Michael Wilbon reports on Cal Ripken bowing out of an appearance on Imus. Albeit in the usual Ripken way—-uh, carefully. Wilbon writes: “Ripken said he does not want to be seen as someone wielding a moral compass. But I wonder now how many of these prominent journalists and politicians who use the platform Imus provides (and therefore give him cover) will have as much conviction as Ripken displayed.”

Dana Milbank reports on yesterday’s environmental “debate” between Sen. John Kerry and Newt Gingrich. During the “debate,” Gingrich said: “My name, Newt, actually comes from the Danish Knut, and there’s been a major crisis in Germany over a polar bear named Knut.”