RNC 8 say good riddance to Susan Gaertner

• I think Frank has it backwards. It is Susan Gaertner and her crew that take the RNC8 seriously. In fact, they created the RNC8. While the RNC8 take the possiblity of felony convictions very seriously, my experience of them is they are very realistic about their place in the big scheme of things.

• LOL, good riddance indeed. Dont let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya! Lou www.real-web-anonymity.at.tc

• Or... It could be that she dropped out because she felt the DFL would be well-served by MAK running and that her presence might detract from a DFL victory in November. The "RNC 8" take themselves very seriously and really believe that they are far more important than they are. In fact, over-priveleged white kids playing radical who can garner the support of a couple dozen people really don't change the world.

• Congratulations to the defenders of the RNC 8 for helping show Mrs. Gaertner's gubernatorial campaign to the exit door. While the first commenter might be right in that there was a little 'just taking orders' deniability about some of the charges, it is manifestly clear that the terrorism charges were part of a political hit on radical left-wingers. Dick Cheney's secret police state may have backed this, but it's still political. To say that Gaertner wasn't aware of the political ramifications of this conviction is naive. And, while not every DFL'er is a fan of nonviolent civil disobedience, or bought the propaganda line that these were scary anarchists who are unworthy of their place in the public square, the left wing of the metro DFL does pay attention to stuff like this. Gaertner was intending to be the 'moderate woman' in the race - and 'moderate' in this sense means more conservative than others. So the RNC 8 provided a possible springboard to buff her 'moderate' credentials. But the well-organized effort to dog her did keep her from taking off among the party base. And that led to her choosing the primary, and now leaving the primary.

• Thanks Mordeci. I updated the post.

• "...are charged with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism and face up to 7 1/2 years in prison each" Not correct. Gaertner dropped the charges with "terrorism" enhancements in April 2009. These trumped up charges apparently justified the preemptive SWAT team raids on Aug. 30, 2008, and arrests prior to the Republican National Convention. The RNC 8 still face two charges, both felonies: conspiracy to riot and conspiracy to damage property. They will be back in Ramsey County District Court for hearings on defense motions May 3-6 and 13-14. Admission to the courthouse in beautiful downtown St. Paul is free (security screening), and the RNC 8 Defense Committee will provide a free lunch in the park for supporters. Details and updates at: http://rnc8.org/

• I'm not sure if she was simply doing her job and following orders, or if this was opportunistic grandstanding at the expense of the lives of eight relatively harmless kids. I'd like to hear her side clearly, and I don't mean some managed campaign soundbite, but an interview where she answers questions candidly. I'd definitely give her the benefit of the doubt and listen. If the prosecution was motivated by her ambitions, it may have raised her profile, but introduced grave doubts as to her character. She may have been unfairly maligned... I have a hard time believing someone with a track record like Susan Gaertner's would attempt to destroy the lives of these kids in order to raise her profile. I would have admired her career, although disagreeing with some of her views. Can someone interview her and get her side of the story, now that the campaign is not a factor? Ultimately, I see this whole debacle as another instance of FUD taking a hold of official's imaginations, and resulting in a paranoiac over-reaction on the part of these officials. I guess people fear what they don't understand, and I'm certainly not immune to that. It's just human nature. Better communication might have led to understanding and a deescalation of tensions on both sides - protesters and law-enforcement, as well as government officials.

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