Respect. Just try to respect that family member's feelings and maybe they will learn to do the same.

you just deal with them... you cannot change their personality no matter how much you want to...and if you are letting them know that their ways bother you, they are gonna keep doing it. live your life and stop worrying about things you cant control and worry about the things you can.

I smack him (my brother) and then yell at him until he crys so that he may learn not to be a complete retard, we hope to let him into socity late 2007

If it is a family member you see often, maybe it's time for a heart to heart. If it's only a distant relative you see at family reunions and yearly gatherings, I would suggest getting a huge plate of food, and carry it with you. That way when this family member wants to have a conversation with you, fork some food in your mouth, and make signals like "I'm eating, sorry can't answer". After a few of those they might get the hint. :P If that doesn't work, just try to stay out of their way. Stay on opposite ends of the room. Or, bring in that chatty family member of yours. "Oh, Aunt Sally, so nice to see you again! You remember cousin Joe? He was just asking about how your hip replacement went..." That's your cue to get some refreshments. :)

For me I would leave if I were old enough -

Try to embrace his/her values.

The same way you deal with a stubborn, liberal, judgemental family member. Or anyone other family member that annoys you for that matter. You make an effort to find some middle ground and ask them to do the same.

Do you live with my Brother, or my Uncle? Christmas can be hell. 15 Dems 2 repubs

I personally would tell them to fuck off and grow up. But maybe a non-confrontational approach would be best in your situation, especially if you worry about possibly violent consequences (which is a real possibility when you're dealing with male conservatives).

By adamantly excercising your free will.

Tell them you're gay or bisexual (or at least support gay marriage), do drugs every night (stress your use of marijuana, in particular), and make sure to disagree with /everything/ they say. The best way to deal with them would probably be to avoid talking to them too much, but if it comes to it, stand up for your beliefs -- just be polite about it and don't push them on the person. They won't agree, anyway.

With my father, who served in Vietnam and seemingly hates any Democrat because of it, I do my best to pointedly ignore any comments he makes I feel are inappropriate. It is not my job to parent him and it would be far too late even if it were. He is a very difficult man who (I suspect) is angry at the world for the things he had to go through when he was young and continues to be resentful even though it was some 40 years ago. I have come to understand he cant move on from these feelings and I realize I have no right to judge the merits of the feelings because I have never been to war. Ive never been a 19 year old kid who got drafted, trained, and then sent all the way around the world to fight a pointless war and watch my friends die, only to come back and suffer serious disrespect and indifference from the very people I was supposedly 'serving'. Because of this, I feel as if I cant judge him for feeling the way he does and I certainly have no right to try and change him. The best I can do, even when I want to cry because of how mean he can be if he thinks I'm too liberal, is ignore him. I feel almost guilty: I can walk away from that which tears me up inside. He was never allowed that option. I think if this family member is someone you love, then you seek out the good in them and foster it. The best you can do when you encounter the less-than-stellar aspects of their personality is to just let it go and move on. Every once in awhile, usually when I least expect it, he surprises me. Most of the time, he seems gruff and intimidating, and his anger goes from zero to sixty in a flash. But there are moments where he will cock his head to the side, stare at me for a moment, and say 'You know....I love you and I don't know what I'd do without you.' I guess thats all I really need to know, so I find a way to ignore the rest. I dont know what would work for you, but I have found that patience pays.

They're family, suck it up yo...:)

Metamucil in their coffee. Everyday.

If you know they can't and won't change and if their opinion is "right" all the time so discussions are useless, learn to go deaf. Get earplugs if you think that will help, but as they talk, glaze over so when they finish and say," well?" You say, "well what?" Also, finish their arguments for them. Be smart alecky to them so they avoid talking to you, but know your stuff. "Oh, yes. Rush said Barack is the end of the US of A. Yes, how cute. What were you saying? What was your point? That's a point? Okay your point. Eh."

Good question :) I'll make sure to read the answers!

What ever happened to thanking your lucky stars that this is the worst thing that has happened in your life. There is only one person on the face of this earth that you can change and that is YOU. Make up your mind that you will not be bothered by this behavior ever again, and stick with it.