Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Richard J. Durbin

Democrat on Unanimous Consent Request--S. Res. 808 (Executive Calendar) 2026-07-21

99 words · 8 sentences · 9 clauses

Statement grade

A–

Average 88 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Reasoning 48%Claims 39%Positioning 8%Procedure 4%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Mr. President, Reasoning · 21 wordswe are not judging by this action of objecting the conduct of this judge. That is not for us to judge. Claims · 39 wordsUnder the Constitution, it is clear.Unearned certainty That will be a decision by the House of Representatives and maybe ultimately by the Senate. There is a reason why this has never been done on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Positioning · 8 wordsand the Senator from Tennessee ignores that reality.PositioningUnearned certainty Reasoning · 27 wordsIt has never been done because it would taint the jury pool if there was ever an impeachment action against this judge. That is why I objected. Procedure · 4 wordsI yield the floor.Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 87

2 of 4 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “and the Senator from Tennessee ignores that reality.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I yield the floor.”Procedure or throat-clearing: 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 4 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“That will be a decision by the House of Representatives and maybe ultimately by the Senate.”

Because“we are not judging by this action of objecting the conduct of this judge.”

“That is not for us to judge.”

“Under the Constitution, it is clear.”

Reason given
Conclusion“That is why I objected.”

Because“It has never been done because it would taint the jury pool if there was ever an impeachment action against this judge.”

Reason given

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 · 84

2 of 4 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “it is clear”Asserts clarity without citing any constitutional text or authority.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “ignores that reality”Frames a disputed interpretation as an accepted fact rather than offering a source.

Claims · 0

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

No checkable claims.

Analyzed on 2026-09-16