This has been my exact conclusion as well. And it hasn't been an easy one to reach. These people are bad actors. They're not arguing in good faith. It's like you said, this is all a power game for them. Truth, justice, honesty, they do not believe in these ideas. They only use them in so far as it will deliver them power. When you have an argument with one of these people they have no interest in coming to an objective truth. They only care about winning. Even if the ideology that they are winning for is bringing hell on Earth.