Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Andy Biggs

716 words · 65 sentences · 76 clauses

Statement grade
B–
Average 74 / 100
A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Procedure 12%Positioning 27%Claims 38%Reasoning 17%The question 1%Aside 2%Promise 2%The ask 1%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 8 wordsI yield myself the balance of my time.Procedure Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 20 wordsI appreciate the consternation my colleague across the aisle has when he says that he hasn’t found any arguments persuasive.PositioningOff point Procedure · 5 wordsLet me tell you something: ProcedurePositioning · 16 wordsHe would never find any of these arguments persuasive because he wants to pack the Court.PositioningOff point Claims · 17 wordsHis very argument is that if you pass a constitutional amendment, you can never change the Constitution. Positioning · 20 wordsIt is absolutely one of the most specious arguments I have heard because if you amend the Constitution, guess what.Positioning Reasoning · 68 wordsDoes that mean that that amendment itself, that you have brought in, can never be amended again? No, because the system is clear, the system that he has been arguing against this entire time. The system, the Constitution itself, allows us to say to the American people: We would like to amend the Constitution. We are going to give it to you. We think this should be done. Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 wordsthat is really what we are talking about here.Procedure Positioning · 14 wordsWe are talking about this failure to appreciate the position that they sit in.Positioning Claims · 29 wordsThey say that this whole thing, quite frankly, has been about Donald Trump. That is what their whole argument against this has been. Oh, they passed this immunity clause. The question · 5 wordsWhere did that come from? Claims · 15 wordsWell, maybe stare decisis. That is what they argue. That is where the Court is. Aside · 15 wordsTake a peek at that. Yes, go back and read it. You will enjoy it.AsideOff point Procedure · 4 wordsHere is the deal.Procedure Claims · 38 wordsThey sit right now upset over a few decisions that this Supreme Court has made. They cannot accept that you have probably three conservatives, three liberals, 1Off pointand three in the middle. That is where the Court sits today.2 Reasoning · 36 wordsAn amendment freezing this at nine, first of all, doesn’t mean that you can never amend it again, but it also doesn’t mean that these are going to be the same nine in perpetuity for eternity. Claims · 23 wordsThey want to set aside a tradition that has been in place for over 150 years.3 They make this argument regarding the circuits. Procedure · 2 wordsGuess what.Procedure Claims · 15 wordsThose circuits have changed and changed, but oddly enough, we have kept it at nine. Positioning · 37 wordsInstead, they want to negate and have ignored what their personnel have said for the last few years, ever since Donald J. Trump was reelected, ever since you put some new people on the Court, even though, PositioningClaims · 34 wordsas we take a look, they are winning cases against this administration. Yet, they say that we have to take and expand this so we can get to 13. That is what they want. The question · 5 wordsWhy do they want it? Positioning · 31 wordsIt is because they want to make it progressive. They want to turn the Court around. They want to change its ideological principles or what they perceive to be ideological principles.Positioning Procedure · 5 wordsThat is what they want.Procedure Positioning · 19 wordsThey want to pack the Court. That is what packing is. It is where you put a number there.PositioningOff point Claims · 56 wordsThat is why Stephen Breyer said and that is why Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, no, don’t do that.4 Justice Breyer said that if you do that and it is 13 next time, does it become 21 after that, 5or 50, or where does it end, because it becomes a political arms race at the Supreme Court.Logical leap Positioning · 11 wordsWe are saying not to get into a political arms race.Positioning Promise · 11 wordsLet’s make it permanently nine. Let’s give it to the voters. Positioning · 13 wordsThat is a rational thing. It will never be persuasive to these folks, PositioningProcedure · 8 wordsand that is too bad because guess what.Procedure Positioning · 4 wordsThis has been comfortable.PositioningOff point Claims · 42 wordsThe Biden administration was comfortable with nine.6 This particular provision was proposed in the 116th Congress, in the 118th Congress, 7and now again in the 119th Congress. It didn’t matter whether there was a Republican or a Democrat in the White House. Reasoning · 20 wordsWhat it meant was let’s make sure the Supreme Court is protected from those who want to change it ideologically. Positioning · 5 wordsThat is where they are.PositioningOff point The ask · 10 wordsThat is why everyone should be supporting this particular amendment.Vague promise Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 46 wordsI yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Newhouse). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) that the House suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution, H.J.8 Res. 1. The question was taken.Procedure

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