I think it is more than that -- I get the feeling people remember him the way somebody might remember a old grandfather with kooky habits. Plus he was in power a long time, and his face was everywhere...
God, what a trainwreck of a daughter. Josif Kobzon (the singer) says she tried to sleep with him. God forbid.
>
>Actually, I think the Brezhnev “cult” has to do with something very
>different. Everybody knew of his appreciation for drink and women. The
>corruption during his rein was not a secret either. (When Andropov was head
>of the KGB he had film and even distributed in video of his lifestyle to
>discredit Brezhnev – Andropov very much regretted few Soviets had a VCR!).
>
>However, Brezhnev accomplished something few leaders in history can lay
>claim to: he exceeded the expectations of the population. I doubt Putin
>will ever come close to meeting the expectations of today’s Russia.
>
>Don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of Brezhnev, but then again I didn’t
>live here when he was General Party Secretary.
>
> Yep. People refer to the "Brezhnev era," the "Gorbachev era" (boo!), the
>"Stalin era" etc. History of autocracy probably has something to do with it
>to.
>
>People were very saddened when Brezhnev died. I know people who cried. They
>felt abandoned. "What will we do without the Guarantor of Peace?"
>
>
>
>
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