Because he didn't read the actual story before linking, Drudge (or Breitbart!) missed the most important part: "Researchers have found its venom also stimulates an hours-long erection in men." See, Matt, that would've made an ever better headline than your weird knee-jerk anti-hippie "organic is stupid" first response.

Comedian Bernie Mac was in "very, very critical" condition late Saturday at a Chicago hospital, according to a Chicago Sun-Times source who knows the comedian's family.

The revelation came after Mac's publicist told Chicago media Saturday that she had received multiple calls from news outlets regarding "absolutely untrue" rumors of the star's demise.
"It is a very horrible rumor," publicist Danica Smith said. "It is absolutely untrue. Nothing has changed from yesterday."

The 50-year-old south suburban resident's hospitalization was reported Friday. His publicist said then that the "King of Comedy" was admitted for pneumonia but was responding well to treatment, and should be released soon.

Smith also said she didn't know when Mac, whose real name is Bernard McCullough, entered the hospital. She said the pneumonia was unrelated to Mac's sarcoidosis, a chronic disease that can inflame tissue, particularly in the lungs. Smith said Mac's sarcoidosis has been in remission since 2005.

His wife, Rhonda McCullough, has been with him at the hospital. [Sun-Times]

Our own commenter GBH writes:

Randi Rhodes was no more assaulted by a right-wing fanatic on Monday than Dick Cheney was. She, in fact, fell down and injured her teeth outside of a Midtown Irish bar at around 6 o'clock Sunday evening after downing about fourteen Ketel One Bloody Marys. She was abusive to the barstaff and generally gross, crass, loud, and pretentious. I genuinely hope she has a speedy recovery. I never would've disclosed this (I believe that anyone should feel free to hang out at Irish pubs at any time and not be concerned about someone publishing their behavior) if Air America hadn't grossly interpreted a drunken indiscretion and allowed it to be morphed into some bullish rhetoric on air. Whatever journalistic integrity the station may have ever had is now completely compromised. The manipulation of the public diminishes any cause, whether just or fabricated.

Happily, the inebriation of the public just burnishes the cause! How about it?

The factual opacity didn't stop Air America Late Night host Jon Elliot asked these pointed rhetorical questions (always the best kind to ask in the wake of an assault!) concerning the attack: ""Is this an attempt by the right wing hate machine to silence one of our own? Are we threatening them? Are they afraid that we're winning? Are they trying to silence and intimidate us?"

Comments on the blog ranged from MaxPower's "Tragic!!! Is the dog okay?" to the more politically engaged, "Maybe if she were armed it wouldn't have come to this. Remember people, police provide justice but they can't protect you."
Oh Talk Radio fans! You are all so insane!