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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Over the Cliff

By Gary Pearce December 31, 2012

While Republicans in Washington take their party and the country over the fiscal cliff, North Carolina waits to see if Republicans can govern.   We’ve heard the cut-taxes/cut-spending mantra before. First from Ronald Reagan. He cut taxes, but never cut spending. Then he raised taxes.   George W. Bush cut taxes. And raised spending. And…

Revelation

By Carter Wrenn December 28, 2012

A brawl followed by an outbreak of brawls erupted Sunday morning in the small insular world of politics;–it started on Meet the Press when Wayne LaPierre of the NRA said, ‘The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun‘ — David Gregory nodded politely, said, ‘That…

The Real Reason: Another View

By Gary Pearce December 27, 2012

Carter wrote (“The Real Reason”) that “Democrats are having apoplexy” over Art Pope as Budget Czar because “Pope is dead serious about cutting government spending.”   Well, that’s part of the story. The rest is that Democrats wonder whether he can cut government spending without hurting education (public schools, community colleges and universities), jeopardizing public…

Merry Christmas

By Gary Pearce December 24, 2012

This Christmas, we have much to celebrate. To start with, the world didn’t end.   Except for Washington, where the fiscal cliff and a bruising battle over guns loom.   And in Raleigh, where it has ended for Democrats.   Blessedly, for one day all will be peaceful – or mostly so. We celebrate according…

The Real Reason

By Carter Wrenn December 21, 2012

Pat McCrory called reporters down to the Albemarle building for a press conference and said two words and near about gave liberals from Murphy to Manteo apoplexy.   He said, Art Pope.    And five minutes later ole Chris Fitzsimmons was howling on Twitter, The Pope Administration begins…and about an hour later the Democratic Party…

The Budget Pope

By Gary Pearce December 21, 2012

Art Pope is both a good target for Democrats and a good choice for Governor-elect McCrory.   Democrats get to skewer him as a rich, right-wing puppet master who will pull McCrory’s strings while running and ruining North Carolina.   McCrory gets three things: Pope knows the budget in and out. He knows how Raleigh…

$250,000 a Month

By Carter Wrenn December 20, 2012

Two years ago as businesses were struggling through the recession, a family business in eastern North Carolina that cares for shut-ins and older people in their homes received a letter from PCG Corporation of Boston saying, We’re coming to audit the payments you’ve received from Medicaid.   Earlier, PCG (the ‘Public Consulting Group’) had told…

On Target

By Gary Pearce December 20, 2012

A TAPster offers a creative solution to gun violence:   “The eventual outcome of the approaching debate about gun control – regardless of that outcome – is unlikely to satisfy anybody. Gun owners will chafe at new restrictions, control advocates will cry that more should be done, and people will continue to be shot.  …

Battle Lines

By Gary Pearce December 19, 2012

Even if he doesn’t (as is rumored) become Governor-elect McCrory’s budget director, Art Pope will be a power.   So – despite its disclaimers – let’s assume the Civitas Institute channels Pope’s thinking when it proposes doing away with the state income tax and replacing it with a broader sales tax.   And let’s assume…

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…