Time for President Bush to act:

“A federal judge said Thursday he will not delay a 2 1/2-year prison sentence for I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby in the CIA leak case, a ruling that could send the former White House aide to prison within weeks.

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton’s decision will send Libby’s attorneys rushing to an appeals court to block the sentence and could force President Bush to consider calls from Libby’s supporters to pardon the former aide.

No date was set for Libby to report to prison but it’s expected to be within six to eight weeks. That will be left up to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which will also select a facility.

“Unless the Court of Appeals overturns my ruling, he will have to report,” Walton said.

Libby’s wife, Harriet Grant, wiped tears away from her eyes but Libby was stoic as Walton ruled.”

Walton’s a ass clown. Based on very clear avenues of appeal he lost nothing by allowing Libby to stay free pending appeals. His ruling, like his snark remark on the letter sent by seven distinquished lawyers tells a lot about the man. More and more - just as we saw in Fitzgerald’s case - we see that Walton seemingly has an agenda not within the confines of the law.

This trial has been a travesty and sham all around. It’s time for President Bush to act and act now.

UPDATE: TM’s analysis.

UPDATE II: I’m not alone in my take on Walton.