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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GOP ‘Compassion’

By Gary Pearce February 15, 2013

“We are being compassionate,” said state Rep. Mike Hager of Rutherfordton. “We have a mindset of pulling…government burden off these small businesses.”   Well, that sums it up. Republican compassion is for businesses and corporations, not people.  Remember: People aren’t corporations, my friend.   First North Carolina Republicans slashed help for people who can’t find…

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Reasonable and Petty

By Carter Wrenn February 14, 2013

I settled into my chair, rocked back, opened a book, and a few minutes later Obama’s measured voice floated across the room saying John Boehner ought to delay the Sequester, then Obama explained how government ought to do more for people with less and it’s only fair the well off pay a little bit more…

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Listening to McCrory

By Gary Pearce February 14, 2013

After receiving a typically enthusiastic introduction from former Governor Jim Hunt Tuesday, Governor McCrory said, “Note to staff: Never have me speak after Jim Hunt again.”   Here’s another note he should send them: Know my audience.   McCrory was speaking at N.C. State’s Emerging Issues Form on manufacturing. He seemed to think he was…

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Older and Wiser

By Carter Wrenn February 13, 2013

After Tea Party candidates rolled to victory in 2010 they headed for Congress to cut spending, and late one night, six months later, President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner announced they’d made a deal to pass the biggest annual spending cut in history.   Now, two years later, it turns out the cuts were…

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Obama’s Edge

By Gary Pearce February 13, 2013

Thanks to the 2012 campaign and Mitt Romney, President Obama has found his voice. That gives him a big advantage over Republicans the next two years.   For all his writing and oratorical skills, Obama never found a way in his first term to effectively tell his story – and sell his message. That led…

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Stupid Is As Stupid Does

By Gary Pearce February 12, 2013

Some Republicans seem determined to be “the stupid party,” in Bobby Jindal’s memorable phrase.   Like U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx.   The Sunday New York Times took a look at how some students today pay for college. The story focused on Steve Boedefeld, an Appalachian State University student who wants to avoid graduating with a…

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The Only Casualty

By Carter Wrenn February 12, 2013

War’s broken out in Raleigh.   The Republican County Commissioners launched a blitzkrieg, hiring a lobbyist (for $25,000) to get the Republican legislature to redraw the districts of the Democratic School Board members – then the Democratic School Board struck back (to keep their districts) by spending four times as much ($100,000) to hire their…

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Perfectly Clear on Twitter

By Carter Wrenn February 11, 2013

There’s a full throated debate going on in Washington – Republicans are saying ‘the Sequester’ wasn’t their idea, it was Obama’s idea, and the White House is saying, ‘Obama’s idea! John Boehner not only voted for the Sequester, after it passed he bragged he’d gotten 98% of what he wanted.’   Meanwhile the Republicans, after…

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Billing and Cooing

By Carter Wrenn February 11, 2013

After three days on a retreat at a spa near Washington, and after meeting with President Obama, House Democrats headed home ‘billing and cooing’ like reconciled brides because they’d built a ‘closer relationship’ with the President.   But in this case the path to reconciliation wasn’t romantic: It was money.   To sooth the Congressmen…

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A Show

By Carter Wrenn January 31, 2025

Addison McDowell worked for Ted Budd, worked as a lobbyist, 31 years old ran for Congress,…

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Chaos, Carnage and Cruelty

By Gary Pearce January 31, 2025

Trump doesn’t care how much chaos he creates, how much carnage he causes and how much…

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Two Pieces

By Carter Wrenn January 30, 2025

When the smoke cleared – after Jesse Helms’ second campaign – we’d raised more money than…

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