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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance, Reasoning and Clarity is 52. The grade is held to 48, 30 above Relevance. Reasoning rests on 2 conclusions, too few to hold the grade down. 48 / 100, held down by Relevance
Signal
41 / 100
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Relevance
18 / 100
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Reasoning
77 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
71 / 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.
Greeting 5% Procedure 8% Thanks 6% Positioning 38% Claims 18% Reasoning 21% The ask 3%
Structure · 13 steps
Claims · 2
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Chair, Greeting · 15 words I thank the distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee for his hard work, as always. Greeting Mr. Chair, Procedure · 8 words I rise in support of the budget resolution. Procedure Thanks · 19 words First off, I want to thank Chairman Arrington and the members of the Budget Committee for producing this budget. Thanks Positioning · 21 words Republican Members of Congress, working closely with President Trump, are the only ones serious in Washington about attacking wasteful Federal spending. Positioning Unearned certainty Claims · 41 words As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, I am fighting waste, fraud, 1 and abuse in the classified budget. HPSCI Republicans are working to force the intelligence community to achieve clean financial audits, and we are working to create a culture of accountability. Positioning · 94 words In my opinion, there can be no doubt that this administration is also serious about going after waste, fraud, Unearned certainty and abuse. The screaming from the other side of the aisle is proof that this is the case. Unearned certainty The flak is always heaviest when you are directly over the target. Unearned certainty Democrats oppose this budget, and they oppose every action of this House because they want unelected Washington officials to be in charge until President Trump’s term expires. Obstruction is their priority because their porkbarrel spending has been exposed and their slush funds are being drained. Positioning Logical leap Reasoning · 63 words To fight their obstruction, we need a budget resolution. We need to stand united as a Republican Conference so that we can have a functioning government. We need to empower the running of the executive branch by the President the American people elected. Off point The resolution doesn’t include everything each of us might ask for, but it is necessary to keep us moving forward. The ask · 9 words And I urge all Members to support the resolution. Mr. Chair, Procedure · 16 words I include in the Record the budget views and estimates letter of the House Intelligence Committee.2 Procedure Claims · 14 words Publicly Available Information and Commercially Available Information Spending Increase Needed to Address Counterintelligence Threats
At a glance
Lost points for Off point ×15 Positioning ×8 Unearned certainty ×4 Greeting ×2 Procedure ×2 Thanks Logical leap Little substance Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 41
13 of 33 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.
Greeting Greetings and pleasantries. What the tags mean → “I thank the distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee for his hard work,” A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greeting Greetings and pleasantries. What the tags mean → “as always.” A greeting: 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 → “I rise in support of the budget resolution.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks Thanks and tributes. What the tags mean → “First off, I want to thank Chairman Arrington and the members of the Budget Committee for producing this budget.” Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Republican Members of Congress, working closely with President Trump, are the only ones serious in Washington about attacking wasteful Federal spending.” 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 → “In my opinion, there can be no doubt that this administration is also serious about going after waste, fraud,” 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 abuse.” 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 → “The screaming from the other side of the aisle is proof that this is the case.” 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 → “The flak is always heaviest when you are directly over the target.” 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 → “Democrats oppose this budget,” 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 they oppose every action of this House because they want unelected Washington officials to be in charge until President Trump’s term expires.” 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 → “Obstruction is their priority because their porkbarrel spending has been exposed and their slush funds are being drained.” 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 → “I include in the Record the budget views and estimates letter of the House Intelligence Committee.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 18
15 of 33 deductions are Relevance
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Republican Members of Congress, working closely with President Trump, are the only ones serious in Washington about attacking wasteful Federal spending.” A partisan claim about which party is serious about spending, not about the resolution itself.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, I am fighting waste, fraud,” Focuses on the speaker’s own committee work rather than the budget resolution.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and abuse in the classified budget.” Continues the shift to the classified intelligence budget, not the resolution.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “HPSCI Republicans are working to force the intelligence community to achieve clean financial audits,” Describes HPSCI efforts on intelligence audits, not the resolution under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and we are working to create a culture of accountability.” Continues the account of committee work, not the resolution.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “In my opinion, there can be no doubt that this administration is also serious about going after waste, fraud,” Praises the administration’s efforts generally rather than addressing the resolution.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and abuse.” Continues the general claim about waste, fraud, and abuse, not the resolution.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “The screaming from the other side of the aisle is proof that this is the case.” A partisan jab at the other side in place of discussing the resolution.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “The flak is always heaviest when you are directly over the target.” A rhetorical aside about criticism, not about the resolution’s contents.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Democrats oppose this budget,” States Democrats’ opposition as a political point rather than addressing the resolution.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and they oppose every action of this House because they want unelected Washington officials to be in charge until President Trump’s term expires.” Attributes motives to opponents instead of discussing the resolution.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Obstruction is their priority because their porkbarrel spending has been exposed and their slush funds are being drained.” A political accusation about obstruction and slush funds, not about the resolution.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “To fight their obstruction, we need a budget resolution.” Frames the resolution as a tool against obstruction rather than addressing its substance.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “We need to stand united as a Republican Conference so that we can have a functioning government.” A call for party unity rather than an argument about the resolution.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “We need to empower the running of the executive branch by the President the American people elected.” A partisan point about empowering the President, not the resolution’s provisions.
Reasoning · 77
1 of 33 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.
Logical leap A conclusion that does not follow from the reasons given for it. What the tags mean → “Obstruction is their priority because their porkbarrel spending has been exposed and their slush funds are being drained.” After striking ‘porkbarrel’ and ‘slush funds’, the clause still asserts Democrats obstruct because their spending was exposed, a cause asserted without support; c17 similarly assigns a motive (‘they want unelected Washington officials in charge’) for a general claim about all Democrats.
Conclusions found · 2
Conclusion “To fight their obstruction, we need a budget resolution.”
Because “Democrats oppose this budget,”
“and they oppose every action of this House because they want unelected Washington officials to be in charge until President Trump’s term expires.”
“Obstruction is their priority because their porkbarrel spending has been exposed and their slush funds are being drained.”
Conclusion “And I urge all Members to support the resolution.”
Because “I rise in support of the budget resolution.”
“The resolution doesn’t include everything each of us might ask for,”
“but it is necessary to keep us moving forward.”
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 · 71
4 of 33 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 → “the only ones serious” Asserts exclusive seriousness as fact with no evidence offered.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “there can be no doubt” Certainty formula offered in place of any supporting source.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “is proof” Declares opponents’ objections to be proof without any evidence.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “The flak is always heaviest when you are directly over the target” An aphorism presented as a general truth that stands in for evidence.
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 “As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, I am fighting waste, fraud,” Rick Crawford is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. search 2 “I include in the Record the budget views and estimates letter of the House Intelligence Committee.” Rick Crawford included in the Congressional Record a budget views and estimates letter from the House Intelligence Committee. search
