WHO ARE THE REAL “SENIOR DEMOCRATIC STRATEGISTS”?: Bill Bradley of the L.A. Weekly has become a must-read on the recall, and his latest column is no exception. (Hat tip: fresh potatoes.) Bradley reports:

Senior Democratic strategists knew the particulars of last Thursday’s L.A. Times exposé on Arnold Schwarzenegger well in advance of the story’s publication, the Weekly has learned from well-informed sources. This knowledge came not only in advance of publication but also before anyone outside a close circle at the Times knew of the story’s timing and particulars.

While the Times insists that its reporting uncovered the allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Schwarzenegger, there can be no doubt that advance knowledge of the story was very helpful to Governor Gray Davis’ efforts to retain his office in the recall election.

Bradley says that “senior Democratic strategists” knew what only a close circle of Dog Trainer reporters and editors knew. Isn’t this redundant? After all, the Dog Trainer reporters and editors have essentially been acting as “senior Democratic strategists” themselves.

For example, how would “senior Democratic strategists” cover an Arnold rally? They would ignore the rally, and emphasize the protesters, right? We all remember that, the other day, the Dog Trainer claimed that a woman making rape charges had “upstaged” Arnold at one of his rallies — a claim debunked by nonpartisan reporter Dan Weintraub on Hugh Hewitt’s show.

Well, Bradley says the Dog Trainer is at it again. Bradley notes that the Dog Trainer yesterday claimed (in a story filled with obvious Davis flacking, including untruths about the polls and misquotations of Arnold): “Protesters nearly drowned out the early part of Schwarzenegger’s nine-minute speech with a steady chorus of boos.” Bradley says: “Viewing from the press riser with most of the rest of the press corps, I didn’t hear the protesters. They certainly didn’t drown out Schwarzenegger.”

Yup, it’s becoming clearer every day that the real “senior Democratic strategists” in this state are the editors at the Los Angeles Dog Trainer.