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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Popcorn Politics Part Deux

By Luther Snyder August 8, 2012

**Gary is taking a break from blogging and he asked a few Tapsters to post a few blogs. Here is another one a Tapster sent in:   The biggest day of the 2012 political calendar is August 10.   No, that’s not the start of the much-ballyhooed and underfunded Democratic National Convention, nor is it…

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Popcorn Politics

By Luther Snyder August 7, 2012

  **Gary is taking a break from blogging and he asked a few Tapsters to post a few blogs. Here is one a Tapster sent in:   The rankings of the allegedly most influential lobbyists were released last week by the NC Center for Public Policy Research. This biennial joke was greeted by the usual…

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When It’s Over…

By Carter Wrenn August 7, 2012

Harry Reid stands up beside his desk in the Senate and announces he’s got ‘credible evidence’ Mitt Romney hasn’t paid taxes for ten years – but then says he’s not sure it’s true.   The Chairman of the Republican Party, throwing manners aside, brands Reid a ‘dirty liar.’   Reid’s spokesman fires back it’s ‘clear…

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Why Is It Close?

By Gary Pearce August 3, 2012

A prominent Democrat asked this question: “With the economy so bad, why is Obama even close in North Carolina?”   Three theories: (1) Voters like him; (2) they don’t like Romney; (3) they’re afraid the Tea Party has taken over the Republican Party. Maybe all three are right.   A poll found Obama leading in…

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A Hard Fight

By Carter Wrenn August 2, 2012

It started four years ago as an uneven fight: Five rural County Commissioners against a multi-national conglomerate with plants from Iceland to Arabia – so, losing ground, the Commissioners who’re Republicans turned to the Democratic Governor for help and got it in an odd way: The Governor helped but, at the same time, her Department…

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The Big Dog Speaks

By Gary Pearce August 2, 2012

Here’s why I’m glad Bill Clinton will have a big role at the Democratic convention: Nobody in American politics today is a better contrast to how brain-dead American politics is today.   Clinton is the one national figure who can weave sensible policy proposals from the extremes of left and right, the one politician who…

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Just Plain Bad Manners

By Carter Wrenn August 1, 2012

WRAL-TV put an Internet link on its website to a map that shows streets where concealed handgun permit holders live – the map doesn’t give the handgun permit holders’ names or addresses it simply reports, say, ‘two’ permit holders live on Maple Avenue.   That didn’t sit well with the pro-gun lobby Grass Roots North…

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Burr as Veep?

By Gary Pearce August 1, 2012

Maybe Senator Richard Burr sees himself as the best running mate for Mitt Romney.   In an interview with WBT radio, he said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) could use “a little more experience.”   He called Kelly Ayotte out of New Hampshire a “longshot.”   And he had faint praise for former Minnesota Gov. Tim…

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Ringing the School Bell

By Gary Pearce July 31, 2012

One of Walter Dalton’s biggest challenges is winning Independent women voters in the Charlotte media market. How does he do that? Take them to school.   Dalton can go after on education Pat McCrory two ways.   One, McCrory will rubber-stamp whatever the legislature does to the public schools.   Senator Josh Stein did a…

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The Unknown

By Carter Wrenn March 5, 2025

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

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Spinning Tales

By Carter Wrenn March 3, 2025

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

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Vanished

By Gary Pearce March 3, 2025

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

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