What are the reasons for such close races, for years and years now?

Is it possible that political consultants are so very good at attacking any issues giving one or another candidate an advantage, that the electorate is left without all the distinguishing differences being erased?

@ Marjorie from NYC

A participant in a class/discussion group is not the church. While it's not appropriate to bring up politics in this setting, it doesn't violate the IRS' prohibition against politicking by churches. This is completely different from preaching from the pulpit about who the people should vote for.

Walk away mid conversation, rude but effective!

I consider myself open-minded when it comes to talking to folks with different viewpoints, but my question for Philip is: how do I tactfully handle a conversation with someone who, while they agree 100% with my point of view, is overzealous to the point it makes me uncomfortable?

I find it amazing how many people assume, whatever political philosophy they're spouting, that the rest of the group agrees with them.

Most of us are uncomfortable disputing crazy positions of others in a social setting.

Anyone can contact Americans United for the Separation of Church and State if politically coercive or inappropriate messaging occurs in a place of worship. This is grounds for revocation of their tax exempt status.

Re: the lady calling about politics being discussed at bible/religious studies.

It is definitely the place of the person leading the class/discussion to put a stop to off-topic discussions. And, yes, politics is absolutely off topic (and off-putting).

I have a number of relatives who have very strong opposing views to mine. I have found the best way to avoid a major fight is to say "If your candidate wins, I certainly hope you're right", not in a snarky way, but a genuinely positive way.

What I find hard about talking politics in these situations is that the other side has a totally different set of information. I don't watch Fox News. It is all lies as far as I am concerned. But those who do come up with stuff that just seems ot be from another universe.

While I agree that attempting to manipulate someone's personal feelings towards another is rather distasteful, at the same time the occurrence in this country of people voting against their own interests or those of their loved ones-- often ignorantly, one would presume–- is rampant. Opening people's eyes to that is not an entirely bad thing.

In addition to being coercive and, to say the least, politically incorrect, isn't it ILLEGAL to tell employess to vote for "X" or get fired???

We have lots of Republican and Democratica family members and we never get into political discussions since a) we realize we'll never change each other's minds and b) being a strong family is more important than the election of the day. Also, I can't choose my family so I don't want to alienate them.

When it comes to friends, however, it would be difficult for me to be good friends with people who don't more or less share my political persuasion. These days politics comes down to values more than policies and I couldn't be friends who, again, doesn't more or less share my values.

I hate to say it, but some of the tales Mr. Galanes is telling make us sound like a third world dictatorship. Maybe we should have Jimmy Carter monitoring our elections...

Here is the liberal philosophy on how to talk politics without burning bridges:

"Agree with my liberal philosophy or be mocked and ridiculed."

Lenny, you must not get out of the bubble that often. Horse shoes are still very popular in the "fly overs"

I have a cousin in Ohio who just turned 18 this year, which means his vote this year alone has more electoral weight than the sum of all votes I'll cast in my life. I feel like, as an Obama supporter, my energy would be much better spent talking to him about Obama than kvetching with like-minded Brooklynites, although given his age we've never talked politics and I don't know how to start without sounding preachy. Any advice?