Give Luttig A Break

[Me.]

so what if he's ponderous, he helped save the day.

[MuseRider]

1. He is measuring his words.

I cannot blame him, this is serious business. It is hard to listen to but damn, he is putting it out there.

[OneBlueDotS-Carolina]

4. Exactly.

He's choosing his words very carefully. This is not Sesame Street, or a TV commercial with a 60 second message.

[Leghorn21]

2. "Freedom of speech includes the right to speak slowly"

- Preet Bharara

Damn straight

[Me.]

3. ...

[chowder66]

30. +1

[iluvtennis]

53. + 2.

[MuseRider]

78. I like that

I have never heard it. Thanks!

[MineralMan]

5. What he is saying will become history. He's measuring his

statement with that in mind.

Not everyone is a glib fast-talker. Nope. I'm very disappointed in the reaction to this man, who is crucial to this hearing. Be patient. Listen. This is how history is made.

[mcar]

6. The complaints are ridiculous

[inthewind21]

17. Beyond ridiculous

[LakeArenal]

7. Ponderous or thoughtful.

I say thoughtful.

[Goonch]

8. ;-{)🖖‍

[Leith]

32. I noticed the resemblance too!

I don't have a problem with Judge Luttig, but he looks like he does not feel well.

[murielm99]

69. He is elderly.

He is weighing each word. Maybe he has had some health problems that have slowed his speech pattern. That does not mean his mental proficiency is challenged.

After all, Biden overcame a stutter. People have often referred to Biden's "gaffes." Some of Biden's gaffes may have happened in an effort to stop a stuttered word or phrase.

[ReluctanceTango]

71. He's old

Feeling bad may not be constant, but it isn't rare either.

[mentalsolstice]

88. Jeez, he's only 68 years old.

That said he may have underlying conditions, or just merely wanted to be mindful of his words.

[avebury]

9. I think that it end up making him

look more believable. He comes across as very thoughtful and serious.

You also need to remember that it takes those on the far right longer to comprehend what they hear.

[inthewind21]

18. It's not the right

complaining. It's right here on DU

[avebury]

26. Oh I know that, but people need to realize that we want

all the Republicans testifying to be viewed as credible. People just need to chill.

[inthewind21]

28. Agreed

[Ocelot II]

10. I wonder whether Luttig, an arch-conservative, is finding this whole thing

extremely painful. He's testifying, probably reluctantly, against the current foundational myth of his party - the Big Lie - and against the daft legal analysis of Eastman, his former law clerk. If that's what's happening I'll give him credit for it, and cut him some slack for his delivery. I've always disliked Luttig for his right-wing legal opinions but he's doing the right thing now.

[3catwoman3]

13. I think, at least at first, he looked...

…extremely uncomfortable, and why wouldn’t he be.

[Raster]

35. I believe he is carefully choosing his words, knowing that history will be listening.

I also believe he is in distress (1) at the current condition of his political party; and (2) is burdened by the fact that his party, and even close colleagues, almost brought down the Republic.

[crickets]

43. Agreed. He seemed genuinely pained by events leading up to and on Jan 6. nt

[Volaris]

82. I thought the same thing...he's being careful because he still

hasn't come to grips with the idea that Trump and J6 were the ONLY possible result of the kind of politicking his party has done for the last 30 years or so. Not his fault, and not HIS intention, surely...but dealing with it doesn't seem like something he had done just yet.

Glad he's doing it; kinda feel bad for him tho.

[Ptah]

11. My favorite quote so far "wrapped around the axle"

Last edited Thu Jun 16, 2022, 04:04 PM - Edit history (1)

Luttig said "all the players" in the effort not to certify the 2020 election results "got wrapped around the axle by the historical evidence claim by Mr. Eastman," referring to John Eastman, the conservative lawyer who helped craft the scheme to overturn the election results on Jan. 6.

[deucemagnet]

12. Horseshit.

It's possible for a lifelong legal scholar to answer thoughtfully without sounding like a kid who's unprepared for a book report. He's being straight-up unprofessional in front of the whole country.

[Me.]

