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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Reasoning and Clarity. Reasoning rests on 2 conclusions, too few to hold the grade down. Average 81 / 100
Signal
65 / 100
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Relevance
–
Not scored Viewing ↓
Reasoning
93 / 100
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Respect
–
Not scored Viewing ↓
Clarity
85 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Positioning 29% Claims 33% Procedure 4% Reasoning 34%
Structure · 8 steps
Claims · 2
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. President, Positioning · 31 words I think it is clear what Senator Durbin is doing today. Unearned certainty He is seeking to protect a Democrat-appointed judge, appointed under President Obama, 1 and trying to distract from her clear misconduct. Positioning Claims · 20 words Now, at the Senate Judiciary Committee, we have the responsibility of advice and consent. We have the responsibility of oversight. Procedure · 7 words And one thing that I will note: Procedure Positioning · 8 words I think the Senator has misunderstood the resolution. Positioning Claims · 38 words It is not an impeachment resolution. It does not call for an impeachment. It explicitly points to the information in the Eleventh Circuit’s special committee report and pulls directly from that report what occurred in Judge Ross’ chambers, 2 Reasoning · 60 words and therefore there needs to be a condemnation of this activity. Passing this would have the Senate speak with a unanimous voice against this activity, and I would have encouraged my colleagues to pass the resolution and to make clear that this conduct falls far beneath the high standards we should be holding the Federal judiciary to every single day. Positioning · 11 words It is clear the Senate Democrats are not interested in that. Positioning Unearned certainty
At a glance
Lost points for Positioning ×5 Unearned certainty ×2 Procedure
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 65
6 of 8 deductions are Signal
Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “I think it is clear what Senator Durbin is doing today.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “He is seeking to protect a Democrat-appointed judge, appointed under President Obama,” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “and trying to distract from her clear misconduct.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “And one thing that I will note:” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “I think the Senator has misunderstood the resolution.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “It is clear the Senate Democrats are not interested in that.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · no score
Not applicable: nothing to answer. Excluded from the average.
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue.
Reasoning · 93
0 of 8 deductions are Reasoning
Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.
Nothing lost points.
Conclusions found · 2
Conclusion “and therefore there needs to be a condemnation of this activity.”
Because “It explicitly points to the information in the Eleventh Circuit’s special committee report and pulls directly from that report what occurred in Judge Ross’ chambers,”
Conclusion “and I would have encouraged my colleagues to pass the resolution and to make clear that this conduct falls far beneath the high standards we should be holding the Federal judiciary to every single day.”
Because “and therefore there needs to be a condemnation of this activity.”
“Passing this would have the Senate speak with a unanimous voice against this activity,”
Respect · no score
Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.
Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.
Clarity · 85
2 of 8 deductions are Clarity
Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “I think it is clear” Asserts the colleague’s motive as self-evident without offering a source.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “It is clear” Replaces evidence about colleagues’ interests with a bare assertion of certainty.
Claims · 2
This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.
1 “a Democrat-appointed judge, appointed under President Obama” Judge Ross was appointed to the federal bench by President Obama. search 2 “It explicitly points to the information in the Eleventh Circuit’s special committee report” S. Res. 808 references the Eleventh Circuit’s special committee report on Judge Ross. search
