Even John Lennon was a Reagan fan.

[Danno 1,228]

Lennon was a closet Republican: Assistant

John Lennon was a closet Republican, who felt a little embarrassed by his former radicalism, at the time of his death - according to the tragic Beatles star's last personal assistant.

Fred Seaman worked alongside the music legend from 1979 to Lennon's death at the end of 1980 and he reveals the star was a Ronald Reagan fan who enjoyed arguing with left-wing radicals who reminded him of his former self.

In new documentary Beatles Stories, Seaman tells filmmaker Seth Swirsky Lennon wasn't the peace-loving militant fans thought he was while he was his assistant.

He says, "John, basically, made it very clear that if he were an American he would vote for Reagan because he was really sour on (Democrat) Jimmy Carter.

"He'd met Reagan back, I think, in the 70s at some sporting event... Reagan was the guy who had ordered the National Guard, I believe, to go after the young (peace) demonstrators in Berkeley, so I think that John maybe forgot about that... He did express support for Reagan, which shocked me.

"I also saw John embark in some really brutal arguments with my uncle, who's an old-time communist... He enjoyed really provoking my uncle... Maybe he was being provocative... but it was pretty obvious to me he had moved away from his earlier radicalism.

"He was a very different person back in 1979 and 80 than he'd been when he wrote Imagine. By 1979 he looked back on that guy and was embarrassed by that guy's naivete."

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/06/28/lennon-was-a-closet-republican-assistant

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/ronald-reagan-statue-unveiled-hungary-145351000.html;_ylt=AjyDzL4_FkGW5qRZ0_vGChJ0bBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTNhZzRvcTA4BHBrZwNjMWQ4NzUwZS1jZjE2LTM5ZmQtYTcxMi00NTc1MDdjNWI4YTcEcG9zAzEwBHNlYwNNZWRpYVRvcFN0b3J5BHZlcgNkNmVjODgxMC1hMjZmLTExZTAtYjA3YS04NTNjZTFlMDk3YWE-;_ylg=X3oDMTFxNGdmMG5kBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAN3b3JsZHxldXJvcGUEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

Ronald Reagan statue unveiled in Hungary

By PABLO GORONDI - Associated Press | AP – 2 hrs 1 min ago

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — A statue of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan was unveiled Wednesday in Hungary's capital, where he was honored for his leadership in helping to end communism.

The bronze 2-meter (7-foot) likeness of the 40th president was erected in Budapest at Freedom Square, near both the U.S. Embassy and a World War II memorial to Soviet soldiers killed during the ouster of the Nazis from Hungary.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice helped unveil the statue Wednesday.

Reagan was remembered for the aid and encouragement he gave Hungary and other former Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe to gain back their freedom.

Reagan "changed the world and created a new world for Central Europe," Orban said at the unveiling ceremony. "He tore down the walls which were erected in the path of freedom in the name of distorted and sick ideologies."

Rice said the cause of the freedom fighters in Hungary's failed anti-Soviet revolution in 1956 deepened Reagan's commitment to ending communist rule around the world.

"The men and women of '56 inspired Americans and all free peoples never again to leave those alone who are struggling for their freedom," Rice said. "And they inspired most of all Ronald Reagan."

A large facsimile of Reagan's signature identifies the statue made by Istvan Mate and a touchscreen monitor nearby provides information about Reagan in Hungarian and English.

"The statue is imposing and the touchscreen is a lot of a fun," said Reka Nemeth, a Hungarian teenager visiting the site after the ceremony.

The statue, which shows Reagan in mid-stride, is the second memorial erected in his honor in Budapest, where a bust of the former actor and governor of California was placed in City Park in 2006.

In March, Hungary's postal service also issued a commemorative envelope and postmark celebrating the centenary of Reagan's birth.

For some, the Reagan tributes are excessive.

"We Hungarians have nothing to do with Reagan," the Hungarian Communist Workers Party said in a statement. "During his life, he served not our interests but those of 'American Big Capital' bent on ruling the world."

For others, however, Reagan deserves all the accolades.

"It's better to have two Ronald Reagan statues than none at all," said Marton Baranyi, co-creator of a Hungarian website dedicated to Reagan. "Reagan is a role model for Hungarians."

The unveiling ceremony, which began with the Hungarian and U.S. national anthems performed by a Hungarian military band, was also attended by former U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House majority whip, and several members of the Hungarian government.

Edited June 29, 2011 by Why_Me

[Danno 1,228]

I hear Cuba and N. Korea are honoring Obamer with statues too.

[mawilson 2,133]

I hear Cuba and N. Korea are honoring Obamer with statues too.

For what?