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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Ready for Hillary or Ready for a Fight?

By Gary Pearce April 8, 2015

The debate in the Democratic Party isn’t even whether Hillary Clinton should be the nominee. It’s whether anyone should even have the audacity to challenge her.   This is truly remarkable, when you think about it. Democrats always want a fight. Every year in modern times when no incumbent Democratic President was running for reelection,…

By Gary Pearce April 7, 2015

Much to my amazement, I turn 66 years old today. I never thought I’d be this young when I got this old.  There was a time after turning 60 when I was reluctant to reveal my age. I didn’t want people to think I was, you know, TOO old. Now it’s a badge of honor. …

Blow Up

By Gary Pearce April 6, 2015

You could hear Republican heads exploding when the President announced a deal to keep Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Predictably, Republicans sided with Bibi over Obama.   There is something about their knee-jerk response that raises suspicions. Is it really a bad deal, or is it just that Obama’s political enemies are just bound…

The Way of Things

By Carter Wrenn April 3, 2015

Roy whacked Pat. Pat then slapped Phil. Phil poked Pat back. And no one laid a glove on Roy.   That was last week.   This week Roy whacked Pat again. And Pat gabbed Phil three times.   Last week Pat said Phil was cutting taxes too much – and this week he said  Phil…

An Easter Thought

By Gary Pearce April 2, 2015

For Christians, Easter is more than eggs, ham and bunnies. It’s a celebration of the central miracle and mystery of faith – the resurrection of Jesus, the hope of salvation and the promise of everlasting life.   Meanwhile, the secular political world is roiled over laws that, critics say, would let people of faith discriminate…

Republicans’ RFRA Risk

By Gary Pearce April 1, 2015

Governor McCrory and Speaker Tim Moore have two big reasons to worry about the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” (aka, the “Freedom to Discriminate Against Gays Act”): business and politics.   It’s bad business for North Carolina. And bad politics for McCrory, Senator Burr and House Republicans.   Business first. Indiana shows how such a law…

Whip It

By Gary Pearce March 31, 2015

Thanks to a TAPster who remembers the 1980s for this one:     “(North Carolina Congressman) Patrick McHenry is listed as an organizer of a new joint fundraising committee named – drum roll – Whip It Good PAC.  At first I thought it was a joke, but apparently not.”     For those not familiar…

Walk Softly…

By Carter Wrenn March 27, 2015

After capturing the capital the rebels are now hurtling toward Aden.        The President’s fled. No one knows where he is. Or if he’s in the country.   And the rebels have put a $100,000 bounty on his head.     Our Embassy’s been shuttered. Our troops have been evacuated.   Saudi Arabia’s making…

Show Me Your Email

By Gary Pearce March 27, 2015

We’re going to have to start thinking before we hit Send, Share or Post.   Hillary Clinton’s campaign has spent a couple of weeks wallowing in a media mudbath over her State Department emails. Jeb Bush pounced on her. Then we found his staff deep-sixed many of his emails.   Roy Cooper called for more…

Another School Study? Yes.

By Gary Pearce March 19, 2026

Some progressives groaned when Governor Josh Stein announced a bipartisan “Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education”…

Independents Turn Against GOP

By Gary Pearce March 17, 2026

North Carolina voters don’t like either the Democratic or Republican parties. But Independent voters – who…

Getting the News

By Gary Pearce March 13, 2026

How do you get your news? Our statewide poll asked North Carolina voters what their primary…