nope.. you haven't figured it out???
you tell them.. nicely.. with hints.. that they are basically
screwing themselves...
then more to the point..
then straight to the point.. with no uncertain terms
and if they still don't get it, by then, someone else who is heck
of a lot higher would have set them straight...
it is not politics, it is not power-play, it allows them to back
off gently.. and if not, by the time it gets that messy, you have
done your due diligence, you have done everything you could, above
board, with your conscience clear, you did not try to sabotage
anyone, you have given him every chance to back off..
things rarely go to that level..
you do not go do them in the underhanded method.. you do not go
crying to the bosses, you do not go report to bigwigs if it is
trivial..