Opinion

Obama's re-election campaign - the thrill is gone

The president's trip to the Bay Area last week made it painfully clear that the Barack Obama re-election campaign has lost its mojo.

There was no life, no personality, no memorable line or moment and no real enthusiasm in the entire fundraising foray. In short, there was no buzz.

It was like a summer rerun of a show that wasn't very interesting to begin with.

Worse yet, Obama sounded like he was playing catch-up to Mitt Romney. I can't think of anything that should have him in that role, but he's acting like the underdog.

Obama was more than a candidate last time out. He was a popular and cultural phenomenon. A rock star. But the trouble with rock stars is that they drop like a rock once fans conclude they are "over."

The trick in politics is not to be a one-hit wonder, but to be more like the Grateful Dead. Jerry and the boys were never what you'd call stars, but their Deadheads were legion and good days or bad, they always turned out in record numbers.

With new Warriors owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, we once again have guys running a sports franchise who don't need to make money.

That's the way sports ownership should be: guys with big egos and even bigger wallets. Guys who are in the game for the bragging rights that come with winning championships.

Guys like Eddie DeBartolo.

They don't worry about the money because they make more than enough money elsewhere.

In Lacob and Guber's case, however, they do need to worry about Oakland Mayor Jean Quan's and other East Bay politicians' bruised feelings.

Those politicos have appointees or allies on the regional and state commissions that will have the final say on building an arena on the bay. And my bet is they are going to be the real obstacles in the deal.

There's another big sports business story going on around here, only this one isn't getting much attention. It's the tug-of- war between the 49ers on the one hand and Joe Montana and his partners on the other over parking rights for their separate Santa Clara developments.

Apparently, as part of their deal with Santa Clara, the 49ers have laid claim to parking within a certain distance around their stadium on game days.

Some of that parking, however, is being eyed by Montana's group for its restaurant and hotel.

And, as we all know, parking is money.

Movie time: "The Dictator." Offensively funny. If you have any sensitivity toward ethnic jokes, sexual preference jokes or mocking morality, you'll be offended.

If you don't, you'll find it hilarious as all hell. Just make sure the significant other you see it with shares your tastes, or you'll be in trouble for laughing.

"Bernie." I can't reveal much without ruining the plot, except to say everybody knows a "Bernie" - a small-town nice guy who gets himself in a situation.

It's worth the ticket. For me the highlights were the Texas townsfolk who narrate the story. It's like they all stepped out of my hometown of Mineola.

I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days up in Yountville, and I can see why it's giving Carmel a run for its money as the new weekend place to be.

You have French Laundry, Bouchon Bakery, Redd and Bottega, where Carmen Policy is one of the investors.

Nothing is over two stories high. Everything is quaint. There are no signs at all - you need to know where you're going to find a place.

And every place is crowded, even on a Monday or Tuesday.

The town has something else in common with Carmel. No single-night stays. You have to sign up for two nights minimum to get a room.

Times must be good for all-about-town sportscaster Gary Radnich. He's traded up from a Jaguar to a Bentley.

Speaking of high-end cars: Years ago, a federal judge friend who shall remain nameless bought a Rolls-Royce. He loved squiring his dates around town in that car.

One night he picked up a drop-dead gorgeous friend of mine for a date.

He's pulling out and feeling quite the man, he can't help but ask, "Have you ever ridden in a Rolls-Royce before?"

"Yes, I have," she replied, "But never in the front seat ... with the driver."