This Iowa Democratic Debate had little more than entertainment value.  Considering that the elections are a ridiculously long time away, the impressions left on the viewers are soon going to be superseded by more recent and more heavily publicized debates.

In terms of the actual issues, nothing was decided and nothing was established.  Rarely were the issues even addressed in detail.  Vague rhetoric and clever avoidance of the real issues clouded the significance of the evening.

For example, the issue of whether the candidates believed in a personal God diverted to a breakdwon of the merits of prayer.  Candidate responses avoided the question almost completely.  How does an analysis of whether prayer incites courage even begin to address the existence of a knowable divine being?

Such presidential debates should be taken with a grain of salt.  Debates such as these seem to have  a goal of publicity rather than substance.