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 Price of a Fiction

By Carter Wrenn September 6, 2013

In the Senate of the world’s oldest democracy the Honorables sat down around a giant horseshoe-shaped table to hold a hearing to ask the Secretary of State how he figured bombing Syria was a good idea – but a strange thing happened: As soon as each Senator asked his first question the Secretary of State…

It’s a Little Late, Pat

By Gary Pearce September 6, 2013

Every day I say: Today I won’t pick on Governor McCrory. Then he does something so boneheaded I can’t resist.   Like his parting shots at the legislature. He looked like the 98-pound weakling sticking out his tongue long after the bully who kicked sand in his face walked down the beach.   The legislature…

A Heart Attack?

By Carter Wrenn September 5, 2013

The Governor climbed into the ring with the State House Monday morning and thirty minutes later he was lying sprawled flat on his back on the canvas then, the next morning, he climbed back into the ring – this time with the State Senate – and the same thing happened again.     Pat McCrory’s…

Overridden

By Gary Pearce September 5, 2013

Even Republicans are puzzled about why Governor McCrory vetoed the two bills he did.   Why pick a fight you’re going to lose? Unless there’s a big upside, and there’s not here.   Both of the bills he vetoed had passed the House, his only real ally on Jones Street, with veto-proof majorities and bipartisan…

Not One Overheated Washington Politician…

By Carter Wrenn September 4, 2013

Broken politics and posturing politicians present one degree of mendacity when it comes to passing a budget – but the moment a war appears on the horizon that same devilment turns lethal.                           A few days ago the President declared that, as leader of the oldest constitutional democracy on earth, he needs the support of…

CEO Pans Pat

By Gary Pearce September 4, 2013

A local CEO was shocked by Governor McCrory’s comments in Rob Christensen’s Sunday N&O story (“During session and beyond, McCrory has rough start”).   Here’s the message he left on voice mail:   “I can’t tell you a CEO in any organization who could get away with saying I have no agenda, I have no…

Two Skunks

By Carter Wrenn September 3, 2013

In the desert land where the Lord struck St. Paul blind then showed him a vision, a pair of skunks are fighting a Civil War and five-thousand miles away in the world’s oldest democracy a great hue and cry has arisen to bomb one of the skunks.    Now in the oldest democracy politics is…

What Pat Paid Them

By Gary Pearce September 3, 2013

What did Governor McCrory pay the DHHS Gold Dust Twins when he was spending his money, not the taxpayers’?   A curious TAPster decided to find out. The answer: You (the taxpayer) are paying the two 24-year-olds a lot more than Pat did. Maybe twice as much.   The TAPster looked at McCrory’s campaign reports…

Sitting Pretty

By Gary Pearce August 31, 2013

An Old Wise Lobbyist (OWL) gives me a Labor Day break by sharing this:   “Contributors to Rep Edgar Starnes’ campaign should be disgusted and dismayed that he used their contributions to beautify his Raleigh legislative office.   “The Republican House leader used $7,000 of campaign money for furniture and other niceties at the legislative…

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…

MAGA-gator

By Gary Pearce March 12, 2026

Thom Tillis and Phil Berger fed the MAGA alligator. Then it ate them. Thomas Mills wrote…