No work of state could be carried on if the heavens were declared to be unpropitious; and an augur could always say that the heavens were unpropitious if he pleased.

This was the recognized constitutional mode of obstruction, and was quite in accord with the feelings of the people.

Pompey alone, or Crassus with him, would certainly have submitted to an augur; but Caesar was above augurs.
Whatever he chose to have carried he carried, with what approach he could to constitutional usage, but with whatever departure from constitutional usage he found to be necessary.
What was the condition of the people of Rome at the time it is difficult to learn from the conflicting statements of historians.

That Cicero had till lately been popular we know.

We are told that Bibulus was popular when he opposed Caesar.