Debate day!

It's here at last -- the first real cage match in the Republican nomination fight.  (There was a "forum" for candidates earlier this week, but Trump didn't attend so who cares.)  Only ten of the seventeen (or whatever it is now) Republican candidates made the cut based on polling, with lesser aspirants relegated to a secondary debate already being called "the kids' table".  Either way, we all know what this is going to be -- "serious" contenders like Jeb and Walker, old-line crazies like Huckabee and Cruz, and the zzzzz "now who is that guy again?" no-hopers like Pataki and Graham, all desperately trying to get noticed as more than mere bit players in the latest episode of The Donald Trump Show.

The format for the debate is out (found via Politics Plus).  To get you in the mood, here's a little story illustrating something of Trump's character.  Progressive Eruptions has a rundown on some of the other candidates' desperate efforts to out-nutty The Donald.  Crazy Eddie's Motie News has drinking games and specialty drinks for the debate -- don't miss Tipsy Bartender's Donald Trump cocktail!  (Update:  more here.)  To see how the show plays among the rank-and-file Republicans who are, after all, its intended audience, Race 4 2016 will doubtless have detailed commentary.  For snark, I'm sure Tengrain's Mock Paper Scissors will be up to the challenge.

Let the feces-flinging commence!