RealtyTrac's June 2008 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report indicates Tennessee foreclosure filings increased 30.1% over June 2007.

According to the report, 1 in 615 Tennessee properties had such activity. This rate is 12th in the United States and the 3rd highest in the southeast. The national rate is 1 in 501 households.

It's where we are headed:

Americans are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than at any time since the New York Times/CBS News poll began asking about the subject in the early 1990s, according to the latest poll.

In the poll, 81 percent of respondents said they believed “things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track,” up from 69 percent a year ago and 35 percent in early 2002.

Senator McCain's cunning plan to run on four more years of the Bush agenda is definitely a brilliant strategy.

Moody's Economy.com recently released a study assessing the U.S. economy at the state level. USA Today presented the findings in an interactive map.

According to the map, Tennessee remains in expansion mode.

The map also lists the status of the states' major metropolitan areas.

The following cities have expanding economies: Knoxville, Memphis, Tri-Cities.

These cities are at risk of economic contraction: Chattanooga, Nashville.

The Pew Center on the States recently released a report entitled "Grading the States 2008," an assessment on the "quality of management in the 50 states."

Tennessee received a B-.

Strengths cited include "Financial Controls/Reporting," "Internal Coordination" (Infrastructure), "Intergovernmental Coordination" (Infrastructure), "Performance Auditing and Evaluation" (Information), and "Online Services and Information."

Weaknesses cited are "Contracting/Purchasing," and "Strategic Workforce Planning."

The battle for state (and national) supremacy.

That's quite a claim, isn't it?

Clinton campaign chief strategist Mark Penn:

"Could we possibly have a nominee who hasn't won any of the significant states -- outside of Illinois? That raises some serious questions about Sen. Obama."

It's good to be one of the elite states.

AP:

Bush spoke to a boisterous crowd shortly after 7 a.m. EST. The ballroom erupted in cheers when someone shouted "Are there conservatives in the house?" When the president walked on stage, they clapped and chanted "Four more years! Four more years!"

Sometimes it's hard to believe we all share the same planet.

I'm not sure what conclusion, if any, one can draw from yesterday's primary regarding the Tennessee electorate. But it is interesting that a majority of Tennesseans cast votes for Democratic candidates.

Democratic Primary: 631,680 Total votes

Republican Primary: 558,321 Total votes

(99% of votes reported)

Here (via Eschaton).

This one includes poll closing times.

I was surprised to see that 50% of Oklahoma voters are registered Democrats. After all, the Sooner State hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964. A typo? No, it's true.

Today on GOP radio, comedian Rush Limbaugh approvingly and hopefully read two excerpts suggesting that Senator Fred Thompson is surging in South Carolina.

Smell the freedom.

That's a cute touch with the September 11 line at the end. Is it ethical to steal lines from another candidate's script?

Down with "Rogue Judges"!

Via Crooks and Liars.