Though the Democratic debate hosted this afternoon by the Des Moines Register in Des Moines, Iowa, did not feature any of the following hard-hitting questions: "Given that a major Congressional study has shown that abstinence-only is ineffective in delaying teens' age of sexual initiation, encouraging abstinence, or promoting condom use, what sexuality education programming would your administration fund?" or "What is your position on CEDAW and would your administration make it a priority that the US ratify the treaty?" – there was plenty for a progressive to love just the same. Fair trade, energy, presidential signing statements and executive power, education, farm subsidies, and the war were the talk of the day, and the candidates – right up until the last question, asking them what they had learned about Iowans during the process of campaigning in that state – seldom sounded like they were pandering, although they all did sound similar to one another. Among the firm bottom lines laid out: Hillary Clinton acknowledged that in order to return to "fiscal responsibility" (a phrase she uttered repeatedly throughout the debate), "raising taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals" is inevitable. Bill Richardson, meanwhile, warned that "it's going to take an energy revolution" to truly address global warming, and called current fuel efficiency standards "pathetic." "We're faced with huge, huge challenges," John Edwards told us. "The era of cowboy diplomacy is over," said Clinton. It was refreshing to hear them say it straight – America is in trouble, and the first step to recovery is admitting that we have a problem. "We can't just tell Americans what they want to hear, but what they need to hear," said Barack Obama. American sacrifice was on the table.

And the plans the candidates invoked were many. From universal pre-kindergarten and a national teaching university (John Edwards), NAFTA being reviewed and/or altered, (Clinton, Obama), the perennial bipartisan commission on Social Security (guess who), and capping farm subsidies (Obama), to Biden Plan to bring the troops home from Iraq, and, of course, universal health care plans – much was promised. Several of the candidates also touched on the importance of restoring civil liberties and constitutional rights, with Joe Biden and Richardson specifically pledging to reverse Bush's policies on torture.

At the close of the debate, the candidates had the chance to let out slightly more personality when, just like during yesterday's Republican debate, the moderator asked the candidates what their New Year's resolutions would be. Most made little of the opportunity, bringing up petty concerns like exercise or bland ones like "time with family" (didn't their aides know this question would come up again?), but John Edwards offered a thoughtful, reassuring reflection resolving to remember that, no matter what happens in Iowa come January third, "All of us on this stage are going to be just fine…but America may not be fine." I can scarcely believe this is the same man who cruelly, and clumsily, trotted out Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter for cheap political points in the 2004 vice-presidential debate. Having witnessed his (seemingly genuine) transformation, I'm wondering if perhaps time makes grown-ups of us all.