What hypocrisies, when pointed out, have worked for you?

[Dude_CalmDown]

I was arguing with a semi-freeper type today and he brought up Dean's little Confederate Flag thing. He went on about how saying something that dumb should automatically disqualify him from being pres because it shows how little he understands about this country. I asked him how he could possibly think someone should be disqualified for saying something stupid and at the same time support McChimp? He was kind of stumped and then we both started laughing. He said OK you win.

Anyway I found this kind of odd because nothing else I pointed out to him seemed to work. The lies didn't bother him, the extreme right-wing ideology, economy, - nothing. It wasn't until I pointed out how his own perspective wouldn't cut it that it hit him. Of course he could have been more receptive because the only reason we were talking was because I was admiring his car (98 Prelude w/turbo and very classy one-of-a-kind bodywork) in the parking lot. After a few minutes of checking out the car politics came up (we were making fun of Hyundai cars with wings made by Boeing so obviously stupidity was in the air and politics was a natural next step).

Anyway what has worked for you? What was the last bit of hypocrisy that people couldn't swallow before they caved in? Another one that worked for me in the past was the tried and true: "If Jesus were running for office the Christian Coalition would never vote for him."

I like these a lot because they work as good soundbites. So what are some other good ones?

[eleny]

1. I think you nailed the technique...

that would work almost all the time for any area of discussion. Sort of a "which samurai wins?" deal. The answer is - usually the one who doesn't make the first move. Try to find something in their argument to use to turn the tables. In your experience with the winger, he sure walked right into it.

You've given me an idea. Maybe whenever someone talks about any mess, I might wonder out loud that maybe the reason it's such a mess is because the chimpster doesn't have the savvy. Been handed too much without working for it on his own. So he doesn't know how to maneuver outside his own inner circle or without a script. I'm a Clark supporter, so this tactic would work well.

[Dude_CalmDown]

2. I've never really thought about it like that but you're right.

The only time I've ever been able to knock some sense into someone was when I let them swing first and then react to the swing.