But (and NewsFeed doesn't often fancy ourselves Cassandras but it's a lazy Friday afternoon) we like to hope there could be some short-term cultural implications to the rally. For one thing, perhaps it could bring thoughtfulness back — and not lazy fake hipster thoughtfulness, but actual considered and considerate debate. And maybe, the sense of occasion will shock Stewart out of his last crutch, the "hey, but I'm only a comedian!" excuse that he sometimes falls back on in the middle of spirited discussion to avoid dealing with thorny questions.
Or maybe, the event will just be a way of thanking people who raised a lot of money for charity. Who knows?
Let's hear it for not being about "lazy fake hipster thoughtfulness."