All the women on "The View" were on the couch with Rachel Maddow Thursday afternoon, questioning her on a mix of topics, including Rush Limbaugh, the economy, her partner — and coming out to her conservative parents. Here’s what she had to say:

On Rush Limbaugh: "I think that Rush is very successful and very smart, and the idea that the president would actually debate him is hilarious. The idea that I would ask somebody from the Republican Party … of course that would be great for me, but it would be stupid for any politician."

On the economy: "I think that we are in a pickle as a country," she said. "I think that the economic crisis is so much bigger than any of us can grasp. And I think that we need somebody with big ideas who’s willing to take big action … I think the budget’s a good budget, I think the stimulus plan is a good stimulus plan, I think we need to think big."

On meeting her partner Susan Mikula: Maddow explained that she and Susan met after Susan hired her to do some yard work when Rachel was working on her dissertation. The scene, she says, resembled a "sort of gay ‘Desperate Housewives,’" a reference to the ABC show on which Eva Longoria’s "Gabby Solis" romanced her gardener.

And of all the ladies on the show, Maddow sat next to Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Maddow, though, found a friend in the outspoken Republican. "You do an exceptional job," Hasselbeck said. "I think it’s important to recognize people who do a great job on both sides of issues."

Watch the video below — plus find out the unconventional way Maddow came out to her parents: