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
He gave me my FReeper Pajama Patrol t-shirt at the 2nd FReeper event I attended. Have never forgotten him.
RIP and prayers up for all those who cared about him.
Oh no -— what a shock after it appeared he was doing well — RIP — prayers for his family! Always loved his posts on FR —
Very sad news. I posted with him less than a week ago. Rest in peace, my FRiend. Pray for all of us.
OMG! What a shock! RIP to a great guy. Prayers for his loved ones.
Very sad news. Prayers up for the family.
I’m so sorry. Prayers for his family and loved ones. We will miss him.
my eyes are leaking uncontrollably,.
grief is hard, particularly when it is someone you wish you knew in person, and not just as a beloved poster.
Please, God, take care of Congressman Billybob. We miss him so.
my eyes are leaking uncontrollably,.
grief is hard, particularly when it is someone you wish you knew in person, and not just as a beloved poster.
Please, God, take care of Congressman Billybob. We miss him so.
Grateful for what he contributed here and doubtless elsewhere. Prayers from here too.
Oh this is so sad. I loved everything he wrote. Stunned at this news. He will leave a huge void. Just damn!
May his soul Rest in Peace and may his family find God’s mercy and comfort in precious memories.
Good Lord, this is horrible.
I always enjoyed his posts and felt more secure knowing one of ours was in there slugging out for the good guys.
RIP, BillyBob.
And peace and comfort to your survivors.
RIP FRiend...
May his soul Rest in Peace and may his family find God’s mercy and comfort in precious memories.
Oh dear God, I didn’t even know CBB was ailing! What a loss for FreeRepublic. Prayers for his family.
RIP BillyBob. You will be missed.
Sad news.
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