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.

CarterWrenn200x271

Carter Wrenn

Gary Pearce 2024

Gary Pearce

Archives

Categories

Getting Out of the Ditch

By Carter Wrenn September 5, 2012

This blog is also posted on The Charlotte Observer’s DNC blog site.   It’s not about the conventions – it’s about the stories the conventions are telling.   The Republicans’ story goes like this, Obama hasn’t done the job, let ‘em go. The Democrats’ story goes this way, We are more like you than Mitt…

Read More

A Tale of Two Conventions

By Gary Pearce September 5, 2012

This blog is also posted on The Charlotte Observer’s DNC blog site.   There may not be, as John Edwards famously said, “two Americas.” But there sure are two parties with diametrically different views of America.   That’s the value of conventions. Cynics may dismiss them, and TV viewers may ignore them. But the conventions…

Read More

The Swing Voter

By Carter Wrenn September 4, 2012

This blog is also posted on The Charlotte Observer’s DNC blog site.   In case you missed it there’re two new polls this week but nothing’s changed. Republicans are still voting rocklike for Romney, Democrats are still rocklike for Obama, and if you want a portrait of a swing voter she’s a mother with young…

Read More

Picking – and Picking On – Charlotte

By Gary Pearce September 4, 2012

This blog is also posted on The Charlotte Observer’s DNC blog site.   Over the past few weeks, a stream of state and national reporters asked essentially the same question: “Was it a mistake for Democrats to come to Charlotte?”   Let’s set aside the existential question of whether it’s ever a mistake to come…

Read More

Are You Better Off?

By Gary Pearce September 4, 2012

The Romney campaign won a 24-hour news cycle on the “Are you better off?” question, but they may lose the election over it.   Team Obama and the Democrats should relish this fight. And not worry about having been caught off guard – although that was inexcusable. Who won or lost the news cycle matters…

Read More

No Empty Chairs Here

By Gary Pearce September 3, 2012

This blog is also posted on The Charlotte Observer’s DNC blog site.   There’s one problem with the Clint Eastwood line that Carter likes: This week, the chair will talk back.   Even better, President Bill Clinton probably will talk back. And say something like:   “You’re right, Clint. When somebody doesn’t do the job,…

Read More

Welcome to Charlotte

By Carter Wrenn September 3, 2012

This blog also posted on The Charlotte Observer’s DNC blog site.   One hundred and eighty years ago, back in 1832, the first Democratic Convention was an enclave of white men – today the Democratic Convention is an enlightened convocation with a Women’s Caucus, a Black Caucus, a Hispanic Caucus, an Ethnic Caucus, a Native…

Read More

The Fact Checkers

By Carter Wrenn September 3, 2012

There’s not much doubt there’s a lot of half-truthin’ and even some outright lyin’ going on in the Presidential campaign but the ‘Fact-Checkers’ who’ve proclaimed themselves the ‘truth-tellers’ in this election are starting to look a little blowsy themselves.   Last Wednesday night Paul Ryan said Obama “funneled $716 billion out of Medicare.”   ‘Not…

Read More

Ryan Caught Again

By Gary Pearce September 3, 2012

I wonder if Paul Ryan claimed in Greenville today that he once ran a four-minute mile? It wouldn’t surprise me, given his tenuous grip on the truth. If political lying was an Olympic event, Ryan would get the gold. And that’s saying a lot this year.   Fresh off his fact-challenged convention speech (see “GOP…

Read More

The Unknown

By Carter Wrenn March 5, 2025

A legend in politics, with a sneaky streak but a kind heart, Paddy sat down in…

Read More

Spinning Tales

By Carter Wrenn March 3, 2025

Trump growled Zelensky started the Ukraine war. John Bolton said Trump was wrong. Angry, my friend…

Read More

Vanished

By Gary Pearce March 3, 2025

Ronald Reagan stood at the Berlin Wall and stood up to what he called the “Evil…

Read More