These can polarize the electorate, drive voters from the polls, destroy party discipline, force even the most idealistic reporters to deal in sound bites all at the same time.
In the film, Chea admits he and Pol Pot decided to "kill and destroy" party members they considered enemies of the people, while lower-ranking cadres demonstrate, in graphic detail, how they implemented orders to slit the throats and dump the bodies of those targeted.
The party is split between those who support him, and those who fear him as an unprincipled schemer who has built and destroyed parties in a lonely thirst for power.
Gradually, virginities are jettisoned, gang loyalties are built and destroyed, parties are attended, gatecrashed, but never danced at, eyes are filled with blood at the behest of scandalously overpriced "bush weed".
They're not saving the Labour party; they're destroying the party".
It's just destroying the party".
Mr Koizumi once said that he wouldn't mind destroying his party in order to further his reforms.
As long as he thinks he has a chance of saving the bill he will go on destroying the party.
Aung San Suu Kyi embodied expectations for change, but by systematically destroying her party and locking her away, the regime has managed to bring them down.
The Ukip leader said Godfrey Bloom had gone "beyond the pale" and accused the MEP of "destroying" the party's autumn conference.
Since it was created, differences in outlook on the left have been managed by successive leaders without these tensions destroying the party's electability.
