Just when it seemed like the race for the Republican presidential nomination couldn’t get any more bizarre, along comes Donald Trump to moderate the December 27th debate in Des Moines, Iowa.

Yes, you read that right. The 1%-embracing host of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice and former presidential flirter himself will get his chance to host moderate the ultimate reality show.

“Our readers and the grass roots really love Trump,” said Christopher Ruddy, chief executive of Newsmax Media, according to the New York Times. “They may not agree with him on everything, but they don’t see him as owned by the Washington establishment, the media establishment.”

2011 will be remembered as the year The Donald got roasted on Comedy Central, said on the radio he likes “the blacks” without specifying which ones, took a victory lap when President Obama produced his real-deal birth certificate, fought Jerry Seinfeld in a battle of online wits, delivered a f*&kin’ speech in f*&kin’ Vegas in an effort to court the potty-mouths, sat stone-faced as Seth Meyers killed him at White House Nerd Prom, dropped out of a presidential race he never intended to join, and called Anthony Weiner a “psycho” with no hint of self-awareness. Now the Year of Trump continues.

The first question will undoubtedly be: “Scale of 1 to 10, how awesome am I?” The second question: “Scale of 1 to 10, was that not the MOST EXQUISITE QUESTION EVER?”

As usual, @pourmecoffee nails it:

There’s a sucker born every minute. And we will all watch.

Yup, the political shitshow somehow just got even shittier. But here’s what we want to know: Have they renamed it the Donald Trump Republican Debate and instituted a swimsuit portion yet?

MOST RECENT BY HVpolitics:

• Chris Christie & Cory Booker Team Up in the Name of Bipartisan Sketch Comedy
• GOP Candidates' Approval Ratings Turned Into Actual Sex Toys
• Hollywood Nights: Clooney-Obama Buddy Fundraiser Brings In $15 Million