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Friday, March 23, 2007

You Know You’ve Lived in Seattle Too Long When…

posted by on March 23 at 10:56 AM

… you start thinking KC Executive Ron Sims is a great orator.

Look, I dig Sims these days. He used to be a safe centrist Clinton Democrat, and I really didn’t like the guy. But man, he’s changed it up. Lately, he’s an outspoken, cocky yet humble lefty leader.

However, at last week’s press conference in Olympia, when I found myself thinking, “Wow, Sims is such a good speaker” (this after I noticed how jealous Governor Gregoire looked when Sims took the mic and made everybody look stiff and canned), I had to remind myself of this column I wrote four years ago:

But the actual reason I can’t stand Sims and don’t want him to run for governor is this: I cannot bear the thought of listening to this guy’s hackneyed speeches from now until November 2004. And what drives me craziest is that Sims’ Toastmastersİ-style speechmaking is exactly what people seem to like about him.

My God, if Mr. Pseudo-Preacher is Seattle’s idea of a talented orator, it’s no wonder the quality of local politics is so underwhelming. Why do people fall for this guy’s artificial eloquence? (Then again, this is the same town that believes Mark Sidran is funny, just like Woody Allen.)

RSS icon Comments

1

The only time I've heard Sims speak was at the debate w/ Hutch last summer. I was less than impressed.

Posted by simsed | March 23, 2007 10:57 AM
2

Dino would've cleaned his clock.

Posted by DOUG. | March 23, 2007 11:01 AM
3


Josh, I totally agree. I had the same thought. However, one reason might be that he seemed more relaxed is that he's in a more relaxed political position than others at that press conference!

Also, Ron really isn't really ToastMasters, Mayor Nickels is. (The Mayor has an even-keeled, by-the-book cordial) Ron is more preacher-style.

Posted by yup | March 23, 2007 11:12 AM
4

apparently, he's taken some of the same medicine Al Gore has - people like to see their leaders actually care & believe what they say.

Posted by Max Solomon | March 23, 2007 11:17 AM
5

Remember Sims's Senate campaign against Slade "Skeletor" Gorton, which hinged on the burning issue of who looked more natural in a cardigan? Ah, the good old days. Sims's orating style looks more like sleepwalking to me.

Posted by Fnarf | March 23, 2007 11:25 AM
6

So, you missed the 9/12 (after 9/11) speeches, huh?

I was there, with other very liberal people, waving our US flags - turned out we were the only ones who had some.

Cut him some slack - at least he's doing something about transit, while the rest of the region delivers zilch.

Posted by Will in Seattle | March 23, 2007 11:59 AM
7

LOL Toastmasters. When I was in UNLV's engineering program years ago, one of my courses forced us to work with them for several weeks. Their style of speech is stilted and definitely not engaging.

Posted by Gomez | March 23, 2007 12:15 PM
8

Woody Allen and Mark Sidran? Hmmm. Ever notice how you never see those two at the same place at the same time? I'm just saying...

Posted by Soon-Yi | March 23, 2007 12:27 PM
9

Mark is taller. I've met Woody three times now - twice in SBA and once here - and Mark and I used to share tables at various rubber chicken events.

Now, Woody Harrelson and Mark Sidran ... maybe.

Posted by Will in Seattle | March 23, 2007 4:21 PM

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