Bobservations in Blue

Y’all, we did it! We CAST OUR GODDAMNED VOTE and changed the outlook for this country. Keep that feeling and remember it every election cycle, we can force change when We The People band together and do the right thing like voting for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, for accountability and decency, for healthcare, for immigrants, for the environment , for the future of our kid's, for Democracy, for LGBTQ+ Americans and Americans of color,  and for kindness and hope.… and here are some of those changes:

Democrat Allison Montgomery becomes the first transgender woman ever elected to the Alabama legislature.

Democrat Nancy Lacore, who was fired by DUI hire Pete Hegseth, has won her Congressional seat in Congress and may just be a vote in impeaching Hegseth.

Democrat Troy Jackson ended Susan Collins'—that very Concerned Woman—30-year Senate career.

Democrat  Xavier Becerra won the governorship over a billionaire whose sole interest was billionaires.

Democrat Deb Haaland has won New Mexico’s governor’s race, becoming the first Native American woman elected governor of a U.S. state.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governor’s race in Georgia as the first Black woman elected to that office.

Democrat Gina Hinojosa won the goi9vernor’s race in Texas and is the first Latina governor of that state.

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won the race for Senator from Michigan.

Democrat Aaron Ford flipped the governorship from Red to Blue in Nevada.

Democrat Amy Acton is the first woman governor of Ohio.

Democrat Bentley Hudgins is Georgia’s first openly trans and non-binary state legislator.

Democrat Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford is Wisconsin’s first openly trans state lawmaker.

Democrat Annie Andrews won the race for Senator from South Carolina for the first time in 38 years. The joke is that Darline Graham gave up her race to honor her brother Miss Lindsey by finishing on the bottom.

Democrat Congresswoman Sarah McBride won reelection to the Delaware Senate as an openly trans woman.

Democrat Cynthia O Ford won election to SC House District 57.

Democrat Chris Pappas made history as the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate where he will represent New Hampshire.

Democrat JD Ford becomes the first openly gay person elected to Congress from Indiana.

Democrat Becca Balint becomes the first woman and first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress from Vermont when she wins he third term.

Democrat Emily Randall is the first openly LGBTQ+ Latina elected to Congress representing Washington.

Democrat Leigh Finke becomes Minnesota’s first openly trans state legislator winning reelection to her third term.

Democrat Zooey Zephyr Montana’s first openly trans state legislator won reelection for another term

Democrat Jeremy Moss makes History as Michigan’s first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress.

Democrat, and LGBTQ+ Marine Veteran JoAnna Mendoza won election to the Arizona Congress.

Democrat DeShanna Neal, Delaware’s first nonbinary expected official, won reelection.

Democrat Maura Healy, America’s first openly elected lesbian, won her second term as governor of Massachusetts.

Democrat Robert Garcia, the first openly LGBTQ+ immigrant elected to Congress from California, won his third term.

Democrat Malcolm Kenyatta, Pennsylvania’s first openly gay Black state legislator, won his fifth term to office.

Democrat Ann Johnson, an openly lesbian Texas lawmaker, has won a fourth term in office.

Democrat Takano, the first openly gay person of color elected to California’s Congress, won his eight term.

Democrat, one of the first Native American women elected to Congress and Kansas’ first openly LGBTQ+ representative, wo/n her fifth term.

Lastly … Leon Skum pissed away nearly half a billion dollars in Texas GOP races and won exactly nothing … except maybe a rigorous Congressional investigation to his DOGE crimes.

And for the first time since we moved here nearly 19 years ago, the color of South Carolina’s state flag feels appropriate.

Architecture Wednesday: The Killian House

The Killian House, a meticulously restored 1923 Spanish Revival home that perfectly captures a sense of romance and classic Hollywood glamour—legend has it that silent screen star Rudolph Valentino commissioned the home for his mistress, stage and film actress Pola Negri—is set high above the street in the historic enclave of Whitley Heights.

Surrounded by verdant gardens and enchanting pathways, the storied property has been thoughtfully updated by its current owners who were inspired by Scandinavian and Japanese design while the original hardwood floors, detailed ironwork, casement windows, and Batchelder tilework have been carefully restored throughout striking the perfect balance between modern living and 1920's Spanish architecture.

As you enter this two-story, two-bedroom, two bath main residence a spacious living room awaits you, graced with arched windows, a wood-burning fireplace, and French doors that open to the lush outdoor space. The gourmet chef's kitchen is ideal for hosting, featuring custom walnut cabinetry, black quartz countertops, Wolf appliances, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator.

The primary bedroom, with a 2nd wood-burning fireplace, offers a calm retreat with a spa-like ensuite bathroom, custom cabinetry, and a large picture window that frames the surrounding greenery. The main floor also includes a dining room overlooking treetops, a second bedroom with garden access, and a full guest bathroom. Upstairs, the office-viewing tower opens to an adjoining deck, both offering views of the surrounding hills and Hollywood Sign.

