Here is another roundup of some of the most thought-provoking reader comments of the week. Comments are selected by our editors and subject to editing for grammar, spelling, clarity and length.
Click on each topic’s headline to see the article in question.
Republican ‘Litmus Test’
This questionnaire is precisely what [Democratic Party Chairman Frank] Barbaro says it is, a litmus test. The Republicans want to know just how conservative candidates are so that they know who to support and who not to support. These questions are select which candidates will strictly abide by what the people at the top of the Republican Party want them to say and what issues to support.
It’s a shame that the Republican Party puts their candidates through a litmus test like this. If I were a Republican candidate, I would be scared to say the wrong thing in these questionnaires, because if they do, they won’t get any support from their party.
It really is a shame how out of touch the Republican Party is with the world today. The parties need to be able to work together, and a candidate that expresses interest in working together with elected officials from other parties should not be scolded or threatened for doing so. They should be commended for worrying about the overall good of the people which they represent.
— OCpoliticss / Aug. 20
Barbaro needs to get a grip. Ask him what the odds are of a pro-life Democrat getting the OC Democratic Party endorsement, and then ask him to go on about how awful litmus tests are.
Heck, try getting the OC Demo nod if you don’t have a union bug on your candidate business card! Barbaro and his party are lousy with litmus tests.
— Clockwatchers Anonymous / Aug. 22
Fullerton’s Police Culture
Had Kelly’s father, Ron Thomas, not gotten involved [in protesting his son’s beating death], I believe all of it would have been swept under the carpet. If it were just some homeless guy estranged from his family, I believe it would have been totally whitewashed.
The only thing that lit a fire under the investigation was Kelly’s deathbed photo going viral over the Internet. Prior to that the cops were blaming Kelly (lying about officers’ broken bones), and the media was almost totally silent. If not for Ron Thomas, chances are none of us would even know who Kelly Thomas was.
[Michael] Gennaco [head of the Office of Independent Review] let the current police leadership completely off the hook. All the blame was hung on one exec who is now retired. To be expected.
— Beelzebub / Aug. 22
Ruane Heads CalOptima
Did I read this right? “Ruane is a longtime county executive but has no experience running an enormous health plan like the $1.4-billion CalOptima.”
What the heck is going on here? What are his qualifications besides being a recycled Board of Supervisors insider?
— OCservant-leadership / Aug. 17
Afraid so.
The Board of Supervisors has been responsible for the desecration of CalOptima, leaving their constituents at the mercy of a rudderless organization. Should we be surprised that it took all of 45 minutes for them to appoint a part-time chief of operations without any experience?
While some speculate that the state will assign Orange County responsibility to take over CalOptima, others believe that the state could not possibly trust this county to do a right thing, and the state will be taking the operation over. Ever worked with the state?
— Roslyn / Aug. 17
Nguyen: Former Execs Caused CalOptima Brain Drain
What a self-serving crock Nguyen is spinning here! She has single-handedly destroyed CalOptima through her relentless and misguided micromanagement, her utter lack of understanding of health care and her sell-out to a group of providers who put their profit above CalOptima’s health.
It’s no wonder that after her outrageous behavior caused the top executives — who were the target of most of her rudeness and incompetence — to leave, the next tier also left rather than be her next target.
That some of these talented people went to work for [former CEO Richard] Chambers and [former Chief Operating Officer Dr. Greg] Buchert is further testimony that the two are excellent healthcare professionals whose loss is a tragedy for Orange County.
— DocC / Aug. 23
It’s not fair to blame only Nguyen.
The other supervisors willfully enabled Nguyen by providing her with the power. It was like putting a child in charge of a nuclear power plant. Disaster was inevitable.
Many seem to conveniently forget that fact. Nguyen could have never screwed up CalOptima single-handedly — not without the help of the other supervisors. This screw-up took a village — village idiots.
— Beelzebub / Aug. 23
What’s Wrong With a Plastic Bags Study?
Not sure why some hotheaded commenters are deriding local politicians for hearing a request made in an orderly, nonhysterical fashion according to the established civil process.
The agreement [in Irvine] was simply to study and analyze the pros and cons and evaluate. What is the actual objection to considering an environmental protection adapted by so many municipalities, whether from a business, civil or environmental point of view?
Some reasoned voices sought, please.
— Responsible Bus / Aug. 21
Santa Ana’s City Attorney
[Santa Ana City Attorney Sonia] Carvalho is the best person up there on the dais. She should be mayor.
[City Councilwoman Claudia] Alvarez did a fine job challenging her with the questioning or interpretation of the law [affecting a downtown property tax], but she should not have competed with her for personal motives. That was transparent and self-destructive.
We need people who fight for objective progress, not for guilty, selfish preservation.
— Got your back / Aug.18
Voice of OC’s Editor-in-Chief
I read that Norberto [Santana Jr.] suffered quite a serious injury as a result of a boxing match at a local sports club. According to The Orange County Register article, Norberto was admitted to the intensive care unit at a local hospital, although he appears to be in stable condition.
Wishing you a fast and full recovery, Norberto. Come back soon! We want you to do your fighting with your pen, not your fists!
— Beelzebub / Aug. 20
OC’s Health Care Crisis
There are two clinics in South County: Camino Health Center in San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Beach Community Clinic.
The list of clinics and their services is available at the Coalition of Orange County Health Centers website. In addition, AccessOC provides free surgeries and colonoscopies to the uninsured in Orange County.
— AccessOC / Aug. 20
Park-Poor Santa Ana
Does the city of Santa Ana still count flower pots on the balconies of condos and apartments as park space?
— Junior / Aug. 22