Mario Cuomo has died.

[RandySF]

Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, known as a liberal lion and likely Democratic candidate for president in the 1980s and 1990s, died today at age 82, multiple sources confirmed to ABC News.

Cuomo, governor of the Empire State from 1983 to 1994, was the father of current New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Mario Cuomo's imprint on liberalism in American politics was nearly without parallel. The strains of liberalism and populism coursing through the Democratic Party today -- through the voices of Elizabeth Warren and others -- are echoes of Cuomo.

Andrew Cuomo noted both his father's absence -- and his spiritual presence -- as he was sworn in to a second term as governor today, becoming the first Democrat to enter a second term as New York governor since his father.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/york-gov-mario-cuomo-dead-82/story?id=27952816

[pintobean]

1. .

[JaneyVee]

2. RIP. A fierce defender and advocate of Liberalism.

[appalachiablue]

3. Great American. Peace. He would have made a wonderful President, maybe one of the best.

Last of the Liberals, guts, brains and social justice. See his 1984 Convention Speech posted here..

[femmocrat]

4. What a shame.

He was a beloved democrat.

[HeiressofBickworth]

5. I never understood why he didn't run for President

He had everything going for him and he was a progressive Democrat. He never seized the opportunity. From what I know (hey, I'm in Seattle) his son has the ambition but little of the other qualities of his father.

[appalachiablue]

8. The NYT obit says he often had self doubt and second guessed.. I wonder how that could be in his

positions of responsibility and leadership. If he'd been in office we probably wouldn't have had the financial games of the 90s and repeal of Glass-Steagall. What a thought-

[jtuck004]

10. Your comment reminds me of a special out on Pope Francis (PBS?). Anyway, they report about him

taking himself to task for not doing more (while he was risking his safety in South America), and many of the other things he does to demonstrate, not just talk about, being one of the people.

He talks about himself as being the biggest sinner.

The guy they were interviewing said something to the effect that among those who hold offices, the "greatest sin" is that they say they are of the people and with all their faults until they are elected, and then pretend to be perfect, with people around them to prop up that illusion.

I'm not superstitious, but I am impressed by real courage and humanity and humility while one holds great power. It's damn seldom you see someone live it. Most of the time it is just a speech or an event staged to get a return. In the Pope's case I think he represents those qualities in most everything he does. He's not an excuse peddler, and doesn't seem to have much use for their industry. Heck, given how badly about 100 million Americans continue to do, while the bank$ter donors are being lauded for the greatest profits they have been handed in our recorded history, maybe it's time to indulge a little self-doubt about the policies that made it this way.

[jtuck004]

11. Maybe he couldn't get comfortable enough with what he thought he might have to be. n/t

[pinto]

6. One of the best of his political generation. Thanks Mario.

[BrotherIvan]

7. A good man that shall be missed

I hope his son starts to take after him.

[AllyCat]

9. .

[freshwest]

12. Good man...

[aikoaiko]

13. That's a shame. RIP.

[WillyT]

14. Damn...