LIEBERMAN: Two weeks ago, our Republican friends actually tried to walk and talk a lot like us. Did you notice? Yes. But let's be honest about this. We may be near Hollywood tonight, but not since Tom Hanks won an Oscar has there been that much acting in Philadelphia. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BATTISTA: Welcome back.

Joining us now is Vance DeGeneres, a correspondent on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show, With John Stewart," and political humorist Will Durst. He is the host of several PBS TV specials and shows, including the "Durst Amendment" and "Livelihood."

Welcome to both of you. Thanks for joining us.

WILL DURST, POLITICAL HUMORIST: Morning, Bobbie.

BATTISTA: We didn't hear this byte. We'll hear it later bit later on in the show. But he pretty much opened last night with a Jewish mother-in-law joke. Was that was good?

VANCE DEGENERES, COMEDY CENTRAL: I liked it. You? You know, to me, it reminded me of my dad. He was always coming up with the corn one-liners. So he has a got a fond part of my heart now after that.

DURST: What was the joke? It was behind every successful man is a surprised mother-in-law.

BATTISTA: Is a surprised mother-in-law.

DEGENERES: Surprise mother-in-law, yes.

DURST: Man, that is so Maury Amsterdam. That is so Dick Van Dyke. Maybe that is what they were trying to do. They were going for the black and white, hula hoops, you know, good times. LBJ was president, you know...

(CROSSTALK)

BATTISTA: So they have looked up the Poconos vote.

DURST: Yes, they are going for the Catskills vote, yes, definitely. I think they got it.

DEGENERES: Yes, I think he locked it up last night.

DURST: I do too.

BATTISTA: How far can you go with -- I am not really going to call that an ethnic joke, but it was a Jewish mother-in-law joke. I mean, how far do you go with something like when you are running for vice president?

DURST: Well on a 101 scale, I think that that was a .01. So, in terms of offending people, I don't think that would have offended anybody. Of course, Dan Quayle has proved what you can't do. And he I think he set the bar rather high. And everybody else has been able to get under it.

DEGENERES: You know, to me, I think you take that much further. I think that in fact Lieberman should absolutely continue with the jokes. People Love McCain. He's kind of like the Democratic McCain, I think. And if Dole had showed his sense of humor in '96, who knows.

DURST: I agree. Did you see Dole when he did Letterman right after he lost? And he was very, very funny.

BATTISTA: Yes, right.

DURST: I think if that guy had run for president, he would have lost by at least one or two percentages points less.

BATTISTA: This is supposedly the same problem that Al Gore has. You know, I hear more and more people say: Gee, when I met him face to face, or you know, when I was in a small group of people, he was very relaxed. He is very fun. Where is that?

DURST: Well, he is -- it doesn't come across on TV. I mean, he looks different than Jesse Helms on a gay pride parade float. I don't know what the reason is. I don't if the camera doesn't love him like it loves Bill.

DEGENERES: You know, to be fair to Jesse Helms, that was not a good for him.

DURST: No.

DEGENERES: It was way too small and crowded that day.

DURST: Yes, crowds are not good for Jesse.

DEGENERES: No.

BATTISTA: You know, we have an e-mail here form Joe, who says: "Instead of trying to make believe that he is a TV personality, Al Gore should just tell it like it is, that being a faithful, moral man is boring, then he is boring. Bill Gates will never get his own late- night talk show. Neither will Warren Buffet, but they are men of superior intellect, vision, and accomplishment."

So tonight, do you think that as part of has speech, I mean, maybe he should just say: Look, I know you all -- I am not the greatest speaker in the world -- you know what I mean -- but listen to what I have to say, not the how I say it.

DURST: Oh, that's a prelude. Listen. This is really going to suck, OK.

BATTISTA: But isn't it sometimes better to the acknowledge the flaw that everyone seems to agree that you have?

DURST: I think one of his biggest problems is that has to succeed Bill Clinton. This is not the easiest job in the world. It's kind of like following a three-hour Metallica concert after they blew out all the amps. This is not going to be real easy for Al.

DEGENERES: Metallica after they blew out the amps. DURST: Yes. Yes.

DEGENERES: I like that one. It's not before they blew out the amps, because you would still have amplification.

BATTISTA: All right, basically, last night, did you think Lieberman's speech was good?

DURST: I have not Lieber-mania, Bobbie. I haven't been this contagious or infectious since I had Dukakis-itis. And I think we all should quarantined here.

DEGENERES: And I hope we will be, because this is a lovely view here by the way.

