[AlwaysFrosty]

I really don't get people with your position? Trump, whatever you think of him, is a cultural icon and as such will bring a huge audience to this debate. This debate may likely attract more independents and even dems than the past debates have done. It is funny to watch the established repub elites decry this debate and say it cheapens the process...are you kidding? We just had a president say the other day that “We need to be uppin our game.”
This is a new day, a new election process, the old rules are not working as they once did. The candidates who don't attend do so at their own peril. I hope there are only three or four that show up so that we can give more time for each to answer.

[ScottinVA]

Trump, whatever you think of him, is a cultural icon and as such will bring a huge audience to this debate.

He's also a self-worshipping glory hound who will want something substantive in return for an endorsement. They're cheapening themselves and their candidacies by playing the role of applicant in a grotesque remake of "The Apprentice."

I'm not a backer of Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman or Mitt Romney, but all three deserve props for steering clear of Trump. Trump is amoral, with nothing underpinning him but money, and IMO, he'd support Pol Pot if he got a juicy enough deal from it.

[D-fendr]

We’ll see. I think it will be the Trump show. And I’m far from a ‘republican elite.”

The Donald said he may run as an independent in 2012 if the candidates don’t meet his expectations. I can’t remember a moderator saying this before.

It won’t be moderated, it will be judged, by Trump. If there was a moderator choice that was even worse than what we’ve had, we’ve found it.

Trump cheapens everything he touches. Can you tell I loathe the guy? :)

This is not good for the party or the candidates. They should all skip it.