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
I will miss your astute legal analysis
You are truly one of the finest freepers I've had the honor of learning from and I will miss your posts.
This is so sad... I really feel badly for his family...their whole supporting him ordeal must have been so tough, and now this. Prayers of comfort going out...
RIP Congressman BillyBob. We will miss your posts!
Prayers up for his family.
Rest in peace congressman Billybob.
Terrible news. I have enjoyed John’s writing on Freerepublic for so many years. He will be very missed by many here.
This is a very sad day for Free Republic. He will be missed a lot.
What horrible news.
Condolences to his family.
R.I.P.,
I always respected CBB...he and I had a few interactions, and he was always helpful.
God be with his family.
Recovering_Democrat
OMG. Sorry to hear this! RIP.
Did you see this?
I’m shocked. I had no idea of his grave condition.
May God bless and comfort his loved ones.
CB was a beacon of light for so many of us here through the years. God rest his soul and heartfelt condolances to all his loved ones. FR has lost a great mind and a kind, decent man.
RIP, John, aka Congressman BillyBob. You gave many an insightful postings here on FR. We will miss your balanced thoughts.
Prayers for your family in their grieving.
A true patriot and honorable man was John. He will be missed. He and El Roy (aka Texas Cowboy) will get along well together.
-PJ
I will miss his very thoughtful posts! He is indeed a Real Freeper that can put on a bright light on any subject!
What a stunning and very unexpected turn of events. I thought he was recovering reasonably well. May the Angels of Paradise receive him into everlasting rest and may God bless and comfort his family. RIP, John.
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