None of the host of ultra-liberal Democrats who would love to succeed her makes the direct argument that at 84 — she’ll be one year older by next November’s election — fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein is too aged to be one of California’s two U.S. senators.

But that’s what they mean. “Feinstein … is no less alert and active today than she’s been in recent years,” went one essay in California’s largest newspaper, damning her with faint praise. “Generational renewal,” the same essay continued, is one way to measure the strength of a political party. In other words, if you’re lucky enough to acquire some age, get out of the younger folks’ way.

That’s, of course, what those younger folks would like — until and unless they also eventually acquire some years.

By all appearances, Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee and former chair of the Intelligence Committee, is at least as active now as she was 20 years ago, when no one complained about her age. She wasn’t as loud as some others (read: California’s other senator, Kamala Harris) in questioning Donald Trump administration figures like Attorney General Jeff Sessions during nationally televised hearings last spring, but her civilly phrased questions seemed more piercing to many. No Democrat has done more to preserve the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, which provides health insurance for about 5 million previously uninsured Californians.

In short, Feinstein has lately done as much as when she worked to thwart the conservative agenda of ex-President George W. Bush 15 years ago.

But she’s still a centrist, which galls a lot of leftists. She’s offered compromises on water issues and won support from Central Valley farmers, while also fighting for abortion rights and other civil liberties causes. She’s a firm conservationist, the only senator actively opposing Trump appointees who seek to allow the private Cadiz Inc. to tap federally owned groundwater beneath the Mojave Desert for profit.

She’s also been scrupulously fair to business. And she’s been responsible for several measures keeping domestic surveillance by intelligence agencies in check, while clamping down on those same agencies’ proclivity toward using torture.

All that and more makes her able to work with Republicans and get them to listen to her reasoning on some key issues. So, yes, she’s out of tune with more radically leftist Democrats who would prefer a more ferocious, partisan approach.

But could any of the current field of would-be Democratic senators — figures like Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna, who also used ageism in ousting longtime Rep. Mike Honda, or state Senate President Kevin de Leon or Pasadena Congressman Adam Schiff — be as effective?

Advocates urging Feinstein not to run for a fifth full term would never cop to their obvious prejudice against anyone her age. But they want her to leave now, following the example of former colleague Barbara Boxer, who retired at 76 near the end of 2016, allowing Harris to succeed her.

Opportunistic Democrats eagerly awaiting Feinstein’s departure will do nothing direct against her, but all know that if she runs again, they can do little to prevent yet more prospects from joining their corps long before her new term would be up. No one knows who might become a viable candidate by 2024, or even whether Democrats will still dominate in California.

Six years ago, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was a little-known city councilman, Khanna held no office, and virtually no one knew who Schiff was. Just as things changed for them, the same could happen for unknown numbers of others over the span of a new six-year Feinstein term.

Meanwhile, some Democrats strongly wish for Feinstein to stay. Former San Diego Congresswoman Lynn Schenk, for one, calls Feinstein “one of the most influential and respected senators” and a “canny expert on legislation” who “probes for the truth in her committees.”

That’s what most people want in a senator, and as long as Feinstein provides it, her age should be no factor at all.

Thomas D. Elias is a writer in Southern California.

There are some indications that Clifford Rechtschaffen, one of Gov. Jerry Brown’s two latest appointments to the state Public Utilities Commission, would be more of an advocate for utilities than for consumers, ratepayers and those adversely affected by environmental issues.

That’s why the Senate Rules Committee needs to ask tough questions of Rechtschaffen in his confirmation hearing this week.

In December, Brown appointed two of his advisers on environmental and climate change issues, Rechtschaffen and Martha Guzman Aceves, to six-year terms as PUC commissioners. They replaced outgoing Commissioners Mike Florio and Catherine Sandoval in January.

Rechtschaffen and Guzman Aceves will face the Rules Committee, chaired by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, in their confirmation hearings Wednesday afternoon.

