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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Moderate Mitt

By Gary Pearce October 29, 2012

The presidential race turned around when Mitt Romney turned into a moderate in the first debate.   Who knows if he is really the moderate of October or the “severe conservative” of the primaries? My guess is that he’s an unprincipled son of privilege who, like George Bush, is trying to live up to an…

McGovern, Helms and Hunt

By Gary Pearce October 26, 2012

For an epic election loser, George McGovern had a big impact on North Carolina politics. Like Jesse Helms and Jim Hunt.   If not for McGovern’s landslide loss to Richard Nixon in 1972, North Carolina never would have had a Senator Helms. The Nixon tide swept Helms into Washington. It also brought a Republican, Jim…

Pretty is as Pretty Does

By Carter Wrenn October 25, 2012

I’d just finished breakfast and opened the newspaper when a dyed-in-the-wool yellow dog Democrat crossed the restaurant, sat down across the table and said, ‘That new ad of Paul Newby’s makes him look like a fool.’   He was talking about the Newby Super PAC ad – which has hound dogs braying in hot pursuit…

Goldman’s Sacks

By Gary Pearce October 25, 2012

Debra Goldman seems to be an equal-opportunity 911 caller. She apparently has called the police now about two fellow board members. This on top of dozens of calls to her Cary home in recent years.   If she gets elected State Auditor, the police may need to build a substation at her office.   No wonder…

No Contrition in Sight Anywhere

By Carter Wrenn October 24, 2012

The election in North Carolina has moved from old fashioned elbow-throwing into a more interesting topic – sex.   When she lived in Pennsylvania Debra Goldman was a volunteer firefighter – then she moved to Raleigh, ran for School Board, won in the Republican sweep in 2009 and now she’s running for State Auditor.  …

GOP Follies and Fantasies

By Gary Pearce October 24, 2012

Democrats who worry about GOP control of state government can take heart: