A

t Slate, Micky Kaus digs up the latest dirty business at what once was the West Coast’s greatest newspaper:

LAT Gags Blogs: In a move that has apparently stirred up some internal discontent, the Los Angeles Times has banned its bloggers , including political bloggers, from mentioning the Edwards/Rielle Hunter story. Even bloggers who want to mention the story in order to make a skeptical we-don’t-trust-the-Enquirer point are forbidden from doing so. Kausfiles has obtained a copy of the email Times bloggers received from editor Tony Pierce.

To see the full text of Pierce’s incredible email, click over to Kaus’ post here. Here’s the money line:

Because the only source has been the National Enquirer we have decided not to cover the rumors or salacious speculations.

What a shoddy excuse that is! In the time since the story broke, the LA Times easily could have dispatched some of its crackerjack investigative reporters - the gang that did such a great job on the Gropinator story might be available - to either verify or disprove the Enquirer’s story. But apparently they didn’t bother. Do you think that would have been the case if it had been Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee or any other former GOP contender who was found by the Enquirer to be shacking up with the mother of his secret love child … while his wife was at home, struggling against cancer?

Didn’t think so.

Now the LAT also is going to have to ignore Fox News as well in order to keep its ban in place:

Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters

A Beverly Hills hotel security guard told FOXNews.com he intervened this week between a man he identified as former Sen. John Edwards and tabloid reporters who chased down the former presidential hopeful after what they’re calling a rendezvous with his mistress and love child.

The Beverly Hilton Hotel guard said he encountered a shaken and ashen-faced Edwards — whom he did not immediately recognize — in a hotel men’s room early Tuesday morning in a literal tug-of-war with reporters on the other side of the door.

As I’ve said since this story broke, it will not be hard to confirm. Now it is with two sources - the guard and the National Enquirer. Next two questions: Will the LAT keep its ban in place? And if so, on what pretext - that Fox News isn’t reliable?

At 9:45 p.m. (PST) Monday, Edwards appeared at the hotel, and was dropped off at a side entrance. NATIONAL ENQUIRER reporter Alan Butterfield witnessed the ex-senator get out of a BMW driven by a male companion and stroll into the hotel.

Said Butterfield: “Edwards was not carrying anything. He walked in alone. He was wearing a blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He was looking around nervously before he entered the hotel.

“Once inside, he interestingly bypassed the lobby and ducked down a side stairs to go to the bottom floor to catch the elevator up - rather than taking the elevator in the main lobby. He went out of his way not to be seen.”

Meanwhile, Rielle had reserved rooms 246 and 252 under the name of the friend who had accompanied her from Santa Barbara, Bob McGovern. Rielle was in one room and McGovern was in another with her baby. This allowed her and Edwards to spend time alone, a source revealed.

Edwards went out of the hotel briefly with Rielle, they were observed by the NATIONAL ENQUIRER and then went back to her room, where he stayed until attempting to sneak out of the hotel unseen at 2:40 a.m. (PST). But when he emerged alone from an elevator into the hotel basement he was greeted by several reporters from the NATIONAL ENQUIRER.

Senior NATIONAL ENQUIRER Reporter Alexander Hitchen asked Edwards why he was visiting Rielle and whether he was ready to confirm that he was the father of her baby.

Shocked to see a reporter, and without saying anything, Edwards ran up the stairs leading from the hotel basement to the lobby. But, spotting a photographer, he doubled back into the basement. As he emerged from the stairwell, reporter Butterfield questioned him about his hookup with Rielle.

Edwards did not answer and then ran into a nearby restroom. He stayed inside for about 15 minutes, refusing to answer questions from the NATIONAL ENQUIRER about what he was doing in the hotel. A group of hotel security men eventually escorted him from the men’s room, while preventing the NATIONAL ENQUIRER reporters from following him out of the hotel.

Expect a big splashy headline the next time you’re in the supermarket checkout line.

Expect his name getting crossed off the Obama veep list … which, come to think of it, is a very positive development for the Obama campaign. The last thing the inexperienced, egomaniacal candidate needs is an inexperienced, egomaniacle running mate.