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 ArmorJohn 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 Mens 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 Mens 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 Senators challenge of Lyndon Baines Johnsons presidency in 1968.
John was also the first to figure out the constitutional basis of recalling federal officials, Carleson said. That led to the ACRUs 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 ACRUs 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 ACLUs absurd stances came as reliably as the rain falling on the fields of Ireland.
Susan Carleson, Chairman, CEO
My heart hurts. He will be missed.
He spoke at several of our support the troops rallies in D.C.
This is a link to a photo of John from January 18, 2003 at Constitution Gardens on the Mall in D.C. with Curtis Sliwa in the background.
Heart felt prayers up for the family. What a humble gentleman and servant. Will miss him terribly. RIP Congressman!
Congressman BillyBob will be missed. RIP.
Condolences to his family. I had just read his last thread being cancer free. This is a shock.
I’m typing with tears. So hard to believe. He had such hope for his prognosis, but God had other plans for him. Wouldn’t you know that his last post was one that was meant to help others. It was so full of information and urged others to be on top of this cancer before it occurs.
“Ours is not to reason why ———”
It was my great pleasure to have Freeped alongside him on several occasions. He stood out, both in stature and just by being himself. He did have a presence.
My deepest thoughts of sorrow for his family.
So very sorry to hear of this, we are diminished by his absence, Heaven is brighter upon his arrival.
Prayers for BillyBob’s family and friends.
Rest in Peace FRiend.
Prayers for BillyBob and his family.
My exact response was the same as yours: “OH NO! Prayers for his family.” He was much respected and much loved. A brilliant man, a wonderful communicator. Committed to the constitution and freedom and willing to speak up. He will be greatly missed. I am in shock.
RIP
RIP, Your posts were always informative and a delight to read.
Dolly, the one you have as Thread On My Cancer (the one you said you didn’t see) when you click on it, it goes to his home page. Was it supposed to take us to where he was telling us all about his cancer?
Respects from a NC Progressive Blog:
http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2010/08/20/john-armor-died-this-morning/
brought link over from CBB’s cancer thread...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2571597/posts?page=51
How very sad. Concolences to his family.
We just lost our best constitutional advisor.
I’m very sorry to hear this.
Condolences to his family.
That is sad. RIP. I always enjoyed seeing his contributions.
Please let us know if you hear of what happened to him.
The last I heard from him, he was doing well after recovering from surgery, and I believe that was earlier this week.
Very shocking! He will surely be missed.
RIP ‘BillyBob’.....
But few of us contribute deep, original thought; few of us analyze issues from a rigorously Constitutional viewpoint in our posts; and still fewer of us have offered ourselves for elective office, with all the time, effort, and sacrifice that entails. Congressman Billybob did all that, and much more.
He was one of our best, and those who read and thought about his posts are better for it.
Oh boy, that is too bad. He was always a good poster here.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.