetoric I've been hearing since June.

I give Warren, Harris, Klobuchar, Gabbard and Yang extra points for not wearing ties, and the mayor a bonus point for saying he doesn't play golf.  That billionaire who probably shouldn't be running made the most important point of the night when he got real about climate change.  The former VP probably shouldn't have said "keep punching and punching and punching" when discussing how to reduce violence against women.  Booker had the funny line about the latter being high, but I liked it better when he used to say "dagnabbit" on repeat.

Whoever gets the nomination, I hope they read Mr. James' ideas about the need for showing our youth how to obtain "toughness without callousness."  May the nominee embody such virtues