Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Michael Baumgartner

Republican on Honoring Bill Doba 2026-09-02

240 words · 12 sentences · 17 clauses

Statement grade

D+

54 / 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 13%Claims 25%Anecdote 37%Positioning 12%Thanks 12%

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

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 31 wordsI rise today to honor a great patriot, a friend, and a giant of American diplomacy, Ambassador Tim Carney, who passed away earlier this month after a long fight with cancer.¹Greeting Claims · 18 wordsAmbassador Carney was the 14th United States Ambassador to Sudan and the 45th United States Ambassador to Haiti.² Anecdote · 29 wordsI got to know Ambassador Carney during my year at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad during the Iraq surge where we worked closely together on issues related to Baghdad.³Anecdote Positioning · 29 wordsAmbassador Carney is one of those Americans that you read about in storybooks: an adventurer, a scholar, and indeed, truly a diplomat. His wife, Vicki Butler, is equally amazing.⁴Positioning Claims · 7 wordsVicki came from a prominent Spokane family. Anecdote · 28 wordsThey met in Southeast Asia and had a patriotic romance that spanned the globe and made a lasting impact on Washington State and the United States of America.Anecdote Claims · 36 wordsWhen Tim finished his diplomatic career, he came back to Spokane with Vicki and served as a very important director of our museum of arts and culture, helping bridge a challenging period in that institution’s time.⁵ Thanks · 4 wordsI remember Tim fondly.Thanks Anecdote · 32 wordsHere in this photo you can see Tim and Vicki with me and my wife, Eleanor, and I look to them as an inspiration in my own romance with my wonderful wife.Anecdote Thanks · 26 wordsTim, you will not be forgotten. Vicki, you are loved, and we thank both of you for your tremendous impact on these United States of America.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 · 24

14 of 14 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 great patriot, a friend,”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “and a giant of American diplomacy, Ambassador Tim Carney, who passed away earlier this month after a long fight with cancer.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I got to know Ambassador Carney during my year at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad during the Iraq surge where we worked closely together on issues related to Baghdad.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Ambassador Carney is one of those Americans that you read about in storybooks:”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “an adventurer, a scholar,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “and indeed, truly a diplomat.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “His wife, Vicki Butler, is equally amazing.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “They met in Southeast Asia and had a patriotic romance that spanned the globe and made a lasting impact on Washington State and the United States of America.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I remember Tim fondly.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Here in this photo you can see Tim and Vicki with me and my wife, Eleanor,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “and I look to them as an inspiration in my own romance with my wonderful wife.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Tim, you will not be forgotten.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Vicki, you are loved,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and we thank both of you for your tremendous impact on these United States of America.”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.

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 14 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 · 5

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 earlier this month after a long fight with cancer”search
2“the 14th United States Ambassador to Sudan and the 45th United States Ambassador to Haiti”search
3“my year at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad during the Iraq surge”search
4“His wife, Vicki Butler”search
5“served as a very important director of our museum of arts and culture”search

Analyzed on 2026-09-14