I know, I know — it’s usually the other way around, with Trump emulating his idol Putin. But, as reported yesterday by Reuters, it appears that Vlad has borrowed a page from The Donald’s textbook on how to report the attendance at public appearances.

So here’s the story as it appeared in the Sunday (Sept. 3) Yahoo online news report, crediting Reuters. The headline read, “Putin thronged in visit to Russian village.” Wow! I hope his bodyguards were able to hold back the throngs before they heaped too much adoration upon him.

The report continues: “Dozens of villagers thronged and cheered Russian President Vladimir Putin during an unannounced visit on Friday to a community near Moscow where he has ancestral ties. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that Putin visited the village of Turginovo to see places associated with his family. Video posted by local news sites showed dozens of residents flocking the beaming president after he emerged from a car in the village square at dusk.”

Dozens?!! When did “dozens” become a “throng”? Maybe at a Trump rally, but otherwise . . . ?

Anyway . . . During the stop, which lasted only a few minutes, one woman apparently managed to get in a word, wishing him “good health, strength and good luck,” and thanking him “for coming to see us. For remembering us.” So the forgotten throng really loved him, right?

The article continues, “Residents told him they needed more and better housing.” Aha! Now we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty: they came looking for help. And, as reported by Reuters, he replied, “Yes, yes, I agree. We’ll do everything gradually. My best wishes on the start of the school year.” End of visit.

Imagine how exhilarated he must have felt after such a rousing reception! How fulfilling to know that that one lady actually wished him well. And that the good citizens of that little village have placed their faith in him to provide more and better housing. What a guy!

Just switch the language from Russian to English, add a ridiculously long red necktie, and you’ve got a typical (though admittedly scaled-down) Donald Trump rally, inflated proportionally for public consumption. The main difference is that Trump wouldn’t bother with such a tiny village — not enough voters.

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Being the curious sort, I Googled the village of Turginovo. It does exist; it’s about a two-hour drive northwest of Moscow. I didn’t see any demographics, and the only photos on Google Maps are six different views of one church, another of the nearby river, and one of a large bird sitting in a large nest atop a large dead tree. I’m guessing that’s the town mascot. Sadly, to this day there are many such poor villages scattered throughout Russia, seemingly stuck in the 19th Century, and in desperate need of assistance. But where is the help to come from? And when? Oh, yes . . . “gradually.”

And here’s an interesting little side fact. The town is situated in the Tver region. If that sounds vaguely familiar, it’s the region where a plane carrying Yevgeny Prigozhin and nine other people came crashing to earth on August 23rd, in a field near the village of Kuzhenkino. Coincidence? Perhaps . . . but an eerie one.

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So, there we have Vladimir Putin’s most recent (reported) public appearance before an admiring throng of his adoring supporters. Perhaps I have it wrong — quite possibly, the overblown style of reporting actually originated in Russia and was appropriated by Trump, not the other way around. It doesn’t really matter, though. Close friends should share, shouldn’t they?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/4/23