Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Michael Baumgartner

Republican on Honoring Bill Doba 2026-09-02

193 words · 10 sentences · 14 clauses

Statement grade

61 / 100, held down by Signal

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

Greeting 15%Thanks 45%Claims 32%Anecdote 8%

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

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 29 wordsI rise today to honor a legend in Washington State University Cougars’ athletics, former head football coach, Bill Doba, who passed away last week at the age of 85.¹Greeting Thanks · 25 wordsBill was a great man and a great football coach, a longtime defensive coordinator, and 5-year head coach for the Cougars from 2003 to 2007.²Thanks Claims · 25 wordsIn all, he worked 19 seasons at WSU and was the lead architect of the renowned Palouse Posse defense, ³which led the country in 1994.⁴ Thanks · 24 wordsBill was also a very devoted husband. Many knew of his lifetime romance with his wonderful wife, Judy. Judy herself was a great woman.Thanks Anecdote · 16 wordsI knew her personally when she volunteered frequently in my mother’s kindergarten classroom at Franklin Elementary.⁵Anecdote Thanks · 21 wordsBill Doba left a great impact on the entire State of Washington and the Pullman community, and he is remembered fondly.Thanks Claims · 37 wordsGiven that this is Apple Cup week, Mr. Speaker, I think it is also worth noting that Coach Bill Doba had a winning record against the Huskies and gave them a spanking in his last Apple Cup.⁶⁷⁸ Thanks · 16 wordsRest in peace, Bill Doba, and thank you for all you have done for Cougar nation.Thanks

At a glance

Lost points for
Little substanceMuch 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 · 31

11 of 11 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.

Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I rise today to honor a legend in Washington State University Cougars’ athletics, former head football coach, Bill Doba, who passed away last week at the age of 85.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Bill was a great man and a great football coach, a longtime defensive coordinator,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and 5-year head coach for the Cougars from 2003 to 2007.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Bill was also a very devoted husband.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Many knew of his lifetime romance with his wonderful wife, Judy.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Judy herself was a great woman.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I knew her personally when she volunteered frequently in my mother’s kindergarten classroom at Franklin Elementary.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Bill Doba left a great impact on the entire State of Washington and the Pullman community,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and he is remembered fondly.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Rest in peace, Bill Doba,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and thank you for all you have done for Cougar nation.”Thanks: 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 · no score

No score: nothing is concluded. Excluded from the average.

Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.

Conclusions found · 0

None: nothing is concluded.

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 · 100

0 of 11 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.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 8

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“passed away last week at the age of 85”search
2“5-year head coach for the Cougars from 2003 to 2007”search
3“he worked 19 seasons at WSU”search
4“which led the country in 1994”search
5“she volunteered frequently in my mother’s kindergarten classroom at Franklin Elementary”search
6“this is Apple Cup week”search
7“had a winning record against the Huskies”search
8“gave them a spanking in his last Apple Cup”search

Analyzed on 2026-09-14