Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Michael Baumgartner

Republican on Remembering Wes Anderson 2026-07-21

234 words · 8 sentences · 13 clauses

Statement grade

Average 76 / 100

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

Greeting 10%Claims 56%Anecdote 15%Positioning 19%

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

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 23 wordsI rise today to note the passing of a great American, a great patriot, and a friend, Mr. Wes Anderson of Spokane, Washington.Greeting Claims · 55 wordsWes was known across the communities of Spokane County for his exemplary service to fellow veterans who knew him best as ``Doc.’’ Wes was a lifelong Spokanite whose life was defined by service, first in Vietnam where he served as a hospital corpsman and later across our communities where he had time for every veteran.¹ Anecdote · 36 wordsThe moments in Vietnam crystallized a lifetime of determination to serve veterans when, on his return to the United States, he had to fight his way through a crowd of war protesters on his flight home.²Anecdote Claims · 75 wordsHis service to veterans took the form of over five decades of service through leadership roles in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, ³where he was honored for his work as a chaplain, and through various initiatives, small and large, that included his support for the residents of Spokane’s veterans homes, 20 consecutive years of cleaning the Spokane Vietnam Veterans Memorial on each Memorial Day, ⁴and his volunteer work for veterans organizations such as Heroes Homestead.⁵ Positioning · 19 wordsWith Wes’ passing, there is a void in our community that will be felt for many years to come.Positioning Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 26 wordsWes was a patriot, a great American, and a friend. I speak for the entire Spokane community when I say that he will be sincerely missed.Positioning

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 53

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 “I rise today to note the passing of a great American, a great patriot,”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “and a friend, Mr. Wes Anderson of Spokane, Washington.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “The moments in Vietnam crystallized a lifetime of determination to serve veterans when, on his return to the United States, he had to fight his way through a crowd of war protesters on his flight home.”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 “With Wes’ passing, there is a void in our community that will be felt for many years to come.”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 “Wes was a patriot, a great American,”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 a friend.”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 “I speak for the entire Spokane community when I say that he will be sincerely missed.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. 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“first in Vietnam where he served as a hospital corpsman”Wes Anderson of Spokane, Washington served in Vietnam as a hospital corpsman.search
2“on his return to the United States, he had to fight his way through a crowd of war protesters on his flight home”When Wes Anderson returned from Vietnam to the United States, he had to fight his way through a crowd of war protesters on his flight home.search
3“over five decades of service through leadership roles in the Veterans of Foreign Wars”Wes Anderson served over five decades in leadership roles in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.search
4“20 consecutive years of cleaning the Spokane Vietnam Veterans Memorial on each Memorial Day”Wes Anderson cleaned the Spokane Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day for 20 consecutive years.search
5“his volunteer work for veterans organizations such as Heroes Homestead”Wes Anderson did volunteer work for the veterans organization Heroes Homestead.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15