By Michael Reagan
It doesn’t matter how many terrible wars we’re mired in overseas.
It doesn’t matter how many seemingly unsolvable social and political problems we face at home.
At this time of year, we Americans have the usual Walmart store of blessings to be thankful for.
An extra reason for the entire country to give thanks next week is the fact that the long-dreaded 2024 election is finally in our rearview mirror – and for half of us the outcome was a blessing.
Thanksgiving is usually a national holiday that doesn’t get stuck in the swamp of partisan politics.
But this year the shocking victory of Donald Trump was too much to take for ordinary Democrats and many of our most fragile liberal TV talking heads and pundits.
Three weeks after Election Day, most of the liberal media are still in meltdown mode.
They are encouraging lame-duck Biden Democrats, the Justice Department, the Coast Guard – anyone who works for the federal government – to do whatever it takes to sabotage Trump’s incoming administration, even before he takes office.
Whether it’s risking a nuclear war with Russia by giving gifts of fancy rockets to Ukraine or digging up every speck of old dirt on Trump’s cabinet picks, Democrats and the liberal media are so busy trying to thwart Trump they have little time to give thanks for anything or anyone.
Some nasty newspaper columnists and teary-eyed panelists on CNN are so despondent about Trump’s victory they are willing to spoil the love and fun at half of America’s Thanksgiving dinners.
They are urging their fellow Democrats not to invite – or to dis-invite – friends and family members to Thanksgiving dinner who voted for Trump or didn’t vote for Kamala Harris.
Some MAGA hardheads who are just as dumb are saying they aren’t going to sit down with RINOs who hate Trump and think Mitt Romney is a real Republican.
But making our family Thanksgiving tables smaller and smaller because of politics is all wrong. It does nothing but ruin America’s best holiday and further divide the country into partisan bubbles and silos.
My father Ronald Reagan never let politics come between friends and family, especially during Thanksgiving during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
He had two children with Nancy Reagan, Patti and Ron. In 1980 Patti was a member of the Peace and Freedom Party and didn’t vote for her dad for president. Ron didn’t vote for our father, as far as we know.
Both didn’t vote to reelect their father in 1984, either. In fact, Patti and her friend led a peace march in Washington, DC, while her father was president of the United States.
Patti also has written highly critical books about her relationships with her father and her mother, mostly her mother. And Ron is a lifelong atheist who makes radio ads saying he’s “not afraid of burning in Hell.”
Once while we were having dinner together as a family, my father, a sincere Christian, reached over, grabbed my hand and said, “My only prayer is that before Ron dies, he too will know Jesus like we do.”
So each Thanksgiving at the ranch you had two children who were absolutely opposed to their father’s politics eating with him and the rest of the Reagan family.
And if you want to know if those bipartisan family turkey dinners were noisy with angry political arguments, the answer is “No.”
Nobody was throwing mashed potatoes or drumsticks at each other, either.
The point I’m making is that these political people I hear dropping my dad’s name on TV all the time could learn a lot from the way he always put politics in its proper place.
So this Thanksgiving, don’t ask “What would Ronald Reagan do?” – do what he did.
Invite your whole family and your old friends. Sit down and have a nice turkey dinner with all the fixings. Argue all you want about sports or music. Just don’t ask anyone to pass the politics.
Michael Reagan, the son of President Ronald Reagan, is an author, speaker and president of the Reagan Legacy Foundation. Send comments to [email protected] and follow @reaganworld on Twitter.
Tom Hutson says
Michael Reagan,
I for one am shocked that you as a son of a great president, Ronald Reagan, your father, would attempt to spew that MAGA bullshit. You need to be talking to Big Daddy Warbucks Trump and his big mouth supporters like Jordan, Greene, Gaetz, Cruz and Graham. I am sure they are just going to open the door and break bread with the Democrats, wishful thinking that we are all going to sing Kumbaya and all is forgiven and forgotten. Give it a break.
Justbob says
Misdirected garbage. Donald Trump is the direct cause of the divisiveness and rancor we see among family and friends. He is to blame for setting the tone making anger, bitterness and reprisals and “I love the uneducated” fashionable. There is not longer simply informed spirited policy discussions around the dinner table. Instead, the country is now viewed by half of us as embroiled in a battle between dumb and smart and sane and crazy. And it ain’t easy breaking bread with dumb and crazy no matter what the occasion. So, to avoid the Trump heartburn on Thanksgiving, maybe best to consider a solo dinner at McDonalds…for the next 4 years.
c says
This is so much B*S*.
This election wasn’t about differences in political policies – this one was about vilifying human beings for the sake of garnering power. This one was about taking pride in lying, pride in attacking the impotent, and then claiming the higher moral ground when called out. These are the people that will now decide your future – have fun trying to blame others for your own decisions – I know your so-called ‘leaders;’ will be happy to show you how.
