Office politics. Damn hate it. But the simple rule seems to be establishing ties with the important people without playing politics, but only through real work and sweat- or at least that's what I observed.

ie. Someone b****es about you in front of your supervisor/boss. Meanwhile you prove the person wrong to your supervisor/boss by your performance review and you don't b**** back (act as though you didn't know you got b****ed). In the end of the day, you're the clean and performing dude and he's the politician. You win.