People need something to "look up to." This could be a human being, no matter how unpleasant or destructive.  This individual becomes the "center" of the society, up above. The politics leader takes the place of "god" (Deus absconded).

Peoples' delusion is that they are participating in a "world historic event."  Reporters are breathless. The leader is "making history" and everyone wants to become "part of" history.

People can't take their eyes off him, he's a powerful magnet, whether loved or hated. As society disintegrates, he become the center who will rescue us from disintegration.

The reporters are partners, collaborators, whether for or against him.

Leslie Fiedler wrote a book called No in Thunder.  He was writing about people who were in radical opposition to society and who would not accept the status quo.

My analyst said that the No in Thunder was a loud fart.