Thanksgiving is about getting together with family, having turkey, watching football, ignoring the embarrassingly drunk relatives and then arguing about politics. Now that we are one year into the Trump presidency, I suspect many Thanksgiving discussions around the country will be even more robust than usual.

So much to discuss! In that spirit, I offer some conversation starters for this year's political discussions. Most of us have family members across the political spectrum, so here is a broad range of conversational tinder. Try one of these nuggets, and let the cogent, thoughtful discussion begin.

For those of you with Red State relatives, early in the day, perhaps over wine and cheese (or beer), you can offer up: "Boy that Donald Trump is real blue collar, huh? A man of the people. Does anyone know: Is he spending Thanksgiving at his Manhattan penthouse, or at one of his golf resorts?"

If there is a lull in the conversation as everyone sits down to a beautiful table, toss out a question to the extended family: "Hey, do any of you remember back when the Republicans cared about balanced budgets and fiscal responsibility? Anyone? No? I guess you're all too young."

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During a commercial in the Cowboys-Chargers game, you can kill some time and inspire conversation with this thought: "Now that the game has gone to break, we should talk about what the Republicans have been able to get done in Congress this past year." Pause for effect. "Wow, that didn't take long, did it? Is the game still not back on yet?"

If you have smug Blue State relatives, there are also plenty of ways to stir the discussion. Try this comment as your liberal relatives arrive, take off their coats and immediately begin lambasting the president: "Yeah, that Trump is something. Who do you think is more likely to lose to him in 2020, Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren?"

Blue Staters are inclined to bring up how commercialized Thanksgiving has become, which leads naturally to this query: "Speaking of Black Friday, how about that 'Better Deal' Chuck Schumer is offering. Does anyone have any idea what the heck that means? Does it involve coupons?"

Here is a versatile observation that can work all day: "So, who's read Hillary's book?" Pause for the uncomfortable silence. "Are we not talking about Hillary anymore?"

Try this nugget over coffee and dessert, after an evening with much discussion of Republican moral transgressions: "Do you remember that Thanksgiving when all of you were arguing that Bill Clinton should resign?" Pause for effect. "Yeah, neither do I." (A Clinton resignation would have made Al Gore president, which would have given him a huge boost in the election against George W. Bush. So this could be beginning of a much longer discussion.)

Having stirred up spirited conversation among the adults, you might then wander over to the kids' table:

"Hey kids, do you know what the national debt is? No? Never mind. Why don't all of you go get yourselves an extra piece of pie. My generation has been eating dessert at your expense for decades. Uncle Charlie may sound crazy now, but someday when you're at the adult table – paying much higher taxes than we are and getting less – you'll understand what I'm talking about."

When one of those children throws a tantrum, acts immature or otherwise behaves boorishly, you can wisely observe, "Wow, that kid might grow up to be president someday."