Not the high probability choice a year ago but now a very real possibility. A capitalist from the .01% versus a socialist of the most Chavez variety, each representing their parties. This satire on The First Trump-Sanders Debate is from Politico and therefore from the left. Nevertheless, satire though it may be, has a certain plausibility. A sample of what is worth reading in full. And do note that while Trump’s version is a wild exaggeration of what he would say, Sanders actually reads precisely like something he might really say. The left cannot make fun of its own.

Ifill: Now to our closing statements. Sen. Sanders, you are up first.

Sanders: This has been a very illuminating debate. We’ve seen firsthand the anger, the aggression, the last gasps of the 1 percent. They see a revolution coming. We are going to seize the tools of the state and bring prosperity to millions of Americans who have been oppressed for so long.

Trump: Bye-bye, Santa. Bye-bye, Jesus. Bye-bye, Easter.

Ifill: Sen. Sanders, please finish your statement, sir.

Sanders: The system is rigged, folks. That’s it. Thank you.

Ifill: Mr. Trump?

Trump: We are going to make America great again. I’ve said this many, many times throughout this campaign and people nod their heads. I don’t know—I guess no one’s ever said something like this to them before. We don’t think America can be great anymore. But we can be. I see this guy, Bernie Sanders, and I think about what the Russians tried to do to us in “Rocky IV.” And Sylvester Stallone—and I love Sly who has endorsed me, by the way—and he wouldn’t put up with it. Neither should we. And Mexico will pay for our border wall. We are going to start winning and make everyone else lose. And we are going to save Christmas and Santa Claus from the Hunt for Red October over here. Thank you.

That’s how it ends. Now read what comes before always mindful of the state of mind of the journalist who put it together.