I'm afraid I have to be the bearer of some very bad news about The Magistrate [View all]

[EarlG]

We have received word from the family of The Magistrate that he has had a sudden and devastating heart attack. I've been asked to post the following on behalf of his family:

The Magistrate has had his last heart attack.

This week, days after seeing his cardiologist (who gave him a clean bill of health), The Magistrate had a severe heart attack that doctors say would result in permanent brain damage. He is totally unresponsive and will not survive. Tomorrow doctors will remove him from the respirator. Our extended family will be there along with friends.

DUers have been so generous in the past with their tributes and best wishes that the family would love to read the replies at the funeral. Please post your condolences and memories of James, aka Papa, aka The Magistrate, a kind, caring, funny, very very smart and loyal man who was considered very special by everyone who knew him. We will miss him forever.

The Magistrate has been a fixture on Democratic Underground for nearly 23 years, almost since the beginning. He joined in October of 2001, less than a year after the site was founded, and his sardonic wit and playful, unique posting style quickly made him a favorite of many DUers -- and occasionally drew the ire of others.

But as much as he sometimes raised the hackles of the folks with whom he loved to verbally joust -- and he wouldn't have had it any other way -- nobody could ever claim that The Magistrate did not care about this country and its future.

Sir, you were a great Democrat, and a great DUer, and you will be greatly missed.