DURST: Do you want to set up here?

DEGENERES: Would you mind?

DURST: No.

BATTISTA: Yes, we are looking at a live picture of the convention hall. You know, you guys go to a convention. When we go, we have to look for the news. And of course that is kind of hard at a convention, too. But, I mean, when you guys have to look for the comedy, is it there? It is all around you everywhere or do you really have to dig for it?

DEGENERES: Well, we have to dig for it. I don't know what you have found. But, you know, we are out scrounging around for every little bit of it.

DURST: What was your favorite moment so far?

DEGENERES: Favorite moment so far. I think it was after Ted Kennedy gave his speech -- and this was unfair -- I understand that Dick Cheney called him a Teletubby. Unfair. That shouldn't even...

DURST: Not right. I think my favorite moment was when Bill Bradley was giving his speech. And he was trying to lower the bar for charisma. And I think he accomplished his task. What happened was the feed that I was watching, the camera suddenly slipped and went to the floor and then came back up. He literally put the camera to sleep. That is how boring Bill Bradley was. That's really boring -- twelfth level black belt.

DEGENERES: Yes, it really is.

BATTISTA: All right.

DEGENERES: You know, Bobbie, the real difference between the two conventions -- I don't know how you feel about this -- but these days, the American public is so political savvy -- way too TV savvy -- that, during the summer now, they saw the Republicans in Philly. And now, they're seeing the Democrats in L.A., and it looks like a rerun. It looks like a summer repeat. So they are not interested anywhere. I mean, it's basically like when ABC had the big hit "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and then all the other networks started reality shows

(CROSSTALK)

BATTISTA: Right.

DEGENERES: ... with all of the copycat shows. And most of them just went by the wayside. So that's what they have got to fight

(CROSSTALK)

BATTISTA: I have got to take a quick break here you guys. And as I do, I have just been handed something that has just crossed the wire. Opening the door to criminal charges, independent counsel Robert Ray has impaneled a new grand jury to hear evidence against President Clinton in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. The move follows through on Ray's promise to weight whether the president should been indicted after he steps down from office next January. So we will keep you had up to date on this as more details come in.

Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AL GORE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One of the strains on my relationship is, with Tipper, since I've been in this job is that she insists on going barefoot quite a lot. You know, it's actually hard to be stiff when your wife is going barefoot. It just completely messes up my image.

TIPPER GORE, VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S WIFE: That's my job.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BATTISTA: Just updating you again on some breaking news here.

CNN has now confirmed what AP was reporting a few moments ago, that independent counsel Robert Ray is impaneling a new grand jury to hear evidence against President Clinton in the Monica Lewinsky case. This all follow's Mr. Ray's consideration as to whether or not Mr. Clinton should be indicted after he steps down from office. Again, we'll keep you updated on that.

We saw a tape there, and that was a DNC tape last night, you guys, that was released, and I think that -- I am not sure if that may be part of the tape that's coming out tonight before Al Gore's speaks but it was clearly an effort to let people see another side of Al Gore that no one seems to see much of, that kind of relaxed, and there is a sense of humor. I mean, is Al Gore -- Tommy Lee Jones, who went to college with him, a long time friend, says that he is very funny.

(LAUGHTER)

BATTISTA: But that's Tommy Lee Jones saying that, and he's not what I would call a really funny guy.

DEGENERES: And viewing that tape just now, and he was on a plane, that is where he ought to do -- it's obvious, he ought to do his speech...

DURST: From the plane.

DEGENERES: ... from the plane, just sitting there, you know, no audience, because that's obviously where he's at his best, and so that would be my advice to Vice President Gore.

DURST: I think that's good advice, because he does have the timing of an end table. He really can't tell a joke.

DEGENERES: But a nice end table.

DURST: No, it's an occasional table, sure, with the little glass top.

DEGENERES: Those are nice.

DURST: Yes, and then you put the little coasters underneath them so you don't get the rings.

BATTISTA: Let's back up to Monday night at this conventions, because, I thought, was one of the, well, more cheesier moments.

DEGENERES: Oh, you mean, the long walk?

BATTISTA: The long walk through the bowels of the Staples Center, you know.

DEGENERES: The rock star walk.

BATTISTA: Yes, or wrestling.

DURST: Spinal Tap.

BATTISTA: Right, Was that was a little bit overproduced, do you think?

DURST: I don't think that anything that Bill Clinton does is overproduced, but they could have not have gotten him out of there faster if he had been wearing roller skates attached to a bungee cord.