One of the articles I read said it much better than I could :
“Someone you thought was a good and kind person has revealed themselves to be… something different. Someone you love has exposed their support for or tolerance of bigotry, hatred, selfishness, narcissism, bullying, racism, sexism, abuse and violence through their support of Trump.”
and,
‘ “I will not unwrap gifts given to me by people who voted for a party that has talked about building internment camps and mass deportation.” ‘
Melissa says
Imagine being so out of touch with reality that you think thanksgiving isn’t political. Sorry if I don’t want to spend any holiday, let alone one that celebrates a genocide, with family members who actively vote for my and my friends demise. You think politics is just some ideas people have? There are real life consequences for people who aren’t rich, or straight, or white, or male. So please, educate yourself.
Kennan says
Melissa, no offense, but if I could kiss you right now I would. Thank you very much for your comments. I’m half Syrian and half Finnish, all American and disgusted to my very core with what we have as a country have done in the Middle East for the last several decades. Thank you so much. I will say this though. Donald Trump is merely A STD, A hemorrhoid, a symptom of otherwise much larger problem, which is the tribalism And lock step politicization that hides the fact that Americans want the same things, but have a hard time seeing it with the complete chaos of our politicians, lobbyist, and red and blue salesforce that tears this country apart. We are better than this. The question is how bad will things get before we figure it out? Thank you for your comments.
Deport Elon says
support the chief rapist convict in his quest to disassemble america. shut it down and give your money to billionaires they need a fifth home. Fascism in project 2025 will make Adolf proud. Already building the “camps”….
deport elon says
Thanksgiving is a woke holiday supporting diversity equity and inclusion. maybe r cons will ban it.
Pogo says
@Dear Michael,
Thanks for the gaslight — please, pass something else around the table.
What Else Is New says
Hagel thought all great world and historic facts and personages appear, so to speak, twice. The first time as tragedy, the second time as a farce.
Though Trump’s second presidency is a farce, it too is a tragedy. Are we to forget almost half the country voted for a sexual pervert? Are we to forget he is establishing a cabinet of sexual perverts, election deniers and constitution haters? Working my ass off to host a couple of Trumpers in the mix of my crowd will tax my being cordial, loving and accepting. Bah Humbug. I can’t wait for this Thanksgiving to be done.
Marlee says
My neighbors won’t speak to me because I voted for Harris/Walz!
and that suits me because they voted for a Felon with 34 Counts, a Liar and a Sex Abuser
for President of the United States!
jake says
Democrat heads still exploding everywhere. Happy Thanksgiving, it’s a great day in America.
Sherry says
It’s just so annoying that wealthy/elite people like Michael Reagan are so out of touch with the reality of the average working class person, they have the self absorbed nerve to pontificate like this.
I most certainly agree with the previous commenters. To those members of the maga cult who put a “Convicted Criminal” in the white house, “NO” I will not just pretend that trump did nothing wrong, as you have done! I still have my own independent thinking ability, I still live in “fact based” reality, I still am a highly principled person who knows the difference between right and wrong. I will not go silently into that good night and sell my soul, simply because the maga cult members have. I choose to associate myself only with people who share the same open minded, kind, caring, honest, ethical, law abiding values. . . thank you very much.
Dennis C Rathsam says
I feel sorry for all you fools out there! Thanksgiving is about giving thanks, to your family, your friends & your neighbors ! Your Republican uncle, was a GOP supporter long before TRUMP! He always came for the holidays with this family, his kids got to play with thier cousins, you all enjoyed each others company, and a super Turkey dinner.People that diss there own flesh & blood, on a holiday, are the sorryest people in the world! Ya,LL have no conception of what family is all about. Love, kindness, giving thanks to all the good things Jesus has sent your way! All you folks who didn’t vote for TRUMP, its gonna be a long 4 years. Are you willing to let hate ruien your life? 4 years is a long time, to cry about who won. Years ago we voted, weather we won or lost America voted for the best candidate! The people have spoken, get over it, its not like your gonna die, or the sky is falling! I beg you to reach out to your relatives before its to late & you destroy the only family you have! And for my GOP faithfully, give thanks to Mr TRUMP!!!! He was put here for a reason. One we should all stand behind & support MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! .
c says
Please don’t drink and post.
Brad says
Interesting how you resort to name calling (“all you fools out there!”). And then you have the audacity to mention Jesus, who very clearly said that anyone who calls someone a “fool” will be liable to the hell of fire (Matthew 5:22). This is exactly why I won’t sit at the same table with a MAGA supporter. They masquerade as Christians, when in fact they don’t even know what it says in the Bible. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
Melissa says
This person is talking about love and kindness toward others, and saying “its not like you’re gonna die” to someone who has literally had their life threatened by trump supporters. Cool!
Brad says
Thanksgiving has ALWAYS been political in nature. It is a myth that misrepresents the actual history of land theft, genocide and enforced assimilation of Indigenous people. It is a story that supports Manifest Destiny, the idea that God empowered the occupation and dominance of European immigrants over the people and land of the Western Hemisphere. It is a false narrative of America intended to justify the very things that Trump and the MAGA movement have been saying and doing.
