Air America radio host Randi Rhodes is temporarily off the air, but claims she was brutally attacked near her Manhattan apartment are bogus, her lawyer and a police source said today.

Undeterred and desperately needing ratings, fellow Air America Host Jon Elliot (who appears to be part of that Democratic Underground.com /MoveOn.org /Daily Kos /Media Matters /George Soros/Hillary Rodham Soros/MyLeftWingnut  many headed beast cabal that sees America as a hideous police state with Brit Hume and Fred Barnes lurking around every corner with crowbars, mallets and nooses waiting to silence anyone who dares to speak truth to power) opined thusly:

"Is this an attempt by the right-wing, hate machine to silence one of our own?" he asked on the air, according to Talking Radio, a blog. "Are we threatening them? Are they afraid that we’re winning? Are they trying to silence intimidate us?"

...and of course the tale grew in size and scope on the left end of the blogosphere:

"What the %$#$ is WRONG with you people?? Are you that SICK in the head that just because you don’t agree with someone’s political views you believe that they deserve to be mugged? Are you on the right that DEMENTED??," a blogger called neddlenosehanty posted on watchingthewatchers.org.

..unfortunately, a little common sense reared it ugly head:

 "I very seriously doubt if this unfortunate woman was mugged by a conservative. To jump to the conclusion that she was mugged by someone on the right is bigotry of another kind. Think not?"

Brit Hume and Fred Barnes are free on one million dollars bond awaiting trial.

Imagine that! I never would'a thunk it:

Despite the claim of a heavily publicized recent study, the sun still appears to be the main agent in global climate change, according to new research by Danish scientists.

...all this time I thought it was my car....