The first Republican primary debate will be on August 23, fewer than 12 weeks away. Will former President Donald Trump play ball and mix it up with a growing number of challengers? Could the debates undermine his formidable lead? 
 
The Republican National Committee has just announced the criteria candidates will have to meet in order to participate. For some, appearing on the debate stage will be their first chance to speak to a national audience, for free.  

The stakes are high, especially when the front-runner seems to be running away with the race. If you’re a Republican vying for the presidency in 2024, it’s hard to draw breath; Trump, as ever, is sucking all the oxygen out of the room.

Any outcome would be good for the Dems:

- if Trump wins the primaries, they are very likely to win,

- if Trump doesn't win the primaries, he will not accept it more than he accepted the result of the  2020 elections, and he will switch to scorched earth mode!

I know it’s the Republican Party, but for goodness sake, the extremely large elephant in the room is not a mascot.

With so many of these Republicans joining in the running I have to wonder what propels them.  For those who are not in gov't at the moment, almost everything they spend during the candidacy can be written off (meaning tax deductible) AND they get to collect $$$ from their supporters.  Especially fruitful for the very rich, meaning private jet rich.  I think Ross Perot's accountants opened up a vista on this 1992, which is why you see the occasional rich guy throw his hat in the ring and then expend very little effort, like Starbucks Guy, Steve Forbes, Mike Bloomberg to name a few. 

Of course there is vanity, self-promotion, etc.

I suspect there is some buzz in GOP land that the RNC will be forced to distance itself from orange guy so as not to be tagged "the pro-felony party."  The possibility of an open convention for GOP looms -- anything can happen, meaning it's possible someone not in the primaries can walk away with the nomination.