So everybody is upset about Ted Rall's recent rant concerning Ronald Reagan (I'd link to it, but in the proud tradition of lefty web media, its been taken offline). Its understandable. What Ted said was a miserable thing to say about somebody, especially so soon after their death.

But I don't think Rall should be stopped from saying such things. It is his freedom of speech. He's allowed to say awful things about people if he wishes. And he will suffer the consequences of his hatred too. You see, Rall aspires to be a respected purveyor of opinions through his op/ed columns and political cartoons, but what he doesn't realize is that when he espouses such hatred for those he disagrees with it marginalizes his positions. People see the blinding hatred in his words and drawings and dismiss him, perhaps without considering the message he's trying to convey.

Not that Rall, in my opinion, has any messages worth hearing.

So let Rall rant away. He's doing much more damage to his own reputation with this latest flap then he ever will to the Gipper's legacy.