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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Republican Reality

By Gary Pearce November 20, 2012

Will Republicans’ Election Day encounter with reality put them more in touch with reality on global warming, evolution and whether women who are raped get pregnant?   Don’t count on it. Denial is a powerful habit.   In the election’s aftermath, it is clear that the Romney-Republican-Rove-Fox echo chamber fell victim to their own spin.…

The Howl

By Carter Wrenn November 20, 2012

The waitress nodded to a slender fortyish brunette at the next table and said, ‘This is Gwyn, she’s a Republican’ – then Gwyn leaned across the gap between our two tables and said, ‘Just look at those Democrats, they didn’t win anyone’s hearts or minds this election – all they did was change who voted.…

What If It’s Close Again?

By Gary Pearce November 19, 2012

This election showed how closely – and bitterly – divided Americans are. Suppose we go through another 2000 cliff-hanger one day?   Increasingly, we don’t just hold different views and opinions from our opponents. We hold them in contempt. We call them ignorant, bigoted, fascistic, communistic, unpatriotic and un-America. We question a winner’s very legitimacy.…

Which Way for North Carolina?

By Gary Pearce November 16, 2012

The decision about Obamacare highlights the tension that will mark North Carolina’s politics the next four years.   The tension stems from an election that saw the nation go in one direction (largely Democratic) and North Carolina in another (almost all Republican).   When political partisans win an election, they tend to believe that an…

A Home Truth

By Carter Wrenn November 15, 2012

Back before the election I wrote a lot about the importance of money in campaigns and how the Democrats were in trouble because of a lack of it.   The NC Free Enterprise Foundation has just published a report on campaign spending during the 3rd Quarter, which ended just before the election. There were a…

Don’t Blame Etheridge

By Gary Pearce November 15, 2012

 A TAPster takes issue with the blog criticizing Bob Etheridge for running against Walter Dalton:   “I disagree with the argument that Bobby Etheridge caused Dalton’s defeat. If anything, the primary gave Dalton an opportunity to take his case to the public sooner rather than later. It is true that Perdue’s midnight decision put Dalton…

RTP On the Road

By Gary Pearce November 14, 2012

Pardon me for plugging an old friend, but you should check out what’s happening at the Research Triangle Park under new President & CEO Bob Geolas.   Last week, the Park rolled out its new master plan. It envisions more urban-type centers to complement the consummate campus setting. New companies, new talent and new minds…

Boehner Offers a Compromise

By Carter Wrenn November 13, 2012

The day after the election House Republican Leader John Boehner faced a tough question: Would he compromise with Obama or not? It was a Hobson’s Choice. Either way he was walking into a political minefield.   In the end Speaker Boehner threw what looked like a compromise on the table – in effect, saying to…

Dalton’s Etheridge Problem

By Gary Pearce November 13, 2012

A TAPster asks a good question:   “Why does nobody, or certainly almost nobody, mention Bob Etheridge by name when describing the factors that lead to Walter Dalton’s defeat? While Etheridge certainly wasn’t the sole source of Dalton’s problems, Etheridge certainly sucked every last dollar out of Dalton’s bank account thru early summer, leaving Dalton…

Political Shots Fired

By Gary Pearce April 28, 2026

The political sniping began even as chaos still reigned at the White House Correspondents Dinner. My…

Obama 48-Trump 39

By Gary Pearce April 26, 2026

A new nationwide poll shows that, if they could run against each other in 2028, Barack…

“Conservative Successes”?

By Gary Pearce April 23, 2026

Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…