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
Not everybody is as even tempered as CBB. (As I look in the mirror) ;-)
Had to have been.
We’re all happy that you’re still with us, even if you can be a grump, I Singh.
Thanking you times many!!
Horrible and shocking news to say the least. I’ll join the chorus of many saying how sorely missed he will be on FR. I can’t imagine what his wife is going through having read their wonderful love story. RIP BB and may God help your wife in her moment of grief.
"If I were to die today, there would be far more “good riddances” than “condolences” on FR, I’m afraid."
The only way to do that is to outlive them all.
That's gonna be my plan, anyway.
Bummer.....a great person. Prayers up for a Freeper I really liked.
We will sorely miss John. What a great contributor.
Amen, Friend. Truer words never spoken.
D***, I'd just read that he was ok, and then saw this thread. I never actually met him, but talked to him here on FR several times over the years, and read his posts whenever I could find them.
Well, we can't fold up the tent and go home. The Congressman would not like it if we did.
If anyone can do it, I’m betting on you, Bob.
RIP, Congressman BillyBob. I loved your posts, always knowledgeable, insightful and erudite. You were a great patriot. You will be missed.
You wrote, As a nurse, the human spirit has never ceased to amaze me. I think of his last column and I know, without reservation, he was saying goodbye. He may not have known it on a conscious level, but his soul knew he was leaving this earth soon. I have seen it over & over again. God has a way of putting the peices together.
Some day, you'll have to tell me more. I find comfort in your observations and God's hand prior to death.
Blessings, my sweet and cherished friend. Our prayers belong to his family and we thank God for the friendship we had with Congressman BillyBob, John Armor.
I am so sorry. He will be missed. Prayers for his family.
Thanks very much for the ping. Congressman Billy Bob will be greatly missed. I learned a great deal from his writings and experience. Prayers up for his family and loved ones.
Very sad news. I’ll miss him. RIP
Prayers going up for Congressman BillyBob. I loved reading his posts.
He will be sadly missed here on earth but welcomed with open arms in heave.
A true loss for our side and for America. Perhaps we can one day make him proud.
Prayers for Mr. Armor’s family and for the repose of his soul.
We'll miss you.
Godspeed John and prayers for his family.
He will be sorely missed.
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