There is something bleakly homespun about all this. It has been woven into folk wisdom as surely as spared rods spoil children, leopards and spots, and wolfs in sheep's clothing.

When you have a man who is accustomed to the vile casualness of groping women with impunity, protected by his wealth and power, there is really nothing he feels he cannot get away with. His armour is proof against the disgrace he has earned. What blunted arrows truth and honour are!

So how should anyone be surprised that he is now metaphorically groping America in its private parts, blithely assured that there is nothing anyone can do about it?