It's an interesting question. It's probably natural for us to lack empathy for somebody we consider to be demonic. Maybe the problem is that we are too quick to demonize people, and too quick to hate people we consider to be demonic. Maybe we need to have more empathy for people we dislike while they're living, and not save it up until they're dead.

Ted Stevens was a moderately corrupt politician, part of a moderately corrupt political machine; but it really doesn't seem that he was a horrible person. I'm sure there were many people who loved him, and I'm sure he did many good things in his life.

May he rest in peace.

-Joe-