This schism in American political life translates into contempt for democratic institutions like the Senate, so dear to McConnell’s vision of how we should govern ourselves. Myriad polls over the past year have illuminated a seething frustration with the political process and the branches and offices of government. One recent national poll by the Associated Press found a staggering nine in 10 Americans lack confidence in the political system, with nearly four in ten having “hardly any” confidence. This is the one thing on which everyone seems to agree: the poll surveyed both liberals and conservatives, yet found “few partisan differences in the public’s lack of faith in the political parties, the nominating process, and the branches of government.”

For as much as voters dislike Clinton and Trump, few of them think their own party’s presumptive nominee represent their views. The AP poll found just 14 percent who say the Democratic Party is responsive to the views of rank and file party members, and only 8 percent who say that about the GOP.

Voters also think both parties are sclerotic: only 17 percent say the Democratic Party is open to new ideas, and just 10 percent say that about the Republican Party. A paltry 13 percent say the two-party system for presidential elections works.