For Americans in general, and Republicans in particular, this has been a madding election season thus far; both sides realize the system is broken, and the barbarians are at the gates of both parties.

The Democrats appear (depending on the FBI) to have a choice between an avowed socialist and a throwback to a discredited liberal dynasty.

Republicans have the Trump phenomena to deal with. Disenfranchised voters (I would argue from both parties) have turned out with a vengeance against the established order. And judging from record Republican primary turnout, the goal is also to punish establishment Republicans for doing little to nothing against the current administration even after voters gave them both the House and the Senate.

It has been estimated fully two-thirds of Republicans abhor the Trump candidacy; indeed, if you add the supporters of Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson and John Kasich together, the businessman does NOT have the support he claims from Republicans in general or conservatives in particular.

Perhaps it is time to consider the axiom “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Randy Barnett, writing for the National Review, has an interesting proposition: Instead of a public “cage match,” let Cruz and Rubio enter a pact. The plan is simple: “Each candidate publicly pledges to support for president whichever of them has the most delegates to the Republican convention. In return, the winner will make the other one his running mate.”

Barnett, who teaches at Georgetown Law and who directs the Georgetown Center for the Constitution, gives this reasoning: “For many going into the election, either a Cruz-Rubio or a Rubio-Cruz pairing was a dream team. And while some had their favorite, for many, it did not matter much who was on top.”

As such, the political fire would be concentrated.

“Let Ted compete with Trump in the states with electorates like Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Alaska. Let Marco compete with Trump in states with electorates like Florida and Minnesota. In short, let Ted be Ted. Let Marco be Marco. Let the most popular Republican win. And let Trump be defeated. Deal?”

Ah, we have been told the “Art of the Deal” is all-important. Such a pairing by these two young Cubans would be unconventional, to be sure — but the election of 2016 has been anything but conventional.

Personally, I prefer Cruz. He has fought the establishment from within and has proven he will do what he says and says what he means; is an avid Constitutionalist, particularly important in the wake of Scalia’s passing; is a man of moral standing and character; has a plan to end the politicized IRS; understands free market principals; and as a seasoned debater, would eat the lunch of whoever the left nominates.

Admittedly, I may have serious questions about Rubio’s involvement with the Gang of Eight, but that fight can be held later — and it is indeed a fight that must be waged within the borders of the American mind, and in the minds of the Latino vote — which I have no doubt the pair would win handily.

But not as separate entities going against the Trumpmaster.

Publicly stand on the stage, shake hands, make the pact, and let us turn our fire on Donald. I believe most would support the pair and tell Trump: “You’re fired.”

After all, we have a nation — and, if you are a Republican, a party — to rescue.