Rachel looking very casual and with her Elvis Costello specs on. This was probably scheduled weeks ago to promote Rachel's show, which I'm sure they though would be struggling, instead of going great gonzos. What struck me the most was how Marky Mark didn't say a thing, and looked downright bored during the interview. I wonder if he's aware of any issues.

By the end of the interview, Leno had forgotten what grandma would say. It's Madd-o, Jay, not Madd-ow.

She's so upbeat - she makes it easy for both sides...she should be Vice President....

I just thought about that. Ha! That'd be the day. A gay woman. Only thing that would be better is a gay, black, Muslim Woman.

Okay - best President we could ever possibly have - health care for everyone, rich people have their lowest taxes they've ever had, the country is green, we're weaned from oil but the oil companies still make a bundle in the process, we have a very healthy, unused military that gets great benefits and the Constitution is solid. But...we have to elect a gay, black, Muslim woman to do it. Knowing it would be great, could we ever get her elected?

Maybe these are Rachel's casual duds, but that's about the worst getup I can imagine for someone who's launching a pretty awesome, groundbreaking new liberal show. It would be like Hannity or Limbaugh showing up on Leno looking like Larry the Cable Guy or Ted Nugent. I think she's got this urge to keep it real and not sell out, whatever that means, that pulls her away from really becoming the national media figure she could soon become.

"Knowing it would be great, could we ever get her elected?"

Absolutely. One thing that I've heard from canvassers in Ohio and Pennsylvania and West Virginia is that there are straightforward racists they talk to, who are still thinking about voting for Obama. Maybe you wouldn't want a guy to marry your daughter but having a guy as your boss or president might be fine if it's going to help you. A vote indicates a very wide variety of kinds of approval, and is in fact compatible with a lot of ignorant, horrible views about the person you may be voting for.

"One thing that I've heard from canvassers in Ohio and Pennsylvania and West Virginia is that there are straightforward racists they talk to, who are still thinking about voting for Obama."

Yikes! The one positive thing I can think of with an Obama win is we can finally get past the whole "Americans are a bunch of Racists" diatribe. Now I see that even if he wins, we are still a bunch of racists.

Depressing.

Yes, Tim is right. Tolerance is not the highest level of acceptance, but it beats a lot of ways of relating to other people. And the "racist" who could still vote for Obama is not the same racist that lives around my neck of the woods, who's going to be stockpiling guns and ammo for January 20. there will probably always be ethnic tension to one degree or another, just as there is in many parts of the world. But the very nasty brand of American racism that justified slavery and massive coordinated terrorism against black people for 100 years will be dealt a very serious, maybe fatal, blow if Obama is elected. And blacks will look at race in a very different way as well.

It really is remarkable that Obama is so close now, Obama being not just black but having a weird African-Arab sounding name too.. What's clear from this hate at McCain rallies is that it's probably more directed at Obama's alleged Muslim background than it is at his blackness (though the latter likely reinforces the former).

I'd like to hear more about the stockpiling. Why?

I wasn't really looking for a 'maybe', I want to hear from dende, who has stated conjecture as fact. Why will they be stockpiling guns and ammunition for Jan. 20. Are you predicting revolution?

Now I see that even if he wins[Obama], we are still a bunch of racists.

“We?” There's no “me” in that “we.” Or are you talking about the ignorant crackers at the McCain rally?

And since when do hicks and rednecks need an excuse to stockpile guns and ammo?

Where is Indiana Rachel?