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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The Obama Factor

By Gary Pearce November 21, 2014

All American politics today – the battle over immigration, the election two weeks ago and even legislative elections in North Carolina – is all about Barack Obama.   Presidents always dominate the political scene. But this is a special case. Yes, it’s about race. But it’d also about something more, something deeper in America’s psyche.…

Straight Out of the Dark Ages

By Carter Wrenn November 21, 2014

Fleeing toward the mountains from her burning village, fifteen years old and trapped on a dusty road packed with refugees, she was captured and carried across the border to a town on the Euphrates River filled with captive women from other towns.   The soldiers sold part of the women at an auction as slaves…

Did Pat Pick Right Fight?

By Gary Pearce November 20, 2014

Governor McCrory’s political instinct is right, but his choice of battlefield is puzzling.   The Governor seems to understand that the best way to get reelected is to pick a fight with the legislature. Governors are always more popular than legislatures. McCrory’s approval ratings are twice as high as this legislature.   But why not…

A Waste of Time

By Carter Wrenn November 20, 2014

The Governor sent a letter to Thom Tillis and Phil Berger taking the legislature to task for asking for an independent audit of the Department of Health and Human Services.   Then the next day, when the Governor needed it least, the News and Observer reported that when DHHS’ new computer didn’t work the Department…

The Whole Tarbaby

By Carter Wrenn November 19, 2014

Pat McCrory had one of those days.               First, a typist switched an ‘h’ for an ‘f’ so he sent out a press release announcing a Wilmington company was ‘firing’ 1300 new workers instead of ‘hiring’ 1300 workers.   Then a passing photographer snapped a photo of the Governor with his arm draped across…

Democrats Need a Leader

By Gary Pearce November 18, 2014

Since the election tsunami, Democrats have been scouring the rubble for answers. Liberals say the party needs to take on Wall Street. Moderates say retake the middle. Labor says raise the minimum wage and stop trade deals. Hispanics say push ahead with immigration reform. Millennials say get rid of the old crowd. The old crowd…

Cloud Cuckoo Land

By Carter Wrenn November 18, 2014

  President Obama set out to restore his political fortunes by going to China – and announcing a new climate change agreement.   Then, still intent on repairing his fortunes, he traveled on to Australia where he announced he was giving $3 billion to the U.N to help poor nations fight the harm done by…

McCrory’s Balancing Act

By Gary Pearce November 17, 2014

Republican wins this year could make Governor McCrory’s reelection road rockier.   Over the past month, the Governor seemed to tack to the middle and away from the arch-conservative legislature. He reacted mildly to the gay-marriage court decisions. He suggested that he might support Medicaid expansion. Last week he sued the legislature over appointment powers.…

You Can’t Make This Up

By Carter Wrenn November 17, 2014

Governor McCrory needed a lawyer to advise him on cleaning up Duke Energy’s coal ash ponds but the one he found raised eyebrows: He hired a Duke Energy attorney.   The press naturally asked if that wasn’t a bit like having the fox guard the hen-house so the Governor had his spokesman explain to reporters,…

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…