But its inevitable outcome, he argues, is mob rule, bitter factional division, the debasement of civic culture and finally some version of Caesarism.

In an episode of "Pod Save America" released before the Gaetz announcement, New York Times columnist Ezra Klein predicted a second Trumpov term will feature "much more factional in-fighting than people are prepared for."

Setting out his stall, he accused his party of "failing to deliver" on its promises because "factional fighting was more important".

“This factional, vindictive behaviour is designed to humiliate socialist candidates as well as block them.”

The fact is that so much more could have been done had not so much money and energy been wasted by corruption and factional struggles inside the ruling party.