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[Mongrel]

Pretend you are too stupid for politics. Hell, pretend you're too stupid for most things. They'll think any work you do is amazing and might bake you things.

GIVE THIS MAN A COOKIE.

[Brentai]

See, Arc, but this problem you're having is exactly what I'm trying to get around.  By declaring yourself part of the Other Team from the outset at the start, they are now thinking the following:

1) If I agree with this person about anything, I am betraying My Team.
2) Any facts presented by this person are outright lies or facts twisted to represent his viewpoint.
3) This person is dangerous as long as he is allowed to express his opinion.

So when a self-avowed Liberal says "Hey guys, you're getting a tax cut," the Conservatives can only think, "No, that's bullshit, there must be a catch."  If you sidle up nicely to the guy and say, "Hey, I'm your friend, I'm on your side, I'm trying to help you, did you know..." I'm not saying they'll have an epiphany right then and there, but they'll adjust their world views slightly to account for a fact they'll now believe in rather than blusteringly ignore.  You can't pick up the Conservative train and turn it around 180 degrees on the spot, but you can change its course one turn at a time.

[Arc]

Quote Boxing!

Arc... this problem you're having

Uh, I'm not the topic starter.

declaring yourself part of the Other Team from the outset

I haven't.

The general makeup of these conversations consist of a conservative randomly engaging me in assumed agreement, me stating a fact that is entirely opposite, and them dazing out into space for minutes on end.

Has happened no less than a hundred times. Numerous colleagues and strangers. Same result.

Facts have a liberal bias. Use'em.

[McDohl]

Uh, I'm not the topic starter.

Yeah, I am.

[Kazz]

Arc:

They could just be shocked that you actually spoke.

[McDohl]

Suppose I'm just content with leaving these cretins in their horrible ways.

I've long accepted the fact that nothing I could ever do will change their minds.

...of America.

[Kazz]

I would never have survived my father if I'd spoken up even half the times I wanted to.

[Arc]

Changing someone's mind and surviving their batshit are apples and oranges.

In many cases, total psychological warfare would require a time machine.

[Catloaf]

If the socialism shit comes up, just say that while it's pointed in that direction, it's not headed there, but back towards a point of balance that we lost.  And then bring up the ratio between the Obama's taxes and Reagan's.

[Arc]

Or just ask what the hell their problem with Britain is.

[Brentai]

Or just remind them that we could end up like Sweden.

OH NO NOT one of the two countries actually thriving in the current economy NOT THAT.

[JDigital]

Never mind day 100, almost all Obama-haters were in on that as soon as they heard he was running for President. It's the exact same pattern we see with Dungeons & Dragons fourth edition.

[Kayin]

Okay, Dohl, I agree that crawling into a corner is hiding is a bad idea, but you can defend your self safely.

I generally try to discredit my adversary CAREFULLY and without them feeling attacked. The media is horridly unreliable, bias and can basically tell you what you wanna hear if you look hard enough. I generally use this fact my advantage bring it up carefully. If you can politely imply that someone -might- not have the right information, you can usually dodge out carefully without actually fighting.

Sadly thinking about it now, I can't really explain how someone else could use this and what tricks to use. All I know is it works for me pretty well.

Though if you feel like you have ground, don't be afraid to make a point. The socialism thing has always been an easy one for me. I just say that sounds find to me. If they get indignant, I point out how it only benefits me and likely them. From here it's either a fact related article of they're civil (rare), but more likely they get pissy about this and I defend their ego a bit. I am not a gambler, so socialism benefits me, but it's perfectly okay for them to want to be able to possibly one day super rich, even if it's unlikely.

Most people don't know a lot about socialism anyways so they'll usually give up as long as you don't make their beliefs feel invalid... and it's pointless to try and do so and it'll only make them want to become more embedded in their ideology.

Your mileage will probably vary.

[Classic]

Dude... How did you miss this?

BAKE THIS MAN A COOKIE.

Gotta do the cookin' by the book.

[Classic]

Srsly, if you gotta do a thing... Arc's clarified suggestion is probably pretty close to a good idea. If you can maintain the illusion that Arc assumes and Brentai recommends.

If you really need to argue, find something that you and your target agree on. Spar a bit over it, and after a while keep asking questions until you twist out of them something you can agree on. If you point out that you're not actually disagreeing, just misunderstanding what the other is saying, it might be enough to make them open to what you have to say, or at least respect your opinion. Because even if they disagree with you, they will believe that the actual disagreements are minor. Or some such a thing.

That said, this doesn't really work unless you're arguing with somewhat reasonable peers.

EDIT:

That said, this doesn't really work unless you're arguing with somewhat reasonable peers.
DUH.

Fixed it for you.

[Bongo Bill]

Suppose I'm just content with leaving these cretins in their horrible ways.

Try to avoid thinking of them as cretins and the rest should come naturally. You can't expect them to respect your opinions if you don't respect theirs. The key to the survival of an overwhelmed intellectual minority is civility, and the basis of civility is in honesty - honest, respectful disagreement.

It's possible that some among them won't be respectful about it. As long as it's not all of them, you'll probably find it more effective to take the high road - shame them into civility, as it were. If it is all of them, you might want to go over their heads.

If you want to avoid political conversation, tell them so. If they talk politics in earshot of you, ask them to keep it down, because if they keep it up you will be tempted to defend your position, which everybody will regret. You didn't come here for an argument, after all.

[Büge]

Changing someone's mind and surviving their batshit are apples and oranges.

In many cases, total psychological warfare would require a time machine.

Or a background check... Archibald. 

[Ocksi]

They DO have something of a point though.  Obama was pretty much under the radar until his campaign.

Something I'm tired of?  People who act like The Great and Majestic Lord Barack Obama didn't exist before he ran for president.

2006:
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20061023,00.html


(note the Palin-esque hair on his upper-lip.  No gussying this one up, no sir.)

[Royal☭]

These are things all men have an they couldn't bother to touch it up, how disrespectful.

[Detonator]

I say go the "angry anarchist" route.  When they complain about Obama, agree with them, then add how you can't trust the Republicans either because they got us into this mess.  If they try to defend them, act astonished and disappointed that they would trust any politician.  They can't paint you as an Obama lover because you agree with them on that point, but demand they see the bullshit from the other side, and if they don't, call them brainwashed pansies who blindly follow whoever tells them what they want to hear.  If you attempt to "enlighten" them every time politics comes up around you, they should quickly stop.

note: this has not been tested