Biden, in effort to drive point home, goes south

Former Vice President Joe Biden ignored my warning to stay out of sight for the first six months of the presidential primary campaign, and instead has stepped into the spotlight.

And stepped in it as well.

Biden tried to make point about civic civility when he said that back in the 1970s he worked with some pretty unsavory people to get things done, including some staunch segregationist senators from his own party.

But being Biden, he took it step too far, saying that one of the racists, Sen. James Eastland of Mississippi, had often condescendingly called him “son” — but not “boy.”

And he did it with a Southern accent.

It doesn’t matter what your record is on civil rights — if you say “boy” with a Dixie drawl you will be pilloried, especially if you do it on Juneteenth, the national day of liberation for blacks.

Maybe Uncle Joe was actually looking for a food fight with the politically correct wing of the Democratic family. Certainly, campaign rivals Sens. Cory Booker and Bernie Sanders gave him one.

More likely, though, he just wasn’t thinking it through. If so, it’s time for Biden to get back to those kitchen meetings where there are no cameras.

Road age: President Trump’s re-election kickoff rally had the look and feel of one of those aging rock star’s farewell tours.

A greatest hits package, played back to back, but ultimately nothing new to offer.

But old hits sound good only when you haven’t heard them for a long time, and unfortunately for Trump, he’s been saying the same thing every day since the day he took office.

The crowd started out big and boisterous, but midway through his 90-minute speech, the gas was running low.

Mr. President, it’s time to get some new material.

Dining for dollars: I don’t know why politicians insist on raising money when they have no opponents, but they do. The latest case was San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who picked Original Joe’s for a fundraiser hosted by Mayor London Breed.

The event was packed, both with old pros like John Burton and under-30 newbies with backpacks.

There were also representatives from every law firm in the city that contracts for the work that the city attorney farms out.

He’s back: MoMo’s across from the ballpark was abuzz the other day thanks to the presence of two legends, baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda and movie superstar and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger looked movie-star-ready, with a white beard and full head of hair. Cepeda was walking with the help of a cane. But when it came time for photos, Schwarzenegger grabbed the cane away.

“You are a true sports star, and stars don’t use walking sticks,” Arnold said as he put his arm around Cepeda.

Long strange trip: After what seemed like a never-ending series of meetings, I found myself on the last Capitol Corridor train out of Sacramento the other night. And what a trip it was. We pulled out of Sacramento at 10:30 p.m. and arrived at Richmond around midnight. I got off to make the final leg of the trip to San Francisco on BART.

The agent at the Richmond BART Station was wonderful. She not only helped me buy a ticket, but she also gave me a piece of advice.

“Make the transfer to San Francisco at MacArthur Station. And that pinky ring you’re wearing, turn it around so the jewel faces inward.”

With that, she locked up the booth and left for the night.

I boarded BART and arrived at MacArthur Station around 12:30, where two BART police officers boarded the San Francisco-bound train. We were stopped dead for another 30 minutes as the cops did a sweep of the entire train, asking all the homeless people who were bunked down for the night for their tickets.

Those who didn’t have one were escorted off the train.

About an hour later, I finally arrived at Embarcadero Station in San Francisco.

In summary: It was one hour up to Sacramento by car and three hours back by rail. No wonder people drive.

Movie time: “Shaft.” This is a real Shaft movie all the way. It has three generations of Shafts — Richard Roundtree, the grandfather; Samuel L. Jackson, the father; and the newest Shaft, played by Jessie T. Usher.

It is nothing like the original detective blockbuster. It is tender, clever and funny as all get out. If you’ve never visited a black barbershop, this is your chance — don’t miss it.

So long, Sarah: I was watching a clip of President Trump’s press secretary, Sarah Sanders, making her exit announcement the other day.

Up on the screen at Sam’s Tavern, Sanders was saying how she hoped to be remembered for being “transparent and honest.”

At which point I heard a female voice behind me adding what President Trump’s self-described paramour had tweeted at Sanders’ comment: “And Stormy Daniels wants to be remembered as a virgin.”

Want to sound off ? Email wbrown@sfchronicle.com

Dominick Reuter / AFP / Getty Images Joe Biden took his point about civic civility too far when he said that back in the 1970s he worked with staunch segregationist senators from his own party.