Comments on: Capitol Words - US Congress In A Word A Day

Capitol Words - US Congress In A Word A Day

Effigy2000 — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:55:19 -0800

Capitol Words allows you to see what the most often used word was on any given day in the U.S Congress. [via mefi projects]

By: yhbc

yhbc — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:58:43 -0800

"terrah" isn't really a word.

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:09:14 -0800

September 12, 2001: nation Used 242 times September 14, 2001: war Used 496 times

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:10:33 -0800

And...for what it's worth...On September 10, 2001: available Used 364 times

By: The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew

The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:12:36 -0800

I'm wondering what they were talking about last friday that Caribbean was the most used word. In my mind, Nancy Pelosi was giving up the juicy deets about her weekend getaway to Sandals Jamaica with Orrin Hatch. Oh, forbidden love...

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:22:55 -0800

Very interesting. sunlightfoundation if you're watching it would be nice to have a calendar view with the top ten words for everyday as a way of seeing trends and also an indication of how much more popular the 1st place word is compared to 2nd.

By: Avenger

Avenger — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:25:54 -0800

OIL OIL OIL HOUSING ENERGY OIL IRAQ OIL HEALTH OIL yeah, that pretty much sums up our nation's problems right there.

By: empath

empath — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:41:27 -0800

I'm guessing this excludes commonly used words like 'bill' and 'vote' somehow?

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:45:14 -0800

I wanted to see what they were talking about on my birthday. Doesn't go back before January 2000. Oh well. ...funny that the first date which would come to my mind to search on is my own birthday. I'm so horrendously self-centered. LOL!

By: dismas

dismas — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:46:46 -0800

Look, guys! Dennis Kucinich had an impact!

By: sunlightfoundation

sunlightfoundation — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:48:46 -0800

Mitheral, we're working on a variety of visualizations and expanded views. Will keep you (and mefi) posted. Effigy2000, thanks for the bump from projects to the blue. empath, we are using a collection of specific "stop words" to exclude common utterances and congressional lingo.

By: punchdrunkhistory

punchdrunkhistory — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:02:31 -0800

I like the week in March where the only word mentioned is "recess".

By: sonic meat machine

sonic meat machine — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:11:18 -0800

That was a weird day, and this surprises me. I suppose it was some horrible discussion of copyright extensions. What you say !!

By: Bromius

Bromius — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:35:52 -0800

August 12, 2006: Bananaphone Who would have thought?

By: Kirth Gerson

Kirth Gerson — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:09:55 -0800

Bromius is being disingenuous. The word for that day is supposedly "Sorry," but we all know that word is almost never used in Congress. Yes, I know it says "Sorry. No word is available for this day"

By: StickyCarpet

StickyCarpet — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:13:51 -0800

Shouldn't this be capitalized, or maybe not.

By: anotherpanacea

anotherpanacea — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:35:56 -0800

What, no "the"? How do they get by without definite articles?

By: dmd

dmd — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:54:45 -0800

anotherpanacea, that's been covered.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:39:38 -0800

My guess would've been "I", every single day.

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:39:57 -0800

It should be pointed out that every word in the Congressional Record isn't actually spoken--texts of bills are routinely inserted without ever being read aloud, and the whole purpose of Extensions of Remarks is to allow House members to insert material without having to use up session time. Still, cool idea.

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:59:42 -0800

I'm wondering what they were talking about last friday that Caribbean was the most used word.

The Senate wasn't in session, and the House met for all of three minutes, so not much of anything was discussed. Even the Extensions were very light, so Rangel's tribute to the Caribbean Community Conference skewed the results.

By: Surfin' Bird

Surfin' Bird — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:09:08 -0800

This is brilliant. Thank you for a wonderful find.

By: DenOfSizer

DenOfSizer — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:33:33 -0800

It's a long way from freedom fry, I spose.

By: anotherpanacea

anotherpanacea — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:48:10 -0800

what's the old joke? 'you write the bill, and I'll write the committee report'? Heh.