Posted on 08/20/2010 6:45:10 PM PDT by DollyCali
Thanks to FReeper libbylu
Congressman Billybob has died.
ACRU Mourns the Passing of John Armor
John Armor”John was a great American, a dear friend and a champion of liberty,” says Susan Carleson, CEO and Chairman of the American Civil Rights Union. “He will be sorely missed.”
On August 20, 2010, ACRU Senior Legal Counsel John Armor passed away in a North Carolina hospital, following cancer surgery. He had appeared to be in full recovery, so his death was a shock to family and friends.
Armor, a graduate of Yale University and the University of Maryland School of Law, had a long and distinguished career, practicing before the U.S. Supreme Court for 33 years and authoring eight books and hundreds of articles. His latest book, These Are the Times That Try Men’s Souls: America Then and Now in the Words of Tom Paine (ACRU 2010), is being released in early September.
“It was a blessing that he got to see it, hold it in his hands,” Carleson said.
These Are The Times That Try Men’s Souls A favorite at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and Tea Party events, especially in North Carolina where he lived, Armor dressed in colonial garb and impersonated Benjamin Franklin, explaining the origins of American liberties to 21st Century audiences. Some of his performances can be seen on YouTube.
“John was one of the first people that my husband Bob [Carleson] brought on board at the ACRU when there was no money, just great spirit,” said Carleson, who met Armor when they worked together on the National Commission of the Bicentennial of the Constitution in 1986. “He has been a delight to work with and will be sorely missed. This is a deep loss to his wife Michelle, to his children, his friends and his colleagues at the ACRU.”
Armor, who was one of the few attorneys to write an amicus brief in the presidential election case in 2000, was a well known legal scholar of American politics, particularly third party movements. He represented Eugene McCarthy during the Minnesota Senator’s challenge of Lyndon Baines Johnson’s presidency in 1968.
“John was also the first to figure out the constitutional basis of recalling federal officials,” Carleson said. “That led to the ACRU’s current campaign, RecallCongressNow.org, to educate Americans about the laws in 11 states that allow for recall as a way to ensure greater accountability.”
For the past several years, Armor wrote the weekly “ACLU Outrages” feature for the ACRU’s Website. “John had his finger on the pulse of the ACLU, tracking their misdeeds and writing amusing and disturbing accounts,” Carleson said. “He said he never worried about finding material, because the ACLU’s absurd stances came as reliably as ‘the rain falling on the fields of Ireland.’”
Susan Carleson, Chairman, CEO
Logan’s Prayer Warriors....I’m SURE you’ve all seen this heartbreaking news...but if not...
Please pray for everyone in BillyBob’s family!
I’m SO sorry that we’ve lost another fantastic Freeper!!
OMG I just saw this.
Horrible news!
John, you’re in a better place...
wow - so sad - he posted when he came out of surgery
One of the great FReepers has been called home.
Thank you Congressman. May you rest in peace.
prisoner6
Congressman BillyBob, Hall of Fame Freeper poster. In a better place now. Rest in peace.
God blessed us with a great American and has now taken him home. Thank you for caring about this great nation, Congressman Billy Bob, and rest in peace. You are home now.
Ping for eternity, John. I’m glad I got your book....
I know you are with Reagan, Tony Snow, Barbara Olsen, bahbah,great other freepers who have past, and our founding fathers. I also know you are all watching over us now.
You will be missed! :(
Yes; his family is in my prayers. I was so sorry to read this...we lost another fantastic person.
My son recently bought a house in that area of NC; I was hoping he would get to meet him...so sad.
For the past ten years, I knew that I could FReepmail or e-mail John with questions about the Constitution and its interpretation by the courts and get a good answer. Because of the current project that Billthedrill and I are working on with respect to the Federalist Papers, I relied on him for the occasional bit of constitutional lore that I couldn't get from anyone else here.
This is a devastating blow to us all.
Condolences to Congressman BillyBob’s family.
Oh, this is indeed sad news. I will miss him very much. Prayers to his family and loved ones. RIP.
Sad news...prayers for his family.
My sincerest condolences and prayers for him and his family!
Sad news. Great FReeper and great man. Condolences to his family and prayers for all. We need more like him.
Just got my copy of These are the Times That Try Men's Souls - which I had ordered about a year ago. John dated it "7 Aug '10" and signed it, "Best Wishes John Armor"
I am so sorry to read this sad news. Thank you for all you did in the name of freedom. May God bless you, Congressman Billy Bob, and bring strength comfort to your grieving family.
Rest in Peace..John.
Sometimes, I feel like reading and posting here gives me the rare privilege of being in the audience of the great conservatives of our time.
I count Mr. Armor as chief amongst those.
My condolences to his family.
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