14. Disagree

perhaps you'd prefer the cartoon version

[deucemagnet]

22. His testimony is the oral equivalent of bad handwriting.

I expect more professionalism from someone testifying in front of congress and the whole country. I don't expect a "cartoon version", just a professional who makes an effort to respond in a manner that shows his audience some respect.

[inthewind21]

29. Do tell

What has been disrespectful?

[deucemagnet]

33. When you're on the national stage testifying in front of congress,

you should display a certain level of professionalism. A performance that would barely earn you a D in a community college public speaking course is far below what should be expected of someone of Luttig's stature and he should be ashamed that he expressed himself so ineffectually in front of the whole country.

In short, if you're painful to listen to, you're being disrespectful to your audience. As a professional in high office, he should know better and more should be expected of him.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

57. So, in your mind, someone who has had a stroke,

and has had to re-learn - with great effort - how to speak, no matter how accomplished or professional, educated or acclaimed, would be engaging in "disrespectful" behavior to an audience ?

How shallow are you ?

Have YOU got a lot to learn.

[deucemagnet]

60. Did he have a stroke?

Or are you just projecting on me now?

I called a federal circuit court judge with poor verbal communication skills unprofessional for being a federal circuit court judge with poor verbal communication skills, and now I've somehow failed the liberal litmus test and I hate the disabled. Never change, DU.

I believe it is incumbent upon the speaker to communicate effectively. I feel that good verbal communication skills are a quality we should expect in a federal circuit court judge giving testimony before congress. I feel that Luttig failed to to that effectively today.

If I have a lot to learn, do you care to educate me?

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

66. Are you familiar with a certain actual genius named Stephen Hawking ?

Having a speech issue has NO reflection upon one's intelligence or integrity. Judge Luttig's integrity, his scholarship, his intelligence are not at question. He is a man with few peers in the lofty circles of Constitutional scholarship.

There are any number of reasons for someone to have speech issues.

And yes, there was concern a few years ago, when he retired early from the bench, that Judge Luttig had had health issues.

However, I suspect that people of your persuasion aren't really interested in being educated, but rather in shooting off their mouths in a childish, arrogant, entitled fashion.

[Spazito]

73. ....

[deucemagnet]

74. So now I hate stroke victims AND Stephen Hawking?

Having a speech issue has NO reflection upon one's intelligence or integrity. Judge Luttig's integrity, his scholarship, his intelligence are not at question. He is a man with few peers in the lofty circles of Constitutional scholarship.

I have not made any comments disparaging Judge Luttig's intelligence, integrity, or scholarship, only that his verbal communication skills are subpar for a man of his position and that I, personally, in my opinion, found that to be unprofessional.

There are any number of reasons for someone to have speech issues.

Yes, and not all of them are because of disabilities.

And yes, there was concern a few years ago, when he retired early from the bench, that Judge Luttig had had health issues.

If the health issues you mention are due to some sort of neurological condition that affects his speech, then I salute his bravery and wish him continued good health.

However, I suspect that people of your persuasion aren't really interested in being educated, but rather in shooting off their mouths in a childish, arrogant, entitled fashion.

I can't stop you from projecting on me, so think what you will. That was dreadfully delivered testimony, I set the bar higher for someone who graduated law school, passed the bar, and sat on the bench, and I realize that saying this makes me a rat bastard that hates the disabled, Stephen Hawking, and probably kicks puppies. I'm going to die on this hill, so project away.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

75. Then rest in peace.

We need more phosphorous in the soil.

[naval.mom]

86. Are you kidding

As an ICU RN I find you offensive and ridiculous. The man obviously has an impairment, that does not negate his knowledge of the incidents he is giving testimony on. He did not volunteer to give a speech, he was called on to attest to facts via supena. I am surprised professional such as your self doesn't know the difference.

[Yonnie3]

87. I agree whole heartedly with you

He is a witness and didn't sign up to give a speech. He testified in detail as he was supposed to. Why harp on his speech characteristics? These hearings are not entertainment, but they may have a large role in preserving our democracy.

I had a stroke that affected my verbal abilities. I've definitely experienced what I have heard called ableism. Fortunately I have largely recovered.

