I was thinking about this sort of thing the other day, and the word "fanatic" really stuck in my mind. I especially like this word for its religious connotation

I was thinking about this sort of thing the other day, and the word "fanatic" really stuck in my mind. I especially like this word for its religious connotations, because for some of these people their politics, and more specifically extremism in their own politics, has become a sort of secular religion for them. I certainly have my own political leanings and find more agreement with those on "my side", but I would much rather spend time with someone from the "other side" who can be polite and civil and magnanimous than a "fanatic" from "my side" who cannot.