The White House has a panel designed to protect our civil liberties. You know how many times it meets? Never!

For Americans troubled by the prospect of federal agents eavesdropping on their phone conversations or combing through their Internet records, there is good news: A little-known board exists in the White House whose purpose is to ensure that privacy and civil liberties are protected in the fight against terrorism.

Someday, it might actually meet.

Initially proposed by the bipartisan commission that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board was created by the intelligence overhaul that President Bush signed into law in December 2004.

More than a year later, it exists only on paper.

I have made the point before that this White House does not even pretend to care about Americans anymore. This story sort of drives that point home, doesn't it?

This is how I imagine the first meting of this panel will go;

"Well I think the first order of business is to go around the tables making introductions. Let's start with you sir."

"Yeah Hi. I am just a guy from the mail room who was that I would be having lunch up here once a week from now on."

"Okay. And you sir?"

"Hi. I am one of George Bush's sycophants told to attend this meeting to give it the appearance of legitimacy."

"And you sir?"

"I am a spy for Dick Cheney sent here to make sure we don't accidently discover one of the many plots being hatched by the White House to subjugate the rights of all Americans."

"Oh. Okay. And finally who are you sir?"

"I am Scooter Libby and I just have a lot of time on my hands these days."

I have not said this for awhile, so in case any of you forgot.

THIS IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY!