My suggestion would be to buy one of those empty spritzer bottles that you fill with water, normally used to dampen unruly hair. Then every time he starts about the politics you give him a little squirt.
It worked a treat with my dog, he would get obsessed with the little beads that adorn my sandles. Just a little squirt would stop him and now after about a week of this he wont touch them.

Its non violent and if he asks what right you have to squirt him gently explain that when you use your words to explain things to him it has no effect.
Dont forget, you must squirt every time he behaves badly or the message he will get is that sometimes he can do it and sometimes he cant...good luck and keep up the "I love you" and pats and rubs while re-training is going on.