General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Cenk Uygur's baggage is all on camera and it's disqualifying [View all]Hortensis
(58,785 posts)parties will draw some cultists in spite of who they are.
Remembering the subset prone to noisy acting out who were passionate supporters of socialist Ralph Nader in 2000 and 2004, then of mainstream Democratic liberal policy wonk Hillary (!) in 2008, and then of socialist Sanders in 2016 and 2019. Interviews reveal they included a lot of the same people.
The difference is that candidates and groups do not draw the same numbers or types and are usually "afflicted" to very different degrees by different people. Some have cultists as their base, others as a happy little subnote of those who just need to adore their leader.
Many look for leaders who specifically reject balance, and always find the Cenks, etc. Look at the enduring popularity of Sanders' perennial message that Democrats are so much like Republicans that it usually doesn't matter who wins. He's been running on this message his entire political life, and moving to balance would lose him most of his following, certainly all his dedicated base.
Very fortunately most us are like Paleotn. Some more than others. Being someone I'd like to have a beer with isn't anywhere on my list.