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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Tempting Women, Again

By Carter Wrenn May 28, 2014

To get their votes, the politicians are up to a lot more than just promising women the ‘power’ to fulfill their heart’s desires – listen to the serenade Democrats are singing: If you vote for Kay Hagan, Democrats say, you’ll get more pay and equal pay and health care and birth control and education and,…

Tempting Women

By Carter Wrenn May 27, 2014

According to the newspaper one super powerful group is going to pick the winner in the Senate race: Women.    Not money. Or virtue. Or sin. But Women.   Which, of course, if you’re a woman, may sound like floozy flattery.    Or if you’re a woman, and a tad skeptical, you might be wondering,…

North to Alaska

By Gary Pearce May 27, 2014

I’m just back from a family cruise to Alaska, a trip I highly recommend if you want to see a part of America that is a different world.   (And a big thank-you to the guest bloggers whom I trust kept your interest and blood pressure high while I was gone.)   We saw just…

New Wrinkle, Old Politics

By Carter Wrenn May 23, 2014

There are scads of Super PACs running around attacking Thom Tillis or Kay Hagan so one more came as no surprise except when Planned Parenthood said it was going to whack Tillis I thought, Whoever heard of a government-funded group spending $3.3 million on a Super PAC? It didn’t seem quite right. Planned Parenthood spending taxpayers’ money…

Frick and frack

By biglu May 22, 2014

Gary is taking a break from blogging. Here’s one from a Tapster.   The Senate’s headlong rush this week to jumpstart hydraulic fracturing in North Carolina proves they’ve learned absolutely nothing from the Dan River coal ash spill. Senate Republicans say they want to create jobs and stimulate home-grown energy, and the sooner the better…

Frick and Frack

By biglu May 22, 2014

Gary is taking a break from blogging. Here is one from a Tapster.   The Senate’s headlong rush this week to jumpstart hydraulic fracturing in North Carolina proves they’ve learned absolutely nothing from the Dan River coal ash spill. Senate Republicans say they want to create jobs and stimulate home-grown energy, and the sooner the…

What Comeback?

By biglu May 22, 2014

Gary is taking a break from blogging. In his absence, he asked Thomas Mills to fill in. Thomas blogs at www.politicsnc.com where this article is cross-posted. Republicans in Raleigh have a problem with their storyline. They keep insisting that North Carolina is on a “Carolina comeback” but nobody’s feeling the benefits–except the rich. They cite…

As D-day anniversary approaches, survivor recounts vivid memories

By Luther Snyder May 20, 2014

Gary’s stepfather, Joe Dickerson, was interviewed by David Crabtree of WRAL last week.  To watch this moving interview, click the link below: http://www.wral.com/as-d-day-anniversary-approaches-survivor-recounts-vivid-memories/13649342/  The WRAL story follows:   As D-day anniversary approaches, survivor recounts vivid memories Joe Dickerson nearly died twice in 1944 – first from a near drowning and then from shrapnel. Dickerson, 91,…

An Issue from the East

By jstewart May 19, 2014

Gary is taking a break from blogging. Here’s a guest blog from Joe Stewart, Executive Director of the NC FreeEnterprise Foundation; a nonpartisan non-profit organization that conducts research on candidates, campaigns and voter attitudes in North Carolina. Once the match up in the US Senate race was known on primary election night, a reporter asked…

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…