It’s admittedly excruciating to have to pay any attention to the Trump-moderated debate, but it will be interesting to watch which GOP candidates agree to participate and which bail.

So far, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum are in, and Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman are out.

The rest, including Romney, Perry and Bachmann, have yet to say.

President Obama will appear in the White House briefing room shortly to make a statement on the payroll tax cut debate. Watch.

Here’s our latest on the current state of play.

Historic social upheaval. Global economic crisis. Out of control carbon emissions. Political revolution on a grand scale.

Meanwhile, the GOP presidential campaign has turned into an episode of The Apprentice, and Donald Trump continues to dabble in birtherism.