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
May God Rest his soul! I will really miss his threads and posts. How very sad.
I never even made the connection with ACRU, and I am a member. I believe I read his name here too, but even though I was familiar with his name from ACRU, I still didn’t make the connection.
Prayers for his family and friends. He is a Freeper who will be missed very much.
He will be missed, but not forgotten.
I will miss you John.
I will keep him and his family in my prayers.
Yes he was, and always will be one the finest FR has to offer, no doubt about it.
John Armor was a good man and a great source of information
Calling out the Pipes&Drums of Free Republic to pipe John Armor home. God be wi' ye, John!
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This is terrible! I so loved his wit and wisdom he freely shared on FR. This is a huge loss to the nation.
My regards and condolences to his family.
===“You make the best soup in old pots.”
Oh, thank you for the article ... I’m so happy to hear he re-found such happiness since last we talked. Reminds me of how happy T’wit was to marry before we lost him too.
Where have you been? ... Why have you all but abandoned FR?
RIP Billy Bob, you were a great freeper and friend. Thanks for your support over the years.
RIP
What a Great Loss for us. He will be greatly missed Here. My Prayers are now with His Family, and Praying that WE remember His Wisdom.
rdb3 I’m glad to see your screen name. Hope all is well with you and fam. Nothing like a family reunion. :)
Prayers for his family. He will always be with us!
He’s gone Ben ...
Safe in the arms of Jesus
Safe on His gentle breast
Safe in the arms of Jesus
Sweetly .his soul shall rest.
He’s already analyzing November with CommonTator.
Our prayers go out to all who loved him.
No!!!! I saw his recent thread and his hopes to be dressed as Ben Franklin soon!
I am so sad. I will pray for his soul.
Thanks Coleus. Noticed the thread early.
BillyBob’s upbeat postings will be missed.
Just wow. I am totally gob-smacked to read this. He was one of my favorite FReepers and authors. He will be sorely missed.
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