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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance and Clarity. Average 76 / 100
Signal
64 / 100
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Relevance
65 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
99 / 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 11% Claims 46% Positioning 23% Promise 6% The ask 15%
Structure · 16 steps
Claims · 7
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 17 words I yield myself such time as I may consume. That is kind of the problem around here. Procedure Claims · 21 words People just read talking points and, again, not a word in response to all of these fraudsters that Donald Trump pardoned, Positioning · 20 words as the gentlewoman leaves and tries to not address any of this stuff. I understand it because this is indefensible. Positioning Claims · 19 words The taxpayers of this country have been denied over $2 billion in compensation because of these fraudsters getting pardoned.1 Positioning · 45 words These pay- to-play schemes are indefensible. Again, I don’t want to hear any lectures about fraud from that side. You guys are enabling this fraud to happen on a regular basis. It is right in our faces. Everybody can see it, Unearned certainty and it is disgusting. Positioning Off point Mr. Speaker, Promise · 20 words if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to provide for consideration of H.R.2 Claims · 28 words 10032, the No Payoffs for Pardons Act, 3 which would prevent President Trump, or any future President, from giving out pardons in exchange for money, bribes, 4 or political favors. Mr. Speaker, Claims · 96 words our Founding Fathers gave the President the pardon power as a last-ditch safeguard against injustice, not as a tool for self- enrichment or political favoritism. President Trump is handing out pardons like he is running a for- profit business, letting millionaires and Republican allies out of jail for crimes like Medicare fraud, crypto money laundering, and tax evasion. In one case, he even pardoned a longtime Republican political ally named Michele Fiore in Nevada after she stole money earmarked for a statue to honor a slain police officer.5 6 She used that money for her plastic surgery.7 Positioning · 18 words She deserves a pardon? What the hell is wrong with you people? This is crazy. This is insane. Positioning The ask · 26 words If any Republican is brave enough to publicly agree that this corruption must end, I urge you to vote with Democrats to defeat the previous question. Mr. Speaker, The ask · 28 words I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment into the Record, along with any extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question. Procedure · 21 words The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Newhouse). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Massachusetts? There was no objection. Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Positioning ×12 Off point ×10 Procedure ×6 Unearned certainty
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 64
18 of 29 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.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “That is kind of the problem around here.” 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 → “as the gentlewoman leaves and tries to not address any of this stuff.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “I understand it because this is indefensible.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “These pay- to-play schemes are indefensible.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Again, I don’t want to hear any lectures about fraud from that side.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “You guys are enabling this fraud to happen on a regular basis.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “It is right in our faces.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Everybody can see it,” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “and it is disgusting.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “She deserves a pardon?” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “What the hell is wrong with you people?” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “This is crazy.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “This is insane.” 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 → “The SPEAKER pro tempore (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 → “Newhouse).” 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 → “Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Massachusetts?” 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 → “There was no objection.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 65
10 of 29 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 → “People just read talking points and, again, not a word in response to all of these fraudsters that Donald Trump pardoned,” An attack on the other side over pardons rather than anything about the rule or the motion 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 → “as the gentlewoman leaves and tries to not address any of this stuff.” A jab at the gentlewoman’s conduct, not the motion before the House.
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 → “I understand it because this is indefensible.” A rhetorical remark about the other side, not about 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 → “The taxpayers of this country have been denied over $2 billion in compensation because of these fraudsters getting pardoned.” A figure about pardoned fraudsters offered as a political point, not about the rule or motion.
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 → “These pay- to-play schemes are indefensible.” A condemnation of pay-to-play schemes unrelated to the business before the House.
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 → “Again, I don’t want to hear any lectures about fraud from that side.” A refusal of lectures from the other side, a political jab in place of the matter 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 → “You guys are enabling this fraud to happen on a regular basis.” Accuses the other side of enabling fraud, which is an attack on their record, not the motion.
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 → “It is right in our faces.” A rhetorical aside about fraud being visible, not about the motion.
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 → “Everybody can see it,” Another rhetorical aside not tied to the rule or motion.
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 it is disgusting.” A bare expression of disgust, not an argument about the measure.
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 · 99
1 of 29 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.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “Everybody can see it” Asserts universal agreement in place of any source or evidence.
Claims · 7
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 “The taxpayers of this country have been denied over $2 billion in compensation because of these fraudsters getting pardoned” Taxpayers have been denied over $2 billion in compensation because of fraudsters pardoned by Donald Trump. search 2 “if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to provide for consideration of H.R.” McGovern said he would offer an amendment to the rule to provide for consideration of H.R. 10032 if the previous question were defeated. search 3 “10032, the No Payoffs for Pardons Act, ” H.R. 10032 is titled the No Payoffs for Pardons Act. search 4 “or any future President, from giving out pardons in exchange for money, bribes, ” H.R. 10032, the No Payoffs for Pardons Act, would prevent President Trump or any future President from giving out pardons in exchange for money, bribes, or political favors. search 5 “he even pardoned a longtime Republican political ally named Michele Fiore in Nevada” President Trump pardoned Michele Fiore, a Republican political ally from Nevada. search 6 “after she stole money earmarked for a statue to honor a slain police officer” Michele Fiore was convicted of stealing money earmarked for a statue honoring a slain police officer. search 7 “She used that money for her plastic surgery.” Michele Fiore used the stolen statue-fund money for plastic surgery. search
