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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance, Reasoning and Clarity is 78. The grade is held to 75, 30 above Relevance. Reasoning rests on one conclusion, too few to hold the grade down. 75 / 100, held down by Relevance
Signal
82 / 100
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Relevance
45 / 100
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Reasoning
87 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
100 / 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.
Procedure 10% Claims 83% Positioning 7%
Structure · 8 steps
Claims · 5
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 words I yield myself such time as I may consume. Procedure Mr. Speaker, Claims · 71 words the gentleman quotes me as having said that I said there was no possible reason that someone would want nine. No, I didn’t say that at all. I think there might be a number of reasons. One very clear one is they want to freeze into place the majority they have in the Court right now, a majority that was created by the most suspect political maneuvers on the Senate side. Positioning · 14 words The gentleman would like to lionize the number nine and place it in cement. Positioning Claims · 99 words Why wasn’t it nine when Senator McConnell blocked any confirmation or vote on a replacement for Justice Scalia after he died?1 He kept it at eight for an entire year in order to get to the next administration so they could put Justice Gorsuch in instead of my constituent, Merrick Garland, who is one of the most talented people ever nominated to the Supreme Court.2 3 4 He was the chief judge of the D.C.5 Circuit, and they kept him off. Eight was fine with them then. Now, they want to go to nine because President Trump likes it just fine. Off point Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 11 words I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Menefee). Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Off point ×7 Procedure ×3 Positioning
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 82
4 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.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I yield myself such time as I may consume.” 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 → “The gentleman would like to lionize the number nine and place it in cement.” 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 yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr.” Procedure or throat-clearing: 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 → “Menefee).” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 45
7 of 11 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 → “Why wasn’t it nine when Senator McConnell blocked any confirmation or vote on a replacement for Justice Scalia after he died?” Attacks Senator McConnell’s past handling of the Scalia vacancy rather than addressing the amendment or the point put.
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 → “He kept it at eight for an entire year in order to get to the next administration so they could put Justice Gorsuch in instead of my constituent, Merrick Garland, who is one of the most talented people ever nominated to the Supreme Court.” Recounts the Garland episode as a political grievance, not a response to the measure 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 → “He was the chief judge of the D.C.” Biographical aside about Merrick Garland unrelated to the amendment.
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 → “Circuit,” Continuation of the unrelated biographical aside.
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 kept him off.” Repeats the Garland grievance without touching the bill.
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 → “Eight was fine with them then.” Political point about opponents’ past consistency, not the amendment.
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 → “Now, they want to go to nine because President Trump likes it just fine.” Partisan attack on President Trump’s preferences in place of an argument on the bill.
Reasoning · 87
0 of 11 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 · 1
Conclusion “One very clear one is they want to freeze into place the majority they have in the Court right now, a majority that was created by the most suspect political maneuvers on the Senate side.”
Because Given in the same sentence
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 · 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 “Senator McConnell blocked any confirmation or vote on a replacement for Justice Scalia after he died” search 2 “He kept it at eight for an entire year” search 3 “Justice Gorsuch” search 4 “Merrick Garland” search 5 “He was the chief judge of the D.C.” search
