Thomas Jefferson vs. James Monroe

Jefferson vs. Monroe. The oddsmakers would pick Jefferson, but the plucky James Monroe is prime for an upset victory. Thomas Jefferson is a lot more popular and well known that James Monroe. It certainly seemed to be the case when I visited their respective homes. Jefferson's place is like Disneyland and Monroe's is California Adventure. But, I think Monroe was the better human being and President. Bring it Jefferson.

Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Nice job, but he stole a lot of the phrases from French philosophers.

He spoke of freedom but owned slaves. So did Monroe, so that is a wash. However Monroe gets bonus points for not having slaves in his Ancestry.com listing.

He was coward. He didn't fight in the revolutionary war. When it got close to him, he ran for the hills. Monroe fought and was shot during the revolution. He crossed the Delaware with Washington.

Jefferson had the Louisiana Purchase. But, the deal was made in France. By the way, who was part of the U.S. negotiating team? James Monroe. Jefferson basically just got out his credit card and said, '"OK".

Jefferson was a jerk. He would write anonymous editorials ripping people he didn't like. Also, he didn't care for George Washington. How do you not like George Washington?

Monroe was President during what was called "The Era of Good Feelings". Can you think of any other Presidents that might possibly have presided over a time known as the Era of Good Feelings? I didn't think so.

Jefferson just has some good PR guys working for him. Let's sand blast him off of Mt. Rushmore and put Monroe up there.

We should come up with some kind of bracket like March Madness where Presidents go head to head. We could have a bracket of 32. So you have to qualify for that. We could leave out the living Presidents. I think that would put us down to 39 right there. Then leave out a few others that don't make the cut (I'm looking at you, Millard Fillmore.) Or maybe they would have to win a play-in game to make the round of 32. In any event, Monroe would advance to the Sweet 16.