My predictions for Knox County results were 100% correct on the political offices and 87% overall:

• President: McCain+ (in Knox Co., with Obama winning)
• U.S. Senate: Alexander (R)+
• U.S. House 2nd District: Duncan (R)+
• Tennessee Senate 6th District: Woodson (R)+
• Tennessee House 13th District: Tindell (D)+
• Tennessee House 14th District: Haynes (R)+
• Tennessee House 15th District: Armstrong (D)+
• Tennessee House 16th District: Dunn (R)+
• Tennessee House 17th District: Nicely (R)+
• Tennessee House 18th District: Campfield (R)+
• Tennessee House 19th District: Brooks (R)+
• Knox County Commission 8th District: Armstrong (R)+
• Criminal and Fourth Circuit Court Clerk: McCroskey (R)+
• Charter Amendment Question 1- & 2-
• Charter Amendments Question 3- & 4+
• Liquor Referendum+

Of course it ain't even sporting -- just pick the unopposed candidates and Republicans in the others except for the reliable 15th State House district.

I was 87.5% on State Senate races:

• 2nd District: Ramsey (R)+
• 4th District: Faulk (R)-
• 6th District: Woodson (R)+
• 8th District: Overbey (R)+
• 10th District: Berke (D)+
• 12th District: Yager (R)+
• 14th District: Stewart (D)+
• 16th District: Tracy (R)+
• 18th District: Black (R)+
• 20th District: Haynes (D)+
• 22nd District: Barnes (D)+
• 24th District: Herron (D)+
• 26th District: Gresham (R)-
• 28th District: Kyle (D)+
• 30th District: Marrero (D)+
• 32nd District: Norris (R)+

I was way off on Gresham, which really surprised me. I missed Faulk, too, but it ended up being a one point race. The TNGOP went all in on these contests and took control of the Senate. They also took control of the House, giving them control of the state legislature for the first time in more than 30 years. Now look for them to redistrict Democrats out of business and have both anti-abortion and anti-gay amendments on the ballot for 2010, just in time for the Governor's race!

In terms of national politics, Tennessee and especially East Tennessee (along with large sections of the South) are "left behind" in the ascendance of progressive, honest, and more just government. Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida, though, hold out hope that "yes we can."

If America can elect Barack Obama in a landslide, anything is possible. There will come a day in the not too distant future when Tennessee and other Red State Democrats run out of excuses for not running qualified, progressive candidates and organizing some wins. A good start would be to stop pandering and start educating. Unfortunately, we know where education falls out in the priorities of Tennessee voters and around most of the South.