Winds of War: The Obama administration is considering a response to what appears to have been a massive chemical attack outside Damascus Wednesday. It could be anything from a single cruise missile strike to a sustained air campaign. The President said during an appearance on CNN, “What we’ve seen indicates that this is clearly a big event of grave concern. This is something that is going to require America’s attention.”

National: The Justice Department announced it is suing Texas to prevent the state from enforcing its 2011 voter photo identification law. A Justice statement says Texas passed the law specifically to deny voting rights to minorities and people of color who are less likely to have a passport or photo ID. Some states, Texas included, have passed voter ID laws with the stated intent of cutting down voter fraud, a crime that almost never occurs.

• Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales yesterday apologized in a military court for the massacre in which he killed 16 Afghan villagers. Bales said, “I am truly, truly sorry to all the people whose family members I have taken away. I have murdered their families. What I did is an act of cowardice behind a mask of fear, bullshit and bravado.” The court must decide whether to send Bales to prison for life, or give him a chance for parole after 20 years.
• Anthony Marshall, 89, the ingrate son who bilked the accounts of his philanthropist mother Brooke Astor, is being paroled because of poor health. Marshall has served only about 60 days of his one-to-three year sentence. He’s been in jail less time than it took to put him there.

Wildfire: A fire west of Yosemite National Park is described as growing “exponentially”, now covering an area of about 100 square miles. Fifty major fires are burning in the West

Tech World: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who replaced founder Bill Gates, has announced he will retire within one year. Ballmer has had a rough time being the boss while taking it on the chin from Apple and Google. Microsoft stock was up more than six points on the news.

Grope City: San Diego Mayor Bob Filner is expected to resign today as part of an agreement with City Council to end his sexual harassment scandal. He’s accused of groping and forcibly kissing 18 women. Filner leaves not with a squeeze but with a kick in the backside.

Bacon!!!: Chicago Chef David Burke opened an all bacon restaurant. Everything in the menu has bacon in it or on it except for the Smoked Eggplant Meatball Parmesan, but you can add bacon for a dollar.

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