Broad summary: an editorial containing one half-hearted effort at a comparison to a historical situation that would probably be interesting if it were developed

Broad summary: an editorial containing one half-hearted effort at a comparison to a historical situation that would probably be interesting if it were developed at all, but which is instead promptly abandoned in favour of whinging about American politics in general, and the author's less favourite political party in particular. Did I get the gist correctly?