DEGENERES: And a jet pack.

DURST: And a jet pack. They wanted that puppy out of here. But it was a good speech. I was surprised that he didn't throw scarves out into the audience, you know.

DEGENERES: You know, I didn't get to see it, unfortunately. I was here Monday night for "The Daily Show" covering it, but we were actually..,

DURST: You work for "The Daily Show." DEGENERES: "The Daily Show." yes, it's on Comedy Central. Yes, you haven't seen it?

DURST: No, I haven't seen it.

DEGENERES: It's a good show.

DURST: I hear it's a good show. With John Stewart, no?

DEGENERES: Anyway, we were outside. I was talking to delegates as they were coming in and out and various celebrities and such. I didn't actually get to see much of it, and then the demonstrations were happening right on the other side of the building.

DURST: At the at same time, yes. I didn't see anything. I was watching the long walk.

DEGENERES: Well, it was interesting, because during Clinton's speech, there were the riots going on. And you know the convention is here is in Hollywood, when as soon as the violence broke out during the demonstrations, a lot of the demonstrators called in their stunt doubles.

BATTISTA: Let me...

DEGENERES: Stunt doubles.

DURST: You went all the way there for that? Stunt doubles?

DEGENERES: Stunt doubles, yes sir.

DURST: On that note, let me interrupt for just a moment and throw to CNN's John King at the White House for more information on this -- or, I'm sorry, he is at the convention in Los Angeles -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Bobbie, standing by at the Democratic convention in Los Angeles, CNN his learned that the independent counsel Robert Ray -- he is Ken Starr's successor -- has impaneled a new grand jury to continue his investigation of the president's conduct, President Clinton's conduct in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. We're told by legal sources this grand jury was impaneled about a month ago, and that it is to continue -- the judges we're told, is to continue the Lewinsky investigation. Now this catching the White House by surprise. but White House officials saying he knows nothing about this.

But remember, tonight is the night Al Gore is to officially accept the democratic presidential nomination here in Los Angeles. This news about a continuing investigation breaking today.

White House spokesman Jake Siewart, saying, quote, "The timing of this absolutely reeks, but given the past record of that office, it is not surprising." So the White House immediately going back to its old strategy, casting this as a Republican-inspired investigation. We know little about the details right now. Legal sources, though, familiar with the grand jury say it could be no big deal, that the independent counsel have said that that investigation is ongoing, have said he is building toward a final report on the Lewinsky scandal. One way to do that is to use a grand jury, to bring in additional witnesses, elicit additional testimony.

We are told by sources, though, that in the month or so that we know this grand jury has been in place, to the best of our knowledge right now, no document requests have been made by the president or his lawyers. So they are caught off guard by the dramatic development, in the sense that word of this continuing investigation and a new grand jury to help that process coming on the very day Al Gore is to accept the Democratic presidential nomination -- Bobbie.

BATTISTA: Any reaction from the Gore campaign on this yet, John?

KING: Not yet, Bobbie. We are just getting this information now. You can be certain they will be disappointed to any distraction, a, of the vice president's message tonight, certainly any reminder of the president's personal conduct in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. That is a potential drag on the Gore campaign. So we know, without even picking up the phone, they're not going to like this.

We will bring you official reaction as soon as we get it.

BATTISTA: All right, John King, at Staples Center in L.A., thanks very much, appreciate it. We'll take a break here and continue, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN STEWART, COMEDY CENTRAL HOST: Now in the past, Vance, you've been critical of the WWF and the GOP. Are you experiencing any negative feedback down there on the floor?

DEGENERES: Not a bit, John. As a matter of fact...

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: Well, it's good know that there are no repercussions. We'll check in with you a bit later.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BATTISTA: One of finer moments there, Vance, from the Republican convention.

DEGENERES: Thank you.

BATTTISTA: Any major differences between the two conventions here other than I guess the Playboy Mansion versus the Liberty Bell.

DEGENERES: You know, Will and I were talking about this earlier, and I think we both agree that maybe the weather is both the difference and the similarities. It was really hot and humid in Philly. And... DURST: it's the same here.

DEGENERES: Yes, it's not quite as humid though. People are dryer, they're tanner.

DURST: This could be like the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy election, where Nixon lost simply because he looked worst on camera. He had the heavy beard.

DEGENERES: The Republicans were sweatier in Philly.

DURST: But I think that the Democrats had a better theme, which is?

