Sadly, the lights just got dimmer in the arena of political discourse.
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
Prayers to his family and friends. RIP Congressman Billybob.
What a loss to the FReeper community.
Oh no...
Prayers for us all we’ve lost another good guy.
Prayers for his friends and family and all those who loved him.
Thanks to Dolly for the thread and info.
Thank you for that kind remembrance, TC, and I offer up prayers for BillyBob, who was a great and strong fighter for the right.
John was a long time friend. He will be so missed. Our loss is heaven’s gain. So sad. Such a huge loss.
Our good people aren’t lost, just moved away a bit.
So sad to hear of John’s passing. I had just read his very encouraging thread telling everyone to get screened for colon cancer. It just tragic.
Another outstanding FReeper passed on...prayers and heartfelt sympathies for his family.
He will be missed!
Sadly, the lights just got dimmer in the arena of political discourse.
I miss him already. RIP BillyBob...try and put in a good word for your fellow FReepers to the Big Guy.
Wow...Sorry to hear this. After cancer surgery. Wonder what went wrong?
I am devastated. Is there anyone here on FR who could resist his posts? We were HONORED to have this strong defender of liberty on the Free Republic boards.
God bless and hold this dear man and all who loved him.
Right... we turn up the gas.
May he Rest in Peace. My prayers to his family for courage at this time...
Congressman Billybob now walks with God.
Thanks for the pings. I commented at #68 but am bumping this thread for one of the greatest FReepers to ever post on this forum...so that others may see it and write something about John.
R.I.P. sir.
love
This is a terrible loss for FR.com.
That man’s posts were almost always profound.
This is very sad news.
Thank you for letting us know.
What a great loss. That’s one congressional seat that won’t soon be filled.
Prayers for the family of Congressman BillyBob.
So, so sad. Prayers for his family.
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