1st GOP Presidential debate is Thursday

Christie, Kasich in for Fox News debate; Perry, Santorum out http://t.co/OBfpSzPPtA pic.twitter.com/BcmD25Vu9n

— The Hill (@thehill) August 4, 2015

How the Fox News GOP debate will work http://t.co/Sc0My4CYD2 pic.twitter.com/7bGifGuqh4

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 5, 2015

Here's what to expect Thursday night in Cleveland at the first #GOPDebate: http://t.co/9pCMUmUu79 pic.twitter.com/iMAzvBhC9m

— The Weekly Standard (@weeklystandard) August 4, 2015

1st GOP Pres debate is Thurs. Visit our events page or contact your county party for availability & watch event info! http://t.co/4k6FRfegeo

— CAGOP (@CAGOP) August 4, 2015

Here's a good reality check on the 2016 polling and political reporting as we go into the #GOPDebate http://t.co/sqvvWwCjkd @FlashReport

— Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) August 4, 2015

Chris Wallace, moderator of the first GOP debate, plans ‘some doozies’ http://t.co/ZrcuavH7rX

— slone (@slone) August 4, 2015

Fox News reveals methodology for choosing debaters http://t.co/x26sYhEZka via @DylanByers

— POLITICO (@politico) August 4, 2015

Fox used Bloomberg, CBS News, Fox News, Monmouth University and Quinnipiac University polls. (Not NBC/WSJ) http://t.co/kykuVH63B2

— Alex Pappas (@AlexPappas) August 4, 2015

FROM THE MAD VOTER> Fox Announces Its Cut http://t.co/vaEVaIkOwk

— Roger Simon (@rogerlsimon) August 4, 2015

NEVER SAY NEVER: Cillizza: I was all WRONG about @realDonaldTrump: @TheFix http://t.co/FzRRbJNWGs pic.twitter.com/fE7LjOGi1H

— slone (@slone) August 4, 2015

Why did I miss Trump's appeal so badly? Simply put: I had NEVER EVER seen a reversal in how people perceive a candidate who is as well known as Trump -- much less a reversal in such a short period of time. I based my conclusion that Trump would never be a relevant player in the Republican primary fight on the ideas that once people 1) know you and 2) don't like you, you can't change those twin realities much.

That was 100 percent true. Until Donald Trump proved it (and me) wrong.

Point taken. Never say "never" in politics. Thanks for reminding me of that old adage, Donald.