I've found that the political bent of HN is much, much more varied than "taken over by commies". In general, I've met many folks here from across political spectrum -- from arch-capitals to libertarians to progressives/socialists/leftists to neoliberals.
When we can be up front about our own beliefs and share our perspectives on them in a non-demonizing way, the discussions can actually be quite enlightening.
I might not agree with a libertarian ethos, but I've met many libertarians here I could have elucidating chats about things with.
And before you ask, "Why bring politics into hacking at all?" I'd argue that hacking is, by it's nature, a political activity (whether that's hacking in the cyber-crime sense or in the 'assembling something from spare parts' sense.) There's something about operating outside of systems, about putting one's mark on the world, about expressing yourself through what you choose to build and how to build it that is inescapably political.
Politics doesn't have to be a team sport. We can disagree and still converse.