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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Pools

By Carter Wrenn November 6, 2013

In a way the Obamacare rollout is proof markets – and naked self-interest – work.   In the past, a lot of older, sicker people have been unable to get health insurance. Or afford it if they could. Or have had to pay through the nose for it.   Now, according to the Wall Street…

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The Barber Factor

By Gary Pearce November 5, 2013

Some Democrats fear – and Carter sincerely hopes – that the Rev. William Barber will become the face of the Democratic Party.   But ponder this: If Barber can inspire thousands of people to protest on “Moral Mondays” – and 900 of them to get arrested – how many people can he inspire to the polls…

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Greased Pigs and Jaguars

By Carter Wrenn November 5, 2013

The poor Tea Partiers are finding the Republican Establishment in Washington harder to keep ahold of than a greased pig – they cornered the elusive rascals, trying to defund Obamacare, but then the wily Pachyderms slipped through their fingers and now Ted Cruz and the Tea Partiers are taking a pounding, being called pouty children…

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Bear Hunting

By Carter Wrenn November 4, 2013

Any Southerner worth his salt, at some point, has come face to face with William Faulkner’s story “The Bear” – about a mammoth, faster than a locomotive bear who roams and rules the last 100 square miles of pure wilderness in Mississippi where the final vestiges of ancient virtues like endurance and sacrifice have not…

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Money Talks in Virginia

By Gary Pearce November 4, 2013

If Terry McAuliffe wins the Virginia governor’s race, Democrats might want to rethink this campaign finance thing.   Public Policy Polling’s final poll shows McAuliffe winning 50-43. But here are the numbers that caught my eye: McAuliffe leads in fundraising $34.4 million to $19.7 million.   The New York Times reported, “Armed with a much…

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Driving Republicans Crazy

By Gary Pearce November 1, 2013

Whatever else it does, Obamacare drives Republicans into a frenzy of hype, hypocrisy, irrationality and overreaction.   Exhibit A: Republicans in Congress are outraged that website glitches prevent Americans from signing up for a program Republicans compare to slavery. Why are they complaining? They should take a cue from George Holding, take a nap and…

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It’s the Character, Stupid

By Gary Pearce October 31, 2013

If Democrats want to come back in North Carolina, they need to avoid their usual mistake of thinking it’s all about the issues.   It’s in Democrats’ DNA to do that. We’re issues people. We care a lot about things like Medicaid expansion, Common Core curriculum, growth strategies and infrastructure.   It’s not that voters…

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Bailing Out the Enemy

By Gary Pearce October 30, 2013

Carter likes to say that politics is an exercise in human folly and error. Both parties seem set on proving it in Washington.   A few weeks ago, President Obama’s job ratings fell when the news was focused on Syria. But Washington Republicans came to his rescue. They shut down the government. Everybody forgot about…

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Trouble Ahead

By Gary Pearce October 29, 2013

What’s the over/under on how many bad headlines and headaches will come from Governor McCrory’s plan to shift job recruitment from the N.C. Department of Commerce to a new “public-private nonprofit corporation”?   The N&O’s Rob Christensen reported that similar partnerships across the country have been criticized for “misuse of taxpayer money, conflicts of interest,…

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Quite a Week

By Carter Wrenn January 24, 2025

This week was quite a week: Biden pardoned his brother, sister, other brother, a general who…

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Biden Muted

By Gary Pearce January 24, 2025

One bleak visual at the inauguration summed up Joe Biden’s presidency: Biden sat silently – seething…

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Joe John

By Gary Pearce January 22, 2025

State Representative Joe John, who died today, looked something like a friendly but fierce bulldog. He…

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