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Luttig has personal connections to Ted Cruz and John Eastman - and probably others deeply involved, given the insular nature of the upper levels of our government. I think he was struggling with the knowledge that he was not just throwing those people under the bus but driving it over them and still processing the fact that he had no choice because they had abandoned what is clearly, for him, a fundamental principle - that every person, and especially one who wields governmental power, owes to this nation an unwavering commitment to the rule of law.

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I think that he's very uncomfortable being in front of a committee that is trying to put together a historical record, and that he's very unused to the spotlight.

Judges as a rule try to keep their words concise and precise. I don't think he's used to being in public with a bank of cameras trained on him as he speaks.

I would not want to be there.

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I agree. It's painful to watch. I have to assume there are health problems that are probably not a surprise to Judge Luttig or the committee. If so, it's courageous of Judge Luttig to put himself in this position. My guess is that he feels he has a duty to do this regardless as to how he appears.

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Jun 16, 2022·edited Jun 16, 2022

Deliberately speaking slowly can be a tactic to be sure you listen to each word. Teachers use it in their classrooms.

Personally, I can't deal with fast talkers. As an introvert, I prefer listening to those who talk slowly.

By the way, today is not about Pence being a hero. He carried out his Constitutional duty. The heroes I am thinking of today are the staffers who had the know how and courage to take those certificates to a safe place during the riots. I think it was Pelosi who told them to get the certificates. Too scary to think what could of happened if the rioters got their hands on those certificates.

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Jun 16, 2022·edited Jun 16, 2022

As an RN I don't see Judge Luttig's speech and characteristics as post-stroke. I think he was just being as deliberate and historically correct as he could be. Imagine if every word you said would forever be a part of 9th grade history classes to come. Or be proof in lawsuit$ for everything you have.

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It could be stress. Stress is a toxin on the brain. Yes, he is very halting in his delivery. Seems as if he is parsing every word before he speaks.

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Happy to hear that someone else seemed as alarmed as I am...

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Having seen this phenomenon before it seems to be stroke related| which surely should have come to the attention of committee staff earlier.

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Jun 16, 2022·edited Jun 16, 2022

I thought he was being judicial AND stressing we almost LOST The United States of America. Gravitas. But I also know how it feels to be 68 ...

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Update--hopefully I have to revise my previous negativity--'good sound bites "lay my body across the road..." circa 1104 Pacific time.

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I guess I’m in the minority. Despite his slow delivery I was impressed by him and happy that he appeared.

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Luttig's closing comments are devastating. He has redeemed himself considerably in the final two minutes of the hearing.

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I think he has serious health issues. A friend looked him up online while we were talking about this (while arching) - the guy is only 68. He is a superb writer but an extremely poor witness in person.

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One gets the impression he needs to take a moment before each answer to force back the ever-rising gorge within that conservative rock star esophagus.

I, for one, appreciate these Herculean efforts to spare us the vomitty visuals.

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Once again, the video testimony and news clips, interwoven with the live is very powerful. Great to see Jason Miller so squirmy in deposition versus his BS on TV.

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My feeling exactly. Kudos for writing it down beforehand. Seems to be loosening up a bit right now.

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