The two new appointees were in place when the PUC ruled it was safe to reopen Southern California Gas Co.’s Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility at a reduced capacity less than two years after the biggest methane leak in U.S. history displaced thousands of residents from the Porter Ranch area. Los Angeles County filed suit, arguing that the facility should not be allowed to operate until an independent investigation of the cause of the leak is complete — which seems a logical approach but was spurned by the PUC.

Liza Tucker of Consumer Watchdog sent an eight-page letter to de León, co-signed by leaders of Save Porter Ranch, Food & Water Watch, Rootskeeper and a law firm — opposing Rechtschaffen’s appointment “on the basis of Mr. Rechtschaffen’s record of favoring the oil and gas industry.”

The letter alleges that Rechtschaffen “fired two top oil and gas regulators, Derek Chernow and Elena Miller, who were trying to make oil and gas drilling safer.” Tucker cites a legal declaration by Chernow, as part of a lawsuit against the Brown administration and oil companies that claims they poisoned Kern County aquifers, as evidence that Rechtschaffen fired the two regulators at the behest of Occidental Petroleum, which subsequently donated $500,000 to support Brown’s Proposition 30 tax measure.

De León and the other senators on the Rules Committee need to get to the bottom of these allegations and satisfy themselves that they are groundless before confirming Rechtschaffen’s appointment.

They need to ask Rechtschaffen why he fired and replaced the two regulators. Was there pressure from Occidental or any other petroleum company to replace them? Did pressure, if any existed, come through the governor’s office?

And why the rush to reopen the Aliso Canyon facility? Could that decision not have been put off until the investigation of the cause of the blowout was complete? Did the decision put the financial interests of SoCalGas’s parent company, Sempra Energy, or anyone else ahead of the safety of neighboring residents?

The PUC’s reputation has been tarnished considerably by its failures in relation to the deadly explosion in San Bruno of a Pacific Gas & Electric gas line, and by alleged coordination between then-commission president Michael Peevey and Southern California Edison on who would pay for the San Onofre nuclear plant closure.

The Senate committee must satisfy itself that these new PUC appointees will represent the pocketbooks and the health and safety of the people of California above the financial interests of the state’s big utilities and energy companies.

(First of a series previewing high school football teams in Irvine).

Crean Lutheran’s football team will look to an experienced group to lead the way for another successful season under Coach Matt Bowman, who is hoping to guide the Saints back into the CIF playoffs.

“We feel really good, we have really good seniors and we have 15 seniors which is more than we’ve ever had,” said Coach Matt Bowman. “If you look at our record the last five or six years, our record at the end of the season has kind of correlated with the number of seniors we’ve had.”

Crean Lutheran opens the season Saturday, Aug. 26, facing Calvary Chapel at 7 p.m. at Orange Coast College. The Saints will also have five home games at Irvine Stadium including the Thursday, Sept. 14 game with Beckman.

Crean Lutheran went 7-3 last year but was denied a trip to the CIF playoffs because no at-large berths were available in its playoff division. Crean did not have a league affiliation since there were only three teams from the Academy League after Sage Hill dropped its varsity 11-man program, switching to 8-man football.

This season, Crean will once again have a league affiliation.

Officials in the Academy League worked to return the league to a four school-structure after Brethren Christian dropped its varsity football program in July.

The league for football this year will include Crean Lutheran, St. Margaret’s, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy and Orange Vista of Perris, giving the league two automatic CIF playoff berths. Crean Lutheran will be in Division 11.

“It really increases our playoff potential significantly,” Bowman said. “Last year, I felt we were one of the better teams in our division; we just didn’t get a chance to prove it.

“Now, we get to play like we are in control. We get to decide if we go to the playoffs, because if we beat the teams in our league, then we know we will get that opportunity.

“It feels good to be back in control of our own destiny. When we told them (his players) we added another team, they were really excited.”

Crean Lutheran’s offense will be led by senior wide receiver Patrick McNerney, who had 33 receptions for 662 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning all-city and all-league honors.

