Tim Alatorre Online

With all of the talk of experience these last few days on the internet and in the media I was prompted to start a little research project.  Mayor Rudi Guliani tonight at the Republican National Convention stated that Barak Obama would be the most inexperienced U.S. president in at least the last 100 years.  Well, I did a little math and it turns out that he was close to being right.  As for Governor Palin, I don't know how you can argue she was not a smart pick after her speech tonight, but for those doubters out there how does she match up to history?

Well, out of 37 Presidents and Vice Presidents of the last 100 years Governor Palin's experience level upon entering office ranks 26th, and Barak Obama ranks 34th.  But wait, Sarah Palin isn't running for president so that's not a fair comparison.

Of the 17 U.S. presidents in the last 100 years and the current 2 nominees, Barak ranks 18th, with Woodrow Wilson in the 19th position; and even arguing that Woodrow Wilson is less experienced is a stretch.  In 1913 when he was elected, Wilson's political experience was as a one term Governor of New Jersey after having served as president of Princeton University for 8 years.  That in itself is pretty impressive.  And how about John McCain?  To my great surprise, he ranks FIRST! Yup, the candidate for President with the most experience in the last 100 years!

Now to be fair what does the Palin/Biden match up look like?   Well of the 20 U.S. Vice Presidents in the last 100 years and the current 2 nominees, Sarah Palin ranks 15th out of 22 and Joe Biden ranks an impressive 3rd!

So how did I arrive at these conclusions?  Well before I tell you that, here are some fun stats:

An article appeared in the Contra Costa Times last Thursday that sparked a wave of controversy and emotion.  The article tried to make the point that the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints "leadership's sway over the issue of homosexuality may be weakening" and that there is a significant group of church members who are standing up to speak out against President Monson and his call to support the November ballot measure.  After a variety of comments in church meetings today I decided to republish the article here (click read more) as well as the forum comments that resulted from the article (following the page break).  I use the handle sloarch07 in the comments.

I want to encourage my friends and family who support and sustain (or merely agree with) President Monson to speak out and be a voice in defense of marriage online, at school, and in the workplace.  If we don't speak out who will?  Please do what you can for this important effort.

Feel free to use some of the comments I made as inspiration to post on other online forums or in speaking with your friends.  I don't purport to have all the answers but hopefully I will inspire you to speak boldly and with love.  I also would encourage you to read President Monson's Letter and remember that this is an assignment given to us from a Prophet of God.

Thank you for your faith.