Speaking from principles rather than personalities.

One should remind themselves periodically of the simple fact that all politics is gossip primarily because people talk as specifics. They talk, as we all do in the greater part, for their own benefit. This is true even in attempts to persuade. Persuasion is about talking ourselves into ourselves being persuaded rather than others. Similarly, anger signals one's weakness in believing it. 

Believing is not easily accomplished as some tend to think Believing is not agreement or going along with someone else. It is achieved by repetition, reading repeatedly, until it is down into one's spirit. I am nagged by a sense of lack that I do not know of another method. Repetition is used in forced indoctrination as well. We  have to think this is all too mechanical and should not be. .