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
Our Free Republic has lost a great friend. Heaven has made room for another voice. May he rest in peace.
Oh my... Just caught his End of Cancer thread the other day, and was so heartened to read it.
Godspeed FRiend,
Tatt
How sad. I didn’t know Congressman BillyBob personally, but I considered him a personal friend. CBB, you will be missed.
Very sad news, prayers to his family and friends.
Oh mna, I am stunned. I was just thinking about him today. Didn’t know about the cancer.
Prayers up!
Sh’ma Yisroel, Adonai Elohainu, Adonai Eh’chad.
Prayers up Congressman Billy Bob. I have enjoyed your posts here at Free Republic and am thankful for the work you have done for the sake of The United States of America and her Constitution. Good job, sir! May God receive and keep you in His kingdom and comfort those nearest to you in their time of mourning. Rest in peace, Billy Bob.
Adding my respect to this wonderful creative human being’s passing.
We were priviledged to have him post here.
Rest in peace, dear Congressman.
We will carry the torch.
That’s a damn shame.
Thanks to Sunken Civ and DollyCali for posting the sad news of Congressman Billy Bob’s passing.
The Congressman was one of the first people I “met” when I joined FR in 1998. I enjoyed his posts, and will miss him.
May God bless John and the fmaily and friends he leaves behind.
John was a masterful writer who always constructed clear, intelligent, logical, clever, well-argued, deeply informed, & persuasive essays. I enjoyed reading his articulate thoughts immensely.
Thank you, Congressman BillyBob, for fighting tirelessly for freedom & the sane application of legal principles, with a wonderful sense of humor.
May you rest in eternal peace, John. May G-d comfort your family and all who mourn for you on this forum and across America.
Rest in peace.
I was hoping to meet John on 9/12 in DC. We’ll certainly miss him down here.
Prayers up for his family. His contributions will be sorely missed.
Fervent Prayers lifted..
Mr B has this same affliction..
I love MrB beyond measure
R.I.P. Billybob, FR’s loss is heaven’s gain.
Anyone notice? the flags came back today.
My condolences and prayers.
Rest in Peace.
He was a very special and insightful poster.
He will be missed here.
Prayers for his family.
Shocking and sad- prayers to his family!
Oh no! I am shocked and very saddened. I did not know he had been ill. I always looked forward to Congressman BillyBob’s comments, since I knew I would find wit, common sense and scholarship rolled up in one package. RIP, FRiend.
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