I don’t think we can over-estimate the significance of the fact that Dan Rather will be leaving CBS. I don’t see how you can interpret this as anything less than his firing over Memogate. Undoubtedly, in my mind, CBS felt in 2004 that they couldn’t sack him on the spot because of how it would appear. His slow departure and temporary job-shuffling was a face-saving effort for both Rather and CBS. But, the delay doesn’t discount the fact that if it weren’t for Memogate, Rather would probably still be the esteemed anchor of CBS News. This constitutes a monumental triumph for the rightwing blogosphere and I don’t think we should let it be obscured by the kabuki dance CBS put on to downplay their embarrassment.