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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Hiring and Firing

By Carter Wrenn June 17, 2014

Thirty years ago it sounded fine when Democrats set out to save North Carolina from the wickedness of a Republican Governor firing Democratic state employees – they were ridding state government of nasty old politics.     But it didn’t turn out quite the way they expected because, when all was said and done, they’d…

Tales of Corruption

By Gary Pearce June 16, 2014

Republicans made great hay in 2010 and 2012 over then-ongoing investigations of Democratic politicians, like John Edwards, Mike Easley and appointees of Bev Perdue. Suddenly the shoe is on the other foot. Such are the perks of high office.   Now there are two investigations of possible illegal activity, one involving the coal ash spill…

Coal Ash

By Carter Wrenn June 13, 2014

When it comes to avoiding another coal ash spill, the problem may not be (as the environmentalists believe) the villainy of Governor McCrory.  The problem may be more subtle.    Going back decades, the career state employees over at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have told Duke Energy it was handling coal ash…

Mississippi

By Carter Wrenn June 12, 2014

The unexpected almost always happens – but who’d have expected this: Down in Mississippi the Tea Party has been battling it out with the Republican Establishment, trying to whip Senator Thad Cochran and when all the votes were counted the Tea Party candidate led Cochrane by an eyelash 49.6% to 49%.    The surprise?  …

Smart Voters

By Gary Pearce June 12, 2014

Everybody has a theory about why Eric Cantor lost, one that usually reflects their overall theory about politics: It was about immigration. Cantor was aloof and arrogant. The Tea Party is still a force in the GOP. Voters lie to pollsters. Pollsters are stupid. Let’s consider another possible factor, one that echoes last month’s primaries…

Common Core and Ernest Hemingway

By Carter Wrenn June 11, 2014

I’m very, very nervous… Democratic State Representative Marcus Brandon said.   Disagreeing, Republican Representative Michael Specialecountered, What’s the price of selling our souls?   When it comes to keeping ‘Common Core’ the politicians in Raleigh have divided into two armed camps.   Rep. Michael Speciale is dead-set against it. Rep. Marcus Brandon is for it.  …

A Sign?

By Gary Pearce June 11, 2014

“This is a miracle from God that just happened.” – David Brat, who rocked the political world Tuesday by upsetting Eric Cantor in a Virginia Republican primary.   Well, that’s certainly one explanation. A more earthly one came from former Representative Thomas M. Davis III, another Virginia Republican: “There are some very angry people upset…

Picking Winners and Losers

By Carter Wrenn June 11, 2014

Everybody knows Republicans, and especially conservative Republicans, don’t like government subsidies. They’re corporate welfare. They’re government picking winners and losers.  And interfering with the free marketplace.    That’s why Republicans opposed Obama’s solar energy subsidies like Solyandro – a solar business ought to be able to stand on its own two feet and if it…

Who’s the Boss?

By Gary Pearce June 9, 2014

Governor McCrory is starting to look like Bev Perdue without the dress.   He started out this legislature saying he’d be more assertive. Then Senator Berger released his budget and showed everybody who’s the Real Boss in Raleigh.   McCrory clearly doesn’t like Berger’s budget. But it’s not clear what he’s going to do about…

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…