Liberals in the U.S. Senate are not willing to meet this month to discuss energy legislation — but are eager to use a childish maneuver designed solely to spite President Bush. Most senators have joined most members of the House of Representatives in leaving Washington for a few weeks. But a few liberal senators drift into the Capitol every few days, keeping the Senate officially in session. All that is required is for a senator who happens to live near Washington, or one remaining in the capital this month, to go to the Senate chamber at least once every three working days, bang the gavel to declare the Senate in session, then gavel it back out of session. On Tuesday, it took Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., just 28 seconds for the performance, according to The Associated Press. Why bother? What’s so important about keeping the Senate officially — if not really — in session? Nothing except the liberals’ obsession with taking potshots at Bush.