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WASHINGTON -- It's always a good day in middle school when the seventh-graders make it out of the cafeteria without a lunchtime food fight. So we should, I suppose, pause to appreciate the restraint and substance of the latest GOP presidential debate.

The candidates, most notably mashed-potato-flinger-in-chief Donald Trump, managed to make it through the evening without resort to belittling invective ("little Marco," "lying Ted") or juvenile puffery ("He referred to my hands, if they are small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there is no problem. I guarantee.")

Sigh of relief, and credit to CNN moderator Jake Tapper and his colleagues for substantive questions that did not prod the candidates to taunt one another.

"So far I cannot believe how civil it's been up here," Trump observed at one point in the evening, as if he has not been the chief engine of 2016 campaign incivility.

But it's also important to note: This is grading on the most generous curve. The lowest point of the evening -- as disappointing as it was predictable -- came when Tapper asked Trump about violent attacks on protesters at his rallies.

Just the day before the debate, at an event in North Carolina, a Trump supporter identified as John McGraw punched a demonstrator in the face.

"We don't know who he is, but we know he's not acting like an American," said McGraw, who has since been charged with assault, in footage posted by Inside Edition. "The next time we see him, we might have to kill him."

Kill him. Stop and think about that scary mindset. Because Trump doesn't. The moment was played nonstop on cable news, but he didn't take the time to look at what had happened at one of his own events, much less accept any responsibility for it.

"Do you believe that you've done anything to create a tone where this kind of violence would be encouraged?" Tapper asked.

Trump responded with the weakest of condemnations. He spent more time empathizing with the understandable anger of his supporters than criticizing their unacceptable conduct.

"People come with tremendous passion and love for the country, and when they see protest, ⦠you know, you're mentioning one case, which I haven't seen, I heard about it, which I don't like," he said. "But when they see what's going on in this country, they have anger that's unbelievable. They have anger. They love this country. They don't like seeing bad trade deals, they don't like seeing higher taxes, they don't like seeing a loss of their jobs where our jobs have just been devastated. ... There is some anger. There's also great love for the country. It's a beautiful thing in many respects. But I certainly do not condone that at all, Jake."

Tapper persisted. "Some of your critics point to quotes you've made at these debates -- at these rallies -- including February 23rd, âI'd like to punch him in the face,' referring to a protester. February 27th, âin the good ol' days, they'd have ripped him out of that seat so fast.' February 1st, âknock the crap out of him, would, you? Seriously, OK, just knock the hell. I promise you I will pay for the legal fees, I promise, I promise.'"

Trump, characteristically, regretted nothing. "We have some protesters who are bad dudes, they have done bad things," he said. "They are swinging, they are really dangerous and they get in there and they start hitting people. And we had a couple big, strong, powerful guys doing damage to people, not only the loudness, the loudness I don't mind. But doing serious damage. And if they've got to be taken out, to be honest, I mean, we have to run something."

Trump never accepts responsibility. He never recognizes the role his own rhetoric might play in egging on violence. Indeed, he incites his crowds against the "absolute scum," "sleazebag," "lying, disgusting" reporters at his rallies. On Friday, accepting the endorsement of Ben Carson, a man he once described as âpathologicalâ and likened to a âchild molester,â Trump reaffirmed his inclination to meet violence with violence, citing the example of a protestor who was âswingingâ at the audience.

âAnd the audience hit back,â Trump said, approvingly. âAnd thatâs what we need a little bit more of.â

Actually, we donât. Left unprovoked, Trump can manage to keep things civil. That should not mask, and it does not excuse, his underlying thuggery.

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Ruth Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.

Copyright 2016 Washington Post Writers Group