Hi, Mentalist Fans --

Here's a difficult challenge for us all.  I HATE the idea that Reede Smith might be Red John, but I keep coming back to him as the very least likely RJ candidate I can imagine (espeically from the list of 7, assuming it's real).  So, instead of debunking the possibility of Smith being RJ, can anyone make a compelling case in favor of him being RJ?

Otherwise, I'm hard pressed to come up with any reason why he'd be on a suspect list by PJ or RJ.  Yeah, I know he's brutal and credible as a Tiger Tiger member.  But all the Tiger Tiger members aren't on the list (the driver of the van when Kirkland was killed, for instance).  Even if he is just a Tiger Tiger member (not RJ), it would seem he'd have to be in the upper echelon.  He certainly seemed to be giving Bertram rather sharp orders in the meeting of Bertram, McAllister, and Smith.

Again, IS there a reasonable case to be made for Smith being RJ?  And if not, why the hell is he on the list?

Thanks for your thoughts.