The Republican Party as we’ve known it all our lives no longer exists. It has been taken over by a pseudo-religious political cult of personality. It is motivated by hate, paranoia, ignorance and fear. Additionally, MAGA supporters are not at all interested in open minded dialogue or reasonable conversations. They thrive on discord and ugliness.
What Michael Reagan is suggesting in this article certainly was possible prior to MAGA. In my view it no longer is. This is not about political diversity. It’s about morality, truth, and core values of how to live. If there is sharp disagreement regarding these, I do not see how opposing minds can sit at the same table. It would be inviting a miserable experience which nobody needs.
For those of us who are Progressive, I say find your support people and stick with them. They will be your allies, your protectors, your advocates, your inspiration. We will need each other today and in the future, when things are likely to get worse. Why sit across the table from someone who supports a harmful agenda that could very likely threaten your well being or that of the people you love? No plate of dried up, tasteless turkey is worth that.
Sherry says
Thank You Brad! Thankfully we’ve found our educated, open minded, kind, peaceful, joyful kindred spirits here in California.
The Republican party of Ronald Reagan is no more. Now, it is the immoral, fear and hate filled maga party of “Convicted Criminal” trump.
jackson says
He’ll be claiming Biden’s economy as soon as he takes office too.
And suddenly people won’t be complaining about groceries either.
Because it was never about groceries when it came to Kamala. It was about ovaries…
….and color.
Sherry says
Thank you Jackson. . . you are right on! Happy Holidays!
jake says
“Because it was never about groceries when it came to Kamala. It was about ovaries…
….and color.”
Not even close to being true.
Laurel says
Jake: If it isn’t even close to being true, as you claim, why do Trump advocates claim the only way Harris got ahead in her career was “on her back and on her knees” and that she was a “DEI hire”? Again, proof please. Got none?
It was about ovaries and color as she is heads and tails much more qualified than Trump, but Trump is more entertaining, and MAGA prefers white, male entertainment over competence, the Constitution, and America staying the great country it already is.
Enjoy your entertainment and the avalanche of law suits your reality star brings.
Oh, and hide the microphones, dogs and cats, right? Real solid stuff there.
Jim Morrison says
do you remember willie brown? you are going to have very long four years of djt. hopefully you make it until the end before your head explodes thank god dei is dying quick which is being replaced with merit and competence over well dei
Laurel says
The level of mentality, and maturity, explains quite a ot.
Ray W, says
I remain amazed that you don’t mention the 308 non-documented immigrant murderers that Trump officials released from administrative custody during his four years in office, along with tens of thousands of other non-documented criminal immigrants, according to a study by the Cato Institute.
As I recall, the findings of the Cato Institute report established that some 11,000 of those released criminally convicted non-documented immigrants committed new crimes, including murders. Somehow, the Trump campaign did not focus their reelection effort on the fact that his administration had released so many murderers into the American general population.
Merit and competence, you say? The future remains unwritten.
As an aside, during the Obama years, an administrative order signed by Obama required official focus on those non-documented immigrants with serious criminal convictions, with a lesser focus on non-documented immigrants who had either not committed any crime or who had committed minor crimes. If detention centers fill to capacity, someone had to be released. Obama didn’t want to release serious felons into the populace at large.
According to the Cato Institute study, on Trump’s first day in office, he revoked the primacy order that had been signed by Obama and instituted his own administrative order that treated non-criminally convicted immigrants the same as serious felons. That meant that more serious felons had to be released when the detention centers filled up, alongside other immigrants, because Congress had refused, and continues to refuse, to fund additional administrative detention centers sufficient to hold everyone pending deportation. Once filled to capacity, someone has to be released. Obama wanted to detain the most serious criminals. Trump wanted to engage in mass deportations, but to do so, he had to declare them all equal. Even so, Trump deported fewer non-documented immigrants than Obama.
Brad says
There are only four things that we know for certain about Trump. First, he lies all the time, every day. Even his appearance is a lie, with his fake hair, makeup and lifts in his shoes. Second, he does not keep his promises. What promises did he keep during his first term? Third, his motivation is always about himself personally. His loyalty to himself is his only loyalty. He sees the presidency as an opportunity to enrich himself, not to serve the best interests of the country. Fourth, he only does what he wants to do and does not have any regard for the law. He will not hesitate to disregard the Constitution if it will serve him in the process, which is what he attempted to do on January 6th. These are the only things we can count on from him for the next four years. At best it will be disgusting, and it will probably be worse than that.
Scott says
Oh that’s right I forgot Biden/Harris were in charge for the last 4 years when everything was going so well for everyone and just out of nowhere people said “wait a minute let’s just blow this up it going to good”.News flash WE THE PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
Sherry says
@scott. . . just a little editing here. . . that should be “WE THE MAGA CULT HAVE HAD ENOUGH”. . . LOL! You, and people like you, most certainly do NOT represent “We The People”!