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Carter Wrenn

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Gary Pearce

Carter is a Republican. Gary is a Democrat.

They met in 1984, during the epic U.S. Senate battle between Jesse Helms and Jim Hunt. Carter worked for Helms and Gary, for Hunt.

Years later, they became friends. They even worked together on some nonpolitical clients.

They enjoy talking about politics. So they started this blog in 2005.

They’re still talking. And they invite you to join the conversation.

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Classic Trump

By Carter Wrenn June 29, 2023

Trump said: “Unlike Ron DeSanctimonious, who worked to gut Medicare and Social Security and voted three times to raise the retirement age to 70, I will always fight for our great seniors.” An insult, a nickname, followed by a punch, ending in a boast. Classic Trump. By the way: Trump, himself, supported raising the retirement…

“Hitler,” Mr. Robinson?

By Gary Pearce June 28, 2023

Mark Robinson, who leads the Republican race for governor of North Carolina, said this about the criminal charges against Donald Trump: “Law and order has been destroyed, and we have a two-tiered justice system that has been weaponized against political enemies, much like it was during Hitler’s reign.” Have you read the indictment, Mr. Robinson?…

“MAGA Fascists” vs Democracy

By Gary Pearce June 26, 2023

Adrian Fontes doesn’t mince words. He calls election-deniers “MAGA fascists.” Fontes, Arizona’s newly elected secretary of state, was the keynote speaker at the state Democratic Party’s Unity Dinner Saturday night. The big, burly ex-Marine with a booming voice and commanding presence delivered the most powerful and inspiring speech I’ve heard since Barack Obama in 2008.…

Eyes on Russia

By Gary Pearce June 24, 2023

While we were obsessing over billionaires at the bottom of the ocean, a civil war broke out in Russia. In 1917, civil war in Russia led to the fall of the Tsar and the rise of communism and the Soviet Union. In 1991, armed conflict in Moscow led to the breakup of the Soviet Union,…

Dining With Democrats

By Gary Pearce June 23, 2023

I’m doing something Saturday I haven’t done in years: go to a Democratic Party dinner. There, I’ll remember a man who is little known to Democrats, but meant a lot to me – and to North Carolina. The occasion is the state party Unity Dinner. I’ve done my time at these things. I’ve half-eaten too…

“Deeply Sad” Abortion Ad?

By Gary Pearce June 21, 2023

A right-wing blog took a swing this week at Rachel Hunt’s abortion ad – and at her father, former Governor Jim Hunt. In a blog headlined “Rachel Hunt releases deeply sad campaign video,” Andrew Dunn wrote in Longleaf Politics: “State Sen. Rachel Hunt is making the abortion issue the centerpiece of her campaign for lieutenant…

Mandy Cohen, Covid and Masks

By Gary Pearce June 19, 2023

MAGA Republicans apparently like masks only when they’re worn by Proud Boys attacking the U.S. Capitol. North Carolina’s junior U.S. senator, “Popgun Ted” Budd, and 8th District Congressman, “Bathroom Dan” Bishop, last week claimed that, when Dr. Mandy Cohen was the state’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, she “spread misinformation about … Covid vaccinations…

A Fair Trial

By Carter Wrenn June 19, 2023

Trump’s indicted…which means, now, only one thing matters: A fair trial. At the trial prosecutors are going to say Trump lied, obstructed justice; Trump’s lawyers are going to say Trump did absolutely nothing wrong. But the judge refereeing the trial was appointed by Trump and both sides get an equal say on who gets to…

Tillis’ Tap Dance

By Gary Pearce June 16, 2023

Do I have to start liking Thom Tillis now? The second-term U.S. Senator from North Carolina got censured by the state Republican convention for working with Democrats on guns, immigration and gay marriage. The resolution cited “blatant violations of our party platform.” The NC GOP doesn’t tolerate deviations from the party line. Then-Senator Richard Burr…