Question: How do I change font color in the WordPress editor while the HTML editor tab is inactive – (not as a theme setting?)
Via Twitter to @blogwranglers

Well Katie (aka acucatie) here is your answer. To the far right there are two tabs just above the main editor box.  Click on Visual tab.  Then click on the “Everything but the kitchen sink button”; see the red arrow on the top row.   After clicking the button the second row will appear along with the  finer editing buttons.