The first battalion of Democratic candidates kick off the debate season tonight, and I, for one, could not be happier. There has been a gaping hole in my life, a tireless quest for meaning, a blind shamble toward an existential abyss. A debate season that features two or three dozen candidates getting 90 seconds to talk a full seven months before a vote is cast is precisely what my metaphysician prescribes.

This evening is highlighted by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass), which makes her the de facto frontrunner in a group striving for attention. As silly as it seems, this could be a make-or-break evening for former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (TX), Sen. Cory Booker (NJ), and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MINN). I would guess that one of these three will emerge soon. I also think, and perhaps I am nuts, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI) has the chance to surprise. She is unconventional by nature in a field of candidates clawing but rarely finding authenticity.