Our late-night Saturday Democratic debate (which seems odd scheduling, right there) is in the books. The benefits of having a presidential debate on network television appear to be that the questions will still be asked from a conservative standpoint, but at least we don't have to listen to Jim Cramer ask them. Case in point: reducing the candidates' plans for education, infrastructure and domestic policy to the rather juvenile onscreen chyron: "How high will you raise taxes?"
Surely, if Republican candidates get asked Republican-framed questions by Republican-leaning moderators, it would not be too much to ask for a Democratic debate to perhaps have Democratic moderators? Alas, it seems it will be a cold day in network hell before anyone stumbles on that formula.
In the immediate aftermath of the Paris attacks, the debate started on issues of foreign policy and terrorism. Clinton was again chastised for her Iraq War vote, which she continues to call "a mistake"; Sanders was most animated when describing his opposition to American policies of regime change.
On economic issues, Sanders continues to support a $15 minimum wage (the impetus for this was the moderator questioning how much "job loss" he'd accept to raise wages, a premise disputed by each of the candidates); Clinton proposes $12, but indexed to inflation. O'Malley points out his state of Maryland passed a minimum wage rise to $10.10, statewide. All three candidates agreed that raising wages worked.
The closest thing to a Clinton-Sanders fight was over Wall Street, and who would be tougher on them. Sanders continues to vow that he'll break the big banks up by reinstating Glass-Steagall; Clinton continues to defend by asserting that that's not a broad enough approach. Clinton also continues to be a bit evasive on the topic, at least compared to break-em-up Sanders and O'Malley.
And yes, there was a Hillary's Email question. It was dispatched with in short order by all the candidates basically dismissing it and talking about other things instead. And yes, Martin O'Malley was there; you could tell he was there because it seemed every time he asked to respond, it was time to cut to commercial.
The short version: A substantive debate with substantive, issue-based answers. Nobody "won", nobody "lost" or embarrassed themselves with a Rick Perry moment or a Trumpian outburst. If you're undecided (or if you are, but still feel like being a responsible citizen, and so on) or still looking to be convinced by one of these candidates, sit yourself down and give it a viewing (presumably, it will continue to be available on the cbs.com website).