This thread bears many similarities to ed's laptop/ebay thread. Help for a specific, personal problem gets drowned in a flood of debate around issues raised by the original problem. Most threads can handle a bit of this - after all, seeing the bigger picture can help clarify the problem. Some threads spiral out of control and end up being useless to the OP.
This thread is in danger of doing the latter.
So, I'd suggest that posters who want to discuss the futility or otherwise of workplace political manouvering should start a thread for that topic. It's a good topic for a thread that will run and run. Meanwhile, personal, specific advice for Starfish can be given on this thread.
EDIT: Note for the point-scorers: I hadn't even noticed a reported post before I wrote this, so it's got nothing to do with that.