Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Susan M. Collins

Republican on 125th Anniversary of Crystal, Maine 2026-07-14

322 words · 16 sentences · 20 clauses

Statement grade

B+

Average 82 / 100

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

Claims 69%Greeting 19%Procedure 6%Positioning 6%

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

Mr. President, Claims · 19 wordson March 21, 1901, a town in Aroostook County was incorporated and named after the region’s pristine clear waters.¹ Greeting · 41 wordsToday, it is a great joy to join the people of Crystal, ME, in celebrating the 125th anniversary of a town that epitomizes rural life in the northern parts of our country and people who have shown the power of resiliency.Greeting Procedure · 11 wordsCrystal’s founding was just one piece of an already illustrious history.Procedure Claims · 96 wordsFirst established by William Young of Searsmont in 1839 as Township No. 4, Fifth Range West of the Easterly Line of the State, Crystal quickly classified itself as a plantation--and not just in name.² Drawn by the fertile land, settlers determined that potato cultivation could be successful, and they started shipping their products southward on railroads that exist to this day. By the mid-1900s, the town of Crystal began facing the challenges that afflict many rural communities, leading to population decline that rendered Crystal one of the smallest and most rural communities in the entire State. Positioning · 6 wordsYet the people of Crystal persevered.Positioning Claims · 90 wordsTheir farming and logging industries remain strong, creating an economic model for formerly industrialized towns. Throughout its history, Crystal has been recognized as having outstanding natural resources. Crystal Bog, also known as the 1000 Acre Bog, encompasses an extensive area of wetlands found south of Fish Stream.³ This area represents one of Maine’s best examples of a Domed Bog Ecosystem and is classified as a National Natural Landmark.⁴ It also supports some of the State’s most diverse fens, plants, and animals, including circumneutral fen, Clayton’s copper butterfly, ⁵and swamp-fly honeysuckle. Procedure · 9 wordsCrystal’s 125th anniversary is more than just a celebration.Procedure Positioning · 14 wordsIt is recognition of a people who have thrived in the face of adversity.Positioning Claims · 16 wordsWhile every town has its unique challenges, I am sure that Crystal’s best days lie ahead. Greeting · 20 wordsI congratulate the town of Crystal, ME, on this wonderful achievement, and I look forward to witnessing its bright future.Greeting

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 65

7 of 7 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 “Today, it is a great joy to join the people of Crystal, ME, in celebrating the 125th anniversary of a town that epitomizes rural life in the northern parts of our country and people who have shown the power of resiliency.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Crystal’s founding was just one piece of an already illustrious history.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Yet the people of Crystal persevered.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Crystal’s 125th anniversary is more than just a celebration.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “It is recognition of a people who have thrived in the face of adversity.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I congratulate the town of Crystal, ME, on this wonderful achievement,”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “and I look forward to witnessing its bright future.”A greeting: 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 7 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“on March 21, 1901, a town in Aroostook County was incorporated”The town of Crystal, Maine, in Aroostook County was incorporated on March 21, 1901.search
2“First established by William Young of Searsmont in 1839 as Township No. 4”Crystal, Maine was first established in 1839 by William Young of Searsmont as Township No. 4, Fifth Range West of the Easterly Line of the State.search
3“Crystal Bog, also known as the 1000 Acre Bog, encompasses an extensive area of wetlands found south of Fish Stream.”Crystal Bog, also called the 1000 Acre Bog, is a wetland area located south of Fish Stream in Maine.search
4“classified as a National Natural Landmark”The Crystal Bog area in Maine is designated a National Natural Landmark and is considered one of Maine’s best examples of a domed bog ecosystem.search
5“and animals, including circumneutral fen, Clayton’s copper butterfly, ”Clayton’s copper butterfly and swamp-fly honeysuckle are found in the Crystal Bog area of Maine.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15