Simply 'Lieberman': The independent and enigmatic politics of the late Connecticut Democrat

Joe Lieberman leaves behind a complex political legacy at age 82, FOX News Correspondent Chad Pergram shares the history of the late Connecticut senator.

Former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) announces his candidacy for the 2004 presidency at his old alma mater Stamford High School January 13, 2003, in Stamford, Connecticut. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images) Former Pres. Bill Clinton signing Congressional Accountability Bill in White House Oval Office. (Photo by Diana Walker/Getty Images) The late Joseph Lieberman, running as an independent, speaks with residents in costumes at a town fair October 01, 2006, in Shelton, Connecticut. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (L) stands with former U.S. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) during a walk though day four of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Xcel Energy Center on September 4, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota. U.S. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Former Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) poses with his wife Hadassah on the red carpet upon arrival at a salute to FOX News Channel's Brit Hume on January 8, 2009, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) The late Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) talks to a witness before a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Hearing on Capitol Hill November 10, 2011, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images) Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu (R) meets with former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) April 15, 2012, in Jerusalem, Israel. (Photo Moshe Milner/GPO via Getty Images) Former Democratic senators (from left) Patrick Leahy, of Vermont, Tom Daschle, of South Dakota, Harry Reid, of Nevada, Joe Lieberman, of Connecticut, Byron Dorgan, of North Dakota, and Chris Dodd, of Connecticut, talk with reporters during a break from the Senate Impeachment Trial on charges he broke the law when he trial to cover up his relationship with Monica Lewinsky on Jan. 29, 1999 in Washington, DC. On this day, the senate issued subpoenas to appear at disposition for Lewinsky, Clinton Adviser Vernon Jordan Jr. and Clinton aide Sidney Blumenthal. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images) Former Sen. Christopher John "Chris" Dodd, D- Conn., and the late Sen. Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman, D-Conn., play around at a promontional event for PBS in the Hart Senate Office Building, September 13, 1993. (Photo by Laura Patterson/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images) The late Joe Lieberman and wife Hadassah wave to the crowd after his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on August 17, 2000, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images) Former U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd-L) smiles while flanked by former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) (L), the late Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) (2nd-R) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) during a bill signing ceremony December 22, 2010, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Former Senator Joe Lieberman, at his concession speech in Connecticut after losing the Connecticut Democratic Senate bid to Ned Lamont. (Bill Tompkins/Getty Images) Former US President George W. Bush (R) speaks with the late US Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Lieberman (L) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (C) after an event in the East Room of the White House 17 June, 2003, in Washington, DC. (Photo by STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP via Getty Images) Presidential candidate Al Gore and wife Tipper are joined by former candidate Joe Lieberman and wife Hadassah as they wave to the crowd upon their arrival in California for the Democratic National Convention, on August 16, 2000, in Burbank, CA. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images) Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.

For writing purposes, do I stylize him as "Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.?" Or do I write "Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.?"

This subject vexed me for years. It became even more acute after Lieberman departed the Senate in early 2013. I’ve had the opportunity to mention him or write about the late senator in passing. But the conundrum as to "what" Lieberman "was" politically is an enigma. And it attests to his staunch independence, refusing to align himself too closely with one party or another.