You might be a lame duck if...

Hmm. Let's see. The last one of my trusted inner circle has jumped ship and I need someone with loyalty. Someone with integrity! Someone who can rebuild our legitimacy after years of failed proposals, a failed war and a looming trade showdown with China.

Of course! Baseball!

Cal Ripken Jr., who usually avoids the political arena, was named a State Department sports envoy yesterday. He plans to remain politically neutral even as he joins forces with the Bush administration to try to bolster America's image overseas.

The former Orioles superstar said yesterday that he didn't accept the unpaid post to make a political statement but rather to work with children from other nations on baseball...

The State Department's Bureau of Educational Affairs will pay his travel expenses. His first trip will be to China in late October.

What a low. Some are heralding Rove's departure as the end of the Bush presidency, but I think the President's last action of any value was his immigration proposal, even though that ultimately failed as well. Other than that, it's been the same deal across the board: Wait for progress in Iraq, twiddle thumbs on national security, send envoys to whimper at Chinese business leaders.

Sorry, but American retailers are going to make diplomacy decisions on Beijing before this administration does anything.

Well, at least Condi's "sticking around." If anyone else is going to leave, they seem to have until labor day, if we can believe the CNN report. Otherwise, they're in for the long haul.