Never Say 'NaNaNa BooBoo'
With the country split down the middle on everything from Social Security to the war in Iraq, it seems it's never been a better time to talk politics. If we only knew how. Be prepared with a few tricks of the trade. And who better to teach you than Rich Masters, a spinmeister at Qorvis Communications, a Washington-based PR firm, who makes his living teaching ordinary people to be better debaters on TV talk shows.
Zing it! Have one or two zinger lines handy to break the ice or clinch a conversation. Like, "Am I the only one who thinks it's ironic that there is a hurricane called Wilma, when the people running FEMA are named Fred and Barney?" Crib from Jon Stewart if you have to.
Don't squawk alone. A like-minded mate or a pal can jump in, giving you time to collect your thoughts.
Give in--a little. Don't be afraid to concede a smaller point to win the larger argument. Besides, it'll throw your opponent off guard.
Stay calm and polite. "If you're smiling," says Masters, "it will leave the person with a positive impression." No matter how much you disagree.
This story appears in the December 26, 2005 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.