CHANGING THE DEBATES – AT 8:06 A.M. ET:  We cannot confirm the details of this, but it appears that GOP presidential candidates are taking matters into their own hands to prevent the kind of debacle that occurred in this week's debate.  From The Hill:

Republican presidential campaigns will meet together to discuss changing the debate process this weekend, and will not include representatives from the Republican National Committee (RNC), Politico reported Thursday evening.

The news comes after a series of complaints about Wednesday’s presidential debate hosted by CNBC. Candidates complained during and after the event about the network and the debate moderators.

The weekend confab is being organized by the campaigns of Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Politico reported.

The campaigns of Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), as well as Carly Fiorina and Mike Huckabee, are expected to participate as well.

The report added that the campaigns feel the RNC has not prioritized the candidates in the debate process. The discussion will center on structuring upcoming debates.

During Wednesday’s debate, candidates repeatedly sparred with moderators John Harwood, Becky Quick and Carl Quintanilla over their questions.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) accused the hosts of pitting the candidates against each other in order to promote a “cage match.” And Rubio slammed a question about his “maturity.”

After the event, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus criticized CNBC, saying it “should be ashamed of how this debate was handled.”

COMMENT:  It would be remarkable, and I think unprecedented, for a group of candidates to seize control of the process from the national party.  Maybe it's a good thing.  The national parties are old institutions, too often set in their ways, and too often creatures of Washington.

All the excitement is on the Republican side.

October 30,  2015