Democrats are responsible for some of aspects of this disaster, Republicans for others, and still others can be laid at the feet of both parties. That is Trump’s core message, and his most potent one. And those who resonate to it don’t particularly care if the messenger knows what he’s talking about, or if he plays by the rules written and enforced by the political establishment. Why does it matter if he releases his tax returns? Or knows what the word “temperament” means? Or says politically incorrect things about women and other groups? The very fact that they don’t like it makes it even better, and more satisfying.

That’s why the debate, for all of its fireworks and all of its Trumpian absurdity, will change nothing fundamental about the race: Clinton was a few points ahead going in, and there she will remain. A segment of the American electorate is ready to cash in its chips. Those voters are done with politics as usual — even if it means throwing out, right along with it, standards of fact and expectations about the knowledge and expertise and, yes, temperament that those who aspire to lead our country must possess.

It’s not at all clear what might be done to bring those voters back from the brink, to get them to buy in once again to the old way of doing political business — the way that Hillary Clinton practices so competently.