The expertly landscaped yard is anchored by a pergola-dining area with a handcrafted Moroccan-tile floor and an expansive deck overlooking the hills of Whitley Heights, accessed via a series of boardwalks and thick basalt steppingstones. The park-like gardens showcase original plantings, such as aloe and cedar trees, nestled among region-appropriate greenery, verdant tree ferns, citrus, cypress, and philodendron.

A brick path and stairs with original wrought iron wind elegantly down to the original one bed, one bath casita which features a living room with a wood-burning fireplace, dining area, and kitchen—with access to two private courtyards. There is a two-car garage with two off-street parking spaces as well, along with a front security gate, and alarm system with cameras.

With its masterful blend of original details and modern design updates, the Killian House is a uniquely alluring Hollywood Hills retreat worthy of a standing ovation.

Modern California House

Meme Dump ... Politics Free [mostly]

One More Day: Know the Facts and Vote Smart!

Tomorrow's the day and if you haven’t voted yet here are some facts:

Russia started the war with Ukraine.

The Iran war caused the spike in gas prices.

We do not control the Strait of Hormuz.

Schools do not perform gender reassignment surgery.

Reading about gay people won’t make you gay.

There is no healthcare plan coming in two weeks.

There is no such thing as after birth abortion.

Men don’t pretend to be transgender to assault women in public restrooms.

The 2020 election was not rigged.

Winning the popular vote in 2024 by 1.5% was not a landslide.

There is no $5000 DOGE Check.

There is no $2000 tariff check.

Tariffs are not paid by the exporter.

Climate change is not a hoax.

Facts. Vote accordingly.

 

Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] has decreased over the past year following restrictions imposed by the Regime forcing more people to seek help from food banks or go hungry.

That ain’t America where the rich get richer and the poor go hungry.

 

Speaking on the high gas prices, Cankles bragged that “we’re making money like we’ve never made before.” But he didn’t mean you; he meant him and his rich friends and then he added:

“I don’t give a damn. We’re making a freaking fortune.”

He’s made $81,000,000 from you.

 

If you listen to Republicans you never hear one word about what they want to do to help you, but instead tell you to vote for them to protect you from the trans community, communism, and jihadist.

Not one plane to make life better and more affordable for you, just fearmongering.

Vote to get things done.

 

After Brazil seized criminal Flavio Bolsonaro’s passport to keep him from fleeing the county, the Cankles Regime gave him a Visa and allowed him to enter the US. Bolsonaro is a criminal under investigation for corruption, money laundering and tax evasion, just like Cankles.

And he’s just the kind of criminal ICE was created to round up and yet Cankles opened the doors to him.

Abolish ICE.

 

If you like numbers, howsabout these:

MAGAt Republicans have spent at least $315 million on anti-trans ads across the 2024 and 2026 election cycles and yet trans people make up about 1% of the population.

This is a party running on fear because they have no idea how to fix the country they broke.

 

Jeff Bezos hates the idea of taxing billionaires, but would like to have that debate so let’s have Bernie Sanders explain it:

“Under my 5% billionaires wealth tax we would give $12K to working families of four; expand Medicare for dental, vision and hearing; guarantee universal child care; raise teacher’s starting pay to $60K. And Bezos would still be worth $269 billion after taxes.”

Tax the rich.

 

When asked about how younger Americans are supposed to afford housing, J Dufus Vance did what he usually does, which is lie and blame immigrants, and said this:

“The reason why housing exploded is in part because we allowed 20 million illegal aliens into our country to buy homes that ought to, by right, go to American citizens.”

So, according to J Dufus, undocumented immigrants are simultaneously unemployed, living off government benefits and buying all the homes in America.

Make it make sense.

 

Isn’t it odd that Republicans found Amy Acton’s mother living in a car and dragged her out and cleaned her up to make that horrific political ad but have yet to produce even one child that went to school one gender and came home another?

 

Finishing up … tomorrow is election day and if you haven’t voted yet, why not??? But if you are voting tomorrow, remember:

At a 40% turnout Democrats lose.

At a 60% turnout Democrats win most of the time.

At 65% turnout you win every time.

At 70% turnout you get a congressional majority to fix this country from the ills of the GOP.

At 80% you get a supermajority to pass things like healthcare, sensible gun laws, climate policy, and ending wars and grift from the current regime.

And if you’re voting tomorrow, know your rights …

If the polls close while you’re still in line, stay in line; you have the right to vote.

If you make a mistake on your ballot, ask for a new one; you have that right.

If the machines are down at your polling place, ask for a paper ballot; that is your right.

If you have questions or problems on Election Day call the Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-Our-VOTE.

 You know what to do …

The Funny Papers

Christopher Shields Cartoons, Bill Bramhall, Adam Zyglis, Clay Bennett, David Rowe, Steve Sack, Daniel Boris, Trevor Irvin, Dennis Goris, Gary Huck