[South40]

Is Rove really that stupid? That was a rhetorical question.

[goodnesswins]

Who will watch a “debate” without him? Jebbies supporters??? Bawahhhh

[Rebelbase]

If they do this Trump will be up 5-10 points the next day.

[Tench_Coxe]

I wouldn't buy what is written in the article....yet.
Pairing this up to stories of GOPe donors urging candidates and talking heads (based on the moderation of the first debate) to take out Trump, and the flooding of the field, it's not out of the realm to think that some GOPe operatives would try to pull such a stunt.
Sometimes there is very little difference between arrogance and stupidity, and the GOPe has the former (and much of the latter) in spades.
As far as Trump and "loyalty oaths"? His best answer would be along the lines of Reagan's "trust, but verify". No sense in making a commitment if it appears the establishment is looking to sabotage you from the get-go.

[xzins]

I don’t recall their being a rule in the republican handbook about pledges being taken in public asked by neutral news network moderators.

Anyone recall that section?

[Georgia Girl 2]

This is total BS. Nobody is going to boot Trump from the GOP debates. Get real.

[stockpirate]

Trump is firing the shot heard around the world to end this uncontrolled immigration. Already in Europe they are starting to go Trump and push back against this world wide problem.

The Whigs made a fatal mistake, it appears the RNC is planning to do the same.

CNN would host Trump to take viewers from a competator

[Ohioan]

Karl Rove is not a "savvy" operative. He has the analytic power of lichen on the shady side of a rock. It was his folly that almost elected Al Gore in 2000; his folly that lost Congress in 2006. He is locked into studying past attitudes; not in recognizing how to change those attitudes.

He failed to seize one of the greatest political opportunities in American history, on the eve of the 2000 election, in not having Bush take advantage of the opportunity for a huge potential TV audience that could have been generated in response to the media's weekend before the voting smear. (It was over a DUI, in Bush's youth, and any amateur could have figured out how to turn it to advantage. For openers, much of the audience would have been Gore supporters, hoping to watch Bush squirm; so that he could only gain from the exposure, if instead of surming, he had described his vision for a better America.)

[dfwgator]

The GOP just signed their death warrant if this happens.

[riri]

They have zero clue how dead their party is, do they?

There is absolutely nothing they could do to get me to vote for one of their establishment approved candidates. Ever. None of them. Up to and including Cruz.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

RNC-e to Trump: “Toe our new liberal/progressive/socialist line or get lost!”

[OldNewYork]

RP, RIP.