The key issue here is not that Trump is a grotesque buffoon, a criminal and a fraud, or even that he may be mentally ill. That could have happened to anyone, Dem or Rep, Con or Lib.

The important takeaway from this, the truly significant realization, is that the entire GOP and Conservative movement (with the exception of a very few brave and perceptive individuals like Mr Kristol above) has cravenly fallen into line behind this bully. This is not just about one troubled and flawed man, it is an indictment of the political philosophy represented by the American Right and the Republican Party.

Like the archetypal Wall Street investor, it appears they are only capable of two emotional states: greed and fear. From this avarice and cowardice arises the entire constellation of values of American Fascism: arrogance, anger, hatred, envy, bigotry, bitterness and cruelty. And from that mix can only come...violence.

No matter what happens to Mr Trump over the next year, we will still have to deal with his followers. We have our work cut out for us.