DEGENERES: "You ain't seen nothing yet." Yes. But you know, there is something that bothers me about that. Here's gore with, "You ain't seen noting yet." And then you've got Jesse Jackson the other night, "Stay out of the Bushes, Stay out of the Bushes."

(LAUGHTER)

DEGENERES: I am sorry, but Bush's literacy program is starting to look better and better.

DURST: I think that the difference is Philly, because Reagan's theme was "Morning in America," and it look like Bush's theme was, "waking up with a nap on the beach with a cold beer in each hand" America, and I think Gore's theme is "flatline in America," I'm not sure. We'll find out tonight.

BATTISTA: Here is an idea.

DEGENERES: Is that the actual. Is that going to be on the signs?

BATTISTA: A flatline.

DURST: Just at line?

DEGENERES: Yes.

BATTISTA: Ed in Florida suggests, "I never thought I would live to watch infomercials on television because of all the repeats of the same few soundbites. Campaigns must be limited to a six weeks or so and a biography listed in every paper and TV station, that's all we need."

DURST: See, I think we should go totally different than that, Bobbie. I think we should take a little tip from CBS and it's little program that's been doing so well. We've got 10 weeks left in the race -- 10 weeks, one desert island, four go in, one comes out. That's my theory.

DEGENERES: I'm behind you on that.

(APPLAUSE) DURST: And of course you end up with president Dick Cheney.

BATTISTA: Of the four, who do you think would survive? You said Dick Cheney?

DURST: Dick Cheney.

BATTISTA: Why do you say that?

DEGENERES: Well, look at the guy, he's tough. You're not going to mess with Cheney.

DURST: Can you see Lieberman taking on Cheney in an Indian wrestling match?

DEGENERES: No. That's the sad shame of it, really.

DURST: And he'd probably actually gain weight, like Richard has.

DEGENERES: Hey, can I ask a question, who was the actress who played Karenna Gore Schiff last night? Because she was good.

DURST: That was Buffy from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

DEGENERES: Yes, she Michelle Gellar.

DURST: Yes, something like that. I think you put Sarah in there.

DEGENERES: Yes, right, right. Yes, she was good. Yes, I thought that she did a good job.

DEGENERES: I was a little disconcerted by the arms though. Did you notice that during her...

DURST: know what they did, they had her arms down and the other person behind her was like that.

DEGENERES: Because they were just kind of going, and they didn't match the words. It was like...

DURST: They were trying to energize the crowd, because Tuesday, the crowd was little, you know, Bill Bradley, hello.

BATTISTA: How about Tommy Lee Jones last night? You know, he probably would have paid a million dollars not to have been involved in any of this. He seems so uncomfortable being interviewed.

DEGENERES: Well, even in his movies, he seems a little uncomfortable.

(LAUGHTER)

DURST: Look at him move. Oh, he's all of the grace and the tumbling oil -- doesn't he?

BATTISTA: Anything going on in that chatroom, Martha?

DURST: No one is talking to us.

DEGENERES: You here behind us, we're sitting here as the National Anthem is going on in the background. They were rehearsing it for tonight. I think that is James Brown.

DURST: I have no idea.

BATTISTA: All right, you guys, this speech that's coming up tonight. Al Gore's speech, in the time that we have left here, if you were writing, what would you put in it?

DEGENERES: I'd tell what you I would not put in it, would be the opening Lieberman mother-in-law joke. If he repeats that joke, Gore is sunk, as simple as that.

DURST: What if he sings the song, mother in law, mother in law.

DEGENERES: Bernie in Cato in New Orleans.

DURST: Very good. He knew that.

DEGENERES: I think what he's going to say, Bobbie, is pretty basic. I think he's going to say, taxes are bad, families are good, the future is yet to come.

DURST: It really has yet to come.

BATTISTA: Very, very deep.

DEGENERES: It's almost like Jimmy Smits last night at -- what was it? -- we're going to have to go uphill get to a higher place. But I am a little confused. Does that mean that we have to go downward to get lower? It confused me?

DURST: Yes, we do have to go downward to get lower, and we will go downward as possible.

(CROSSTALK)

BATTISTA: While you think about that, we are out of time. Vance Degeneres and Will Durst, thanks very much, both of you, for coming in today, appreciate it.

DURST: Thanks for having us.

DEGENERES: Thank you.

BATTISTA: We've got to go, too. Wolf Blitzer will talk with Tipper Gore next on "INSIDE POLITICS." We'll be back tomorrow at 3:00 for more TALKBACK LIVE.