Senior Jack Elliot, a back-up to Gavin Folsom last year, will be the Saints’ starting quarterback.

“He did a really good job backing Gavin up; he saw action in our first five games last year,” Bowman said.

The running backs will be seniors Anthony Cooper, Isaac Holbrook and Kyle Livermore and sophomore Tyler Buban.

“I’m pretty thankful to have such talented runners,” Bowman said.

The receivers will include McNerney, seniors Ryan O’Keefe and Gunnar Ashmon and junior David Jeong.

On the line, one player, senior Ben Beavers returns along with seniors George DeBorde and Christian Maurier, junior Max Bahou, senior Joseph Kelly,  junior Thomas St. George and senior Dane Schumacher.

“We’ve got a pretty good group of linemen and I feel where we can rotate to keep guys fresh as needed,” Bowman said. “Those guys are all going to be important for us on the offensive line.”

The defense will be led by the defensive backs, who all started last year. Bowman has been impressed with the group.

“I feel really good about this group of defensive backs we have,” Bowman said.

Holbrook, junior Cole Harris, O’Keefe, Ashman and McNerney will lead the way.

The linebackers will be Cooper and seniors Dane Schumacher, Braeden Bailey and Kyle Livermore and sophomore Tyler Buban.

The defensive line is also expected to be strong.

“I feel really good about those guys,” Bowman said. “We replaced our whole defensive line, but all the guys coming back have some experience.”

The line will include DeBourde, Maurier, Kelly, St. George and Beavers, who are also on the offensive line, will lead the way.

On special teams, Schumacher will do the punting.

“He’s been punting the ball 45 to 50 yards in practice,” Bowman said.

McNerney can also punt effectively. Senior Andy Richardson, who has made 50-yard field goals in practice, will be coming into his fourth year as placekicker.

Bowman said his players have a goal of earning a CIF playoff berth. But other factors are important too.

“Regardless of the effort, we want to continue to give a Colossions 3:23 effort every single day because that is something that is going to take our kids a lot farther in life than how many football games they won,” Bowman said.

Re: “Trump fails test of leadership, chance to unite” [Opinion, Aug. 20]: In your editorial you state that most have rightly criticized President Trump for saying “both sides” are to blame for the violence in Charlottesville. Yet, you say Antifa has perpetrated numerous vile acts. So on the one hand you criticize President Trump’s words, and on the other hand you agree with him? It is so confusing to me, trying to reconcile the “correct” with the “politically correct.”

— Greg Beck, Laguna Hills

Read it for yourself

Your editorial lambasted President Trump for his remarks on the Charlottesville riot. I have seen an lot of undocumented criticism of his comments and so I sought a copy of both the Saturday and Monday comments.

From what I read, I simply say, bravo Mr. President.

The Register’s editorial is misleading, unfounded and so egregious that I call on you to make an apology to the American people.

Please read the president’s remarks for yourself and you, too, will be astonished at the arbitrary and capricious media comments.

— John Rette, Mission Viejo

Goethals an honorable man

Re: “No death penalty in botched Dekraai case” [Opinion, Aug. 20]: I have known Judge Goethals on a professional basis for over 35 years. I first knew him as a prosecutor, then as a private attorney, and of course as a judge. In my opinion, he is the quintessential judge; bright, thoughtful, courteous and conscientious. He is a decent person and exactly the kind of judge we want on the bench. I’m sure there will be an outcry for his removal either through recall efforts or in his next bid for re-election. That would be outrageous. The job of a judge is not to succumb to public pressure and do what is popular. It is to be fair, follow the law and make independent decisions.

In this case, there was overreaching by the prosecution and law enforcement to such an extent that deputy sheriffs actually lied on the witness stand. This cannot be tolerated under our system of justice. The prosecution had a slam-dunk case and blew it by getting greedy. It’s as simple as that. Judge Goethals did exactly the right thing in this case. Let’s hope it sends a message to the DA’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department so something like this won’t happen in the future.

