I do. It's a little hard atm because I'm in college two states away from my bitch, but during the summer (when she's out of coat, go figure), I work with her.
In the meantime, I get my dog show fix by hanging out with my mentors whenever I get the chance. I've been blessed with many friends and mentors in the sport, and I try to learn as much as i can from them, even when I'm not showing.
As far as politics, yeah there's a bit, but if you've got a good dog, then it won't stop you from finishing. I've seen some pretty blatant cases of politics here and there, but I've also seen class dogs from unpopular breeds (ie: Shibas, LOL), take group placements over well-known specials. If you find that a judge is incredibly political, just don't enter under them. This is where my mentors have come in handy *many* a time!