The night before the first open and fair election in Russia’ s entire history, we were watching Russian TV news and eating dinner in the midst of a huge snowstorm when a wild-eyed fellow came on the screen. He was giving some sort of speech, and his face was twisted with a kaleidoscope of extreme emotions. He pounded his fist and shook his finger at the camera, then became soft and soothing in his voice, then began shouting again.
He was followed by a news anchorwoman, sitting behind a desk, making commentary with a solemn expression. Olga suddenly broke out in laughter, although her husband’ s face was serious, if not confused.
“ What’ s that about?” I asked Olga.( My German is pretty good, but not my Russian.)
80 The Trial Lawyer
“ Vladimir Zhirinovsy [ the extreme right-wing candidate ],” she said in German.“ He’ s a candidate in tomorrow’ s election, and he says that everybody who votes for him will get a liter of vodka and a turkey after the election. The news lady is wondering where he’ ll get all the turkeys.”
“ People fall for that?” I said.
She nodded.“ Remember, Russia has been here nearly a thousand years. And this is the first democratic election ever. Ever! People have no idea what to do, how to do it, or what to believe. And he doesn’ t really care what he promises; if he gets elected he’ ll do whatever he pleases.”
Donald Trump seems to be bringing Zhirinovsky’ s political strategy to America.
He made a simple, straightforward deal with his supporters.