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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Carter Wrenn

Gary Pearce 2024

Gary Pearce

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President Cooper

By Gary Pearce June 18, 2024

The Democrat most responsible for Joe Biden being President thinks Governor Roy Cooper would be a good presidential candidate in 2028. In an interview with Politico, (“The Man Who Saved Biden’s 2020 Campaign Lets Loose”), South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn (photo) names five possible nominees: Vice President Kamala Harris, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, California Governor…

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A Rare Thing

By Carter Wrenn June 14, 2024

Face to face with a brutal choice he asked himself: Was it right for him to replace Biden’s presidential Electors – approved by state legislatures – with Trump Electors (picked by Trump). He knew, under the Constitution, a vice president couldn’t give Trump what he wanted – but he also knew telling Trump no was…

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The Governor’s Race: Stein Slams Robinson

By Carter Wrenn June 13, 2024

I walked into my bedroom, turned on the TV, caught a glimpse of Mark Robinson’s face, turned, his voice roared – stopped me in my tracks. Most political ads are cliches wrapped in flashy graphics, dark music, laced with melodramatic voices – you watch one for five seconds and tune it out. But in Josh…

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Gray Areas

By Carter Wrenn June 12, 2024

Sighing, a friend told me, The rule of law in America is no more. It’s gone. Sitting across the table another friend nodded, Biden’s using judges to destroy Trump. Biden controls the judiciary. I asked: If that’s so why didn’t he derail his son’s trial in Delaware? The verdicts in Trump’s first two New York…

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Demagogues

By Carter Wrenn June 12, 2024

A Democrat before he ran for Senate, in 1946 Joe McCarthy pulled off a rare feat: He beat a 3-term Republican Senator – in a Republican primary. The Soviet Union exploded its first A-bomb. Fear shook America. Standing on a stage in West Virginia, waving a sheet of paper, McCarthy said, ‘I have in my…

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Mannequin versus Showman

By Carter Wrenn June 11, 2024

When they debate Biden’s going to need to take Trump head-on – but that may not be a task he’s up to. Why not? Washington politicians don’t talk – they read scripts, repeat lines savants promise will help elect them. But even reading strong lines, waving his hands, voice toneless, Biden sounds like a mannequin.…

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Putin

By Carter Wrenn June 10, 2024

Shaking their heads lips set in hard lines, a lot of people growl, Don’t send another penny to Ukraine – Ukraine doesn’t matter to us. But take a look back at the past: First, Putin invaded the Republic of Georgia, then Crimea, then Donbas, then Ukraine. And to get what he wants he’s joined arms…

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Two Good Things

By Gary Pearce June 10, 2024

Two things lately make me feel good about this election: Josh Stein’s devastating ad about Mark Robinson on abortion and Jeff Jackson’s assessment of Trump’s felony conviction. Stein’s ad skewers Robinson with his own words; he can’t duck, dodge or deny them. Even worse is Robinson’s demeanor: angry, hateful and hostile to women. The ad’s…

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A Backfire

By Carter Wrenn June 7, 2024

Clutching the podium, jaw set, getting booed, at the Libertarian Convention Trump tried to cut a deal: He offered to put a Libertarian in his cabinet if Libertarians endorsed him – then, staring at ‘Free Ross’ signs, made a second promise: His first day in office he’d pardon Ross Ulbricht. Who is Ross Ulbricht? He…

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Recessional

By Carter Wrenn November 11, 2024

The tumult and the shouting dies; The Captains and the Kings depart: Still stands Thine ancient…

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Mistakes and Miss-Takes

By Gary Pearce November 10, 2024

Bert Bennett of Winston-Salem, the legendary political godfather to Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt, had a…

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Don’t Give Up

By Gary Pearce November 6, 2024

This is bad. Bad for America and for the world. Bad for women, for immigrants, for…

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