— Tim Severin, La Palma

Nearly all California residents receive water that meets federal and state standards for safe drinking water, but for some people who live in disadvantaged rural communities that rely on wells, contaminated groundwater poses a threat to public health.

Should all Californians pay a new statewide tax or fee on water to assist disadvantaged communities with the cost of new water treatment plants? That’s our question of the week for readers.

More than 300 drinking water systems serving approximately 200,000 Californians have been found to be unable to consistently provide safe drinking water. Because these are located in communities that lack the economic resources needed to pay for new water treatment facilities, some state lawmakers are looking for a new, long-term funding source.

The state Assembly is considering Senate Bill 623, authored by Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel, which would establish a special fund, administered by the State Water Resources Control Board, which would receive the proceeds of a new tax on water to be collected by local water agencies on the bills they send to residential and business customers.

SB623 would also add a “safe drinking water fee” to the production costs of fertilizer and milk. Those fees would likewise be deposited into the special fund in Sacramento.

While a number of environmental and health advocacy groups support the bill, many local water agencies oppose it, arguing that the state’s General Fund should be tapped to meet the goal of providing safe drinking water for disadvantaged communities.

Do you agree or disagree that higher taxes or fees are needed to provide safe drinking water to all Californians?

Should responsibility be shared equally by water customers across the state?

Is this a cost that should be added to water bills, or should tax money be spent instead?

Have ratepayers already been asked to pay too much for water?

Email your thoughts to letters@ocregister.com. Please include your full name and city or community of residence. Provide a daytime phone number. Or, if you prefer, share your views in the comments section that accompanies this article online.

We’ll publish as many responses as possible.

LET THE SUNSHINE IN: While many companies held informal gatherings on their office rooftops to view the solar eclipse Monday, others initiated more formal plans for the event. Warby Parker bussed its Nashville headquarters’ employees to celebrate the eclipse at its Nashville store, Warby Parker Edgehill. The party included a performance by Futurebirds, then during the city’s one minute and 57 seconds of eclipse-induced darkness, the Nashville-based ALIAS Chamber Ensemble played a composition that they crafted especially for the occasion. Martin’s, a local barbecue joint, fired up lunch on-site for attendees.
Lividini & Co., a fashion public relations and brand strategy company at 264 West 40th Street in New York, entertained some 30 to 40 people on their rooftop Monday afternoon, including staff from other companies in the building, such as Robert Graham, as well as media. Bottled water and stars and moon cookies were served, along with sun-protection glasses.
Nike held a viewing party on it Beaverton, Ore, campus, while Nautilus threw a viewing party for hundreds in their corporate office with a glasses-decorating station, brunch and drink stations for specialty coffees and smoothies.
There were virtually no cars on the roads in Portland during what is typically the Monday morning rush hour, according

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Lacoste is going tee-to-green for its upcoming Presidents Cup partnership.
The French brand famous for its crocodile logo on Monday teamed with the PGA at the site of the tournament at Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, N.J., to officially preview the uniforms it created for both the U.S. and International teams. This marks the first time in the tournament’s history that one brand has provided apparel for both teams.
The U.S. team’s outfits draw their inspiration from the American flag and feature a red, white and navy blue color palette. The International team will sport blue and gold, colors that are found on the Presidents Day team flag.
Lacoste created uniforms for all days of the competition as well as for the opening and closing ceremonies. Each piece is embroidered with the Presidents Cup trophy and team flag.
Joëlle Grünberg, president and chief executive officer of Lacoste North America, said that in addition to the official outfits that the teams, captains, caddies and staff will wear, the company has created a capsule for the public that “mirrors” the official collection.
The polos, T-shirts, trousers, outerwear and hats will be sold at the Lacoste stores, on its web site and at other select wholesale

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The restaurant that practically created fine dining in Sin City is on the move.

The ultra-glam St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club is getting ready to welcome its first equestrian-loving guests in October.