... and don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. For those of you who skipped Tuesday, CBS News managing editor/anchorman Dan Rather has announced he will step down on March 9, 2005.

Make no mistake, CBS made this announcement in order to give Rather an opportunity to have a kind of professional farewell akin to that Tom Brokaw is receiving.

The report on Dan Rather's "60 Minutes" hit-piece using obviously-faked documents (they're so shoddy that it's an insult to use the word "forged") is imminent -- and it's not going to be pretty. The report will likely condemn Rather and producer Mary Mapes for violating all sorts of CBS guidelines (not to mention basic journalistic tenets) to air a story designed to hurt President Bush and impact the election.

Rather, who will reportedly keep his job as a "reporter" for "60 Minutes" will then be quietly shelved -- if CBS is smart.

Enjoy retirement, Dan.