Joe Lieberman Dead At 82

Bio from Politico here

From The New York Times

Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz released the following statements regarding the passing of former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman:

Governor Lamont said, “Annie and I send our deepest condolences to Hadassah and the Lieberman family. While the senator and I had our political differences, he was a man of integrity and conviction, so our debate about the Iraq War was serious. I believe we agreed to disagree from a position of principal. When the race was over, we stayed in touch as friends in the best traditions of American democracy. He will be missed.”

Lt. Governor Bysiewicz said, “Today we mourn the loss of one of Connecticut’s political icons. Across decades – as a state senator, Connecticut attorney general, and U.S. senator – Joe Lieberman shaped policies that bettered the lives of residents in our state and across the nation. I greatly admired his dedication, and it was his book, The Power Broker, which inspired me to write my own biography of Governor Ella Grasso. Joe was there to impact critical policies during some of the most pivotal moments in our recent history, whether casting the deciding vote to pass the Affordable Care Act, landmark legislation that has provided more than 21 million Americans access to quality, affordable health care, or introducing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010. In a post 9/11 era, Joe led legislation that led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security – an effort that is still keeping us safe today. My heart goes out to Joe’s family and all who loved him. He will be greatly missed.”

From The New York Times:

Joseph I. Lieberman, Connecticut’s four-term United States senator and Vice President Al Gore’s Democratic running mate in the 2000 presidential election won by George W. Bush and Dick Cheney when the Supreme Court halted a Florida ballot recount, died on Wednesday in Manhattan. He was 82.

His family, in a statement, said the cause was complications of a fall. His brother-in-law Ary Freilich said Mr. Lieberman died at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Upper Manhattan.

At his political peak on the threshold of the vice presidency, Mr. Lieberman — a national voice of morality as the first major Democrat to rebuke President Bill Clinton for his sexual relationship with the White House intern Monica Lewinsky — was named Mr. Gore’s running mate at the Democratic National Convention that August, and became the nation’s first Jewish candidate on a major-party presidential ticket.

In the ensuing campaign, the Gore-Lieberman team stressed themes of integrity to sidestep Clinton administration scandals. Mr. Lieberman also urged Americans to bring religion and faith more prominently into public life. They won a narrow plurality of the popular votes — a half-million more than the Bush-Cheney Republican ticket. But on the evening of Election Day, no clear winner had emerged in the Electoral College, and an intense legal battle took center stage.

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