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
This is very sad news! Prayers up for his family. We met at FR functions in DC so many years ago...
Doctors are always saying that people live when they should have died, and died when they should have lived.
RIP Billybob, we will miss you.
Thanks for this Dolly,
BillyBob was a great Americana and a great freeper and will be sorely missed by all.
That is beautiful and so fitting.
Very sad news. I’ve always enjoyed reading Congressman BillyBob’s point of view. He will be greatly missed.
Prayers and condolences to Mr. Armor’s family.
That was lovely. Thank you.
Prayers being offered for Congressman BillyBob and all who grieve his passing.
I didn’t know he was ill, so this comes as a surprise.
Father, please welcome Congressman Billy Bob with open arms. Please hold and comfort his family and friends as he is grieved. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RIP, Congressman BillyBob. You will be missed.
His thread made it seem like he was okay. :( Rip.
Yeah, I have heard that here and there.
Still doesn’t get the “What the” thought to go away.
:^)
My Father passed away 1 day after getting the OK from the Doctors to be released the next day. Doctors can help but it really isn’t their call.
Very nice, thank you.
No, and it never will.
Very lovely Albion, prayers for all, My father had gone through this a year ago and is still recovering. May the Lord bless and protect his family as he greets his latest witness.
Almost the same happened to mine.
Nice tribute, AW.
I think it is God’s reminder of the big picture. It hurts really bad when expectations fall to death.
I will miss the Honorable "Congressman BillyBob" immensely. His insight and humor was always a highpoint of my Freeping here. May God bless him and grant peace to his loved ones.
America has lost a true patriot. FreeRepublic's own 'Congresscritter'.
Nam Vet
I heard about this as I was heading out for the night, I’d already shut my machine off.
My first thought was that someone was pulling my leg.
Next up was remembering Tonk, TexasCowboy, ruoflaw, and ladyx.
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