Many things have bothered me about Donald Trump since he first threw his hat into the ring for the 2016 Presidential election.

Underneath the braggadocio, the brashness, the ridiculous statements, though, there was still something troubling. I couldn't put my finger on it.

Then, yesterday morning, in that state of not being fully awake — yet not being fully asleep — it came to me.

Trump is channeling Jim Jones, the 1970s cult leader that convinced 909 people that everyone was against him and well, they drank the Kool-Aid.

Not unlike Trump acolytes.

Trumpazoids believe what Trump has been telling them — the election is rigged. Their thinking says that if Trump loses, it will be because of a massive conspiracy to take him down.

"It's one big fix," Trump said Friday afternoon in Greensboro, North Carolina. "This whole election is being rigged."

Yes. Sure. Everyone's out to get you. Just like Jim Jones crazily believed.

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What Does Messrs. Merriam & Webster Say?

"Merriam-Webster defines a cult as a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion. A group that has beliefs regarded by many as extreme or dangerous.

A situation where people admire and care about something, or someone, very much, or too much."

The sociological idea of a cult is that of an accumulation whose participants are almost totally dominated by or fastened mutually through a dedication to a singular individual

The stupidity of the views of a cult is not as important as the character of its defining techniques for influencing and exciting people.

Most people associate the word "cult" with religious wackiness. Cults exist in the political realm as well.

A political cult is a cult with a primary interest in ideology.

The LaRouche Movement and National Labor Federation are just two examples of political groups described as cults.

Orlando Patterson, a sociologist, and historian described the Ku Klux Klan as a heretical Christian cult. Secret Aryan Cults in Germany in Austria had a strong influence on the rise of Nazism. "The Occult Roots of Nazism," by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke presages much of Trump's methodology and is a frightening read when reading against the backdrop of the 2016 American elections.

Trump Supporters Have Drank the Kool-Aid

When Trump belittles the bravery of veterans and then jumps Gold Star families, his supporters defend him.

When he calls the armed forces a failure or speaks to a gathering decked out in red, white and blue bald eagle shirts while bashing America, his supporters back him.

Always.

Even when Trump runs an ad suggesting the placement of weapons in female's restrooms for protection from transgender persons — Trump's supporters cheer him on. Other ads suggest bolting illegal immigrants in port-o-potties and tossing them on a flatbed truck before dispatching them to Mexico.

Trump's followers defend each of these schemes — often gleefully. People that have entirely abandoned any critical thinking skills they may have once had, love Trump's ideas — for no other reason than they are Trump's ideas.

Texas Is Just One Slice of the Republican Crazy Pie

In August a Public Policy Polling's survey indicated that Trump was only leading by six points in Texas. Mitt Romney took Texas by 17 points in 2012, and John McCain won by 12 in 2008.

Despite Trump leading by less than half of either of his two predecessors in Texas, Trump's supporters are still foolish enough to be boasting.

Texans though have always been crazy. Look at it another way.

Twenty-six percent of all survey respondents supported Texas' secession from America. 59% desired to remain in the Union; Trump was carrying the support of 72-percent of the withdrawal group. 61% of Trump fans will support severance if Hillary Clinton wins.

Trump's fans in Texas have believed his most bizarre conspiracy conjectures. Only 19-percent of Texas believe that if Clinton prevails, it will be because she received the higher number of votes.

71% agree with Trump's "everyone's out to get us" mantra of a sore loser and believe if he loses it will be because of a rigged election.

The Public Policy Polling's analysts uncovered this gem of pure "genius":

"More specifically, 40% of Trump's fans believe that ACORN, which hasn't been around for years, will steal the election for Clinton."

Trump supporters in Texas do keep one bit of sanity about them. By a 43-41 margin, they believe "The Donald" should release his tax returns.

Trump has never been the ideal candidate for Republicans. He received the nomination with one of the lowest delegate percentages in the history of the party. He also received the fewest primary endorcsements of any major-party nominee in almost 40 years.

How Violent Can Trump Supporters Get?

For starters, Trump supporters are claiming they will go to their local precincts to search for illegal immigrants who may try to vote. Nervous Trumpits are fretting that Democrats will be loading up buses of minorities and take them to vote — several times.

Trump supporters already buy into the rumors that boxes of Clinton votes are already standing by — somewhere.

If Trump doesn't triumph, some are brazenly speaking about drastic revolt and assassination — as deranged as that seems.

"If she's elected, I wish we begin a coup," Dan Bowman, a 50-year old builder told the Boston Globe on October 15. "We're working to start a rebellion and snatch them out of their position. There will be a lot of carnage. I will do what I must for my nation."

Shades of Jim Jones and Jonestown.