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

[liberalhistorian]

306. I joined in March of 2003 and

almost immediately became familiar with the Magistrate's posts and began to look for them whenever I logged on. He was a kind of DU map for me the first few months I was on here. He was often able to effectively communicate what many of us were thinking and feeling, but didn't always know how to put into words. He's such a foundational fixture here that it's hard to imagine DU without him.
His love and concern for the country, and his desire to keep working to help it live up to its founding principles, was always inspirational. Especially during more discouraging times when it seemed that nothing would ever change and we wondered what was the point in continued efforts and work.

I am so very, deeply sorry to hear of his passing and I hope it brings the family at least some comfort to know his positive impact here and how much he meant to all of us!