[inthewind21]

59. He's a judge

I wouldn't consider that high office. Maybe painful for you, I didn't have any problem following what he was saying. Maybe it's your comprehension skills that are lacking.

[deucemagnet]

64. Well, good for you.

If someone is going to speak like they're giving dictation, I'd rather just read the transcript. But hey, if it makes you feel like a very serious individual with superior comprehension skills to slog through that type of testimony, you can just go ahead and pat yourself on the back, I guess.

[inthewind21]

70. Will do

And you can keep whining.

[deucemagnet]

76. Just my opinion.

If you don't like it you can put me on ignore. Honestly, I'm amazed at what's being projected on me for having that opinion. I believe Nicole Wallace just called his testimony "painful at times". I guess that makes her Double Hitler, too.

[Fla Dem]

89. He was called to testify. Don't think there was a Public Speaking test he was required to take.

Last edited Fri Jun 17, 2022, 10:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Should all witnesses requested to speak before the Jan 6 Commission be required to pass a speaking test before they are allowed to appear? Just asking.

I would also point out that the Commission Chairman Bennie Thompson speaks in a very slow, articulate, measured manner. Is he also being disrespectful?

[NNadir]

90. My son had a profound speech impediment as a child. One child study team wanted to classify him...

...as extremely disabled, as having a "low IQ," all because he had difficulty pronouncing the letter "R." (He also was born with a facial defect, so I expect that made people willing to judge him quickly.)

As it was, he was placed in "special" classes all through high school, and a certain reputation followed him. He describes, quite vividly, now as a man, how it felt to have people "feel sorry" for him.

When he graduated from the university he attended - at an institution that was difficult to enter - we didn't manage to get any pictures, mostly because the entire faculty gathered around him to tell us that he was one of the best students ever to study under them. I mean pretty much the entire faculty. He graduated with a perfect 4.0. One of his professors described him as a "genius."

They recently recruited him to come back to the University to work there and gave him his own studio, even though he declined to go to graduate school.

He dropped out of high school math, but recently taught himself high end linear algebra to support his data processing abilities which he taught himself. He's finally gotten to the point he doesn't take the remarks of idiots seriously.

I would say that rude snap judgements by people unqualified to make judgements that would affect a child's entire life reflect a certain smug intellectual laziness.

He's 27. As a father, I admire what he has done in spite of expectations.

There is a difference between having a stuttering mind and a stuttering voice. I suspect that a stuttering mind is quick to judge a stuttering voice, which is not of course, intended here as praise.

As it happened, I was unable to watch the hearing - I was working - but basically I expect people here to "know better." This remark strikes me as unworthy of this place.

[inthewind21]

21. Maybe you'd prefer

a 140 character tweet.

[deucemagnet]

23. See my post above.

It's possible to be thoughful AND eloquent.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

58. Apparently you think that Stephen Hawking

was "disrespectful" to his audiences as well ?

I think you need to find another platform in which to display your arrogance and insensitivity.

[Handler]

68. I found him to be extremely well prepared.

[tavernier]

15. He is brilliant.

He said he would’ve layed his body across the road before he would have allowed Pence to certify Trump.

Can’t state it any more brilliantly than that.

[onecaliberal]

20. 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[mcar]

25. This!

[Raster]

36. This!

[inthewind21]

16. Head shaking

[onecaliberal]

19. Republicans are stupid, I like how he's deliberately spelling it out for them. Let him speak.

Faux spews is airing it.

[bigtree]

24. lighten up, Francis.

...how far we've come that we're patting conservatives on the back for stating what he calls 'foundational truths.'

Luttig clerked for Scalia, was said to have the same judicial philosophy, would have been Scalia two if Bush had chosen him for the court.

I guess the hope is that enough of them will listen to him, but don't lionize him.

[inthewind21]

27. Who is lionizing him?

Respect and relief that he is testifying is hardly lionizing.

[ancianita]

31. Yep. Every word he says has weight with Merrick Garland, who's watching.

[liberalla]

62. Excellent point.

[MontanaMama]

34. He struck me as intending to speak very purposefully

and almost seemed to fight emotion a couple of times. His demeanor made me want to listen carefully. I believe his testimony was damning.

[Raster]

37. I also believe he was fighting emotion a couple of times.

[Native]

38. I never thought I'd be reading a thread like this, & I've been here for 20 years.

[Ligyron]

39. I thought there was something wrong with him.

Every word he said was dead on.

The Faux crowd will have a field day with his performance though I bet. The Dems are trotting out a brain damaged loser, blah, blah, etc.

[FoxNewsSucks]

40. I don't care how slowly he speaks,

as long as that testimony is proportionally quick in locking up MF45 and every single one involved.

[herding cats]

41. Until I looked in here I didn't know people were peeved with him.

It seems he was on the right side of democracy and our Constitution. Mocking his speech patterns seems counterproductive to me.

[Ocelot II]

42. Some people just want to be entertained, and don't have the patience

to listen to someone whose delivery isn't sufficiently animated or riveting, and for that reason won't bother to pay attention to what they are actually saying.

[AngryOldDem]

45. Before I left work a coworker who was streaming this was complaining.

Does it matter? We know exactly what he’s saying and his intent. Can’t ask for more.

Do some people just have attention span of a gnat?

[Justice matters.]

54. The intended audience is US AG Garland and the top-DOJ officials who are watching.

The fux-entertainment nutjobs will never get back to the bright side anyway.

[AngryOldDem]

44. He's a careful speaker, especially given the topic.

[GoodRaisin]

46. Listening to him just now - he clearly gets it.

He just made a very powerful observation about 2024 and I hope enough people listened to him very carefully.

[patphil]

47. I think it took him a while to get comfortable, but his content was quite powerful.

By the end he was speaking more freely, and you could see he really meant what he said.

[TwilightZone]

48. It's called deliberation.

Our society could use a little more of it. So could DU.

[JohnSJ]

49. Well said, and his closing statement was extremely powerful

[ShepKat]

50. He did great

choosing his precise words to be as clear as possible. Kudos !

[ConstanceCee]

51. It Was Hard to Listen to, but..

I thought it was personally almost unbearably painful for him to say what he had to say. To me, he represented all those people who refused to say one single word.

[lamp_shade]

52. Best part for me? I understood every single thing he said.

[Marcuse]

55. I would have to adjust to his pacing were I one of his students.

[cksmithy]

56. As someone who has taken dictation,

I immediately thought of my boss who spoke slowly and thoughtfully to make sure I got every word down correctly and completely, back in the 1980's. As the hearing went on, he did speak with a more normal rhythm. I think Luttig wanted to get it right for the historical record.

[Harker]

61. It's up to others to adjust to his pacing.

He wasn't invited to dazzle anyone.

His words were measured, directed, and powerful.

[Cha]

63. Aloha Me.. I haven' seen it..

But I'm kicking your thread!

Thank You!

💙💛

[Me.]

65. TY Cha

[Cha]

83. Democracy is NOT "boring"!!

Those "muting when Luttig talked" are missing out from what I've read from those I respect!

💙

💙💛

[Me.]

84. He May Be A Con But He Told The Truth

a rarity these days and so nice to hear

🌸��🌷💐

[Cha]

85. Even better from a Con who is

a Patriot!

Cannot be accused of freaking "partisan bias"!

💙💛

[Handler]

67. I thought he was fantastic .

Every word weighed and measured, what a wonderful change of pace. I’m sure as a conservative he was pained to see what his party has come to. Nevertheless he stood tall and told the truth.

[Tarc]

72. If there are critics of Luttig's testimony here at the DU

then said critics are sad remnants of the old Jackpine Radicals, and should scurry back there.

This was powerful and effective testimony. This isn't a goddamned gameshow, he isn't there for entertainment.

[inthewind21]

77. There are many

[Me.]

79. Gosh...I Haven't Thought Of The JRs Like Forever

[ellie]

80. He was fine

He was taking his time and making sure his thoughts were in order. People really will complain about anything, won't they?

[Pacifist Patriot]

81. I don't care how someone speaks as long as it is the truth.

If an accent, pitch, rate, stutter or anything else annoys, that is on the listener not the speaker.

He spoke clearly and deliberately.

If he didn't speak the way someone expected a judge should speak, so effing what. We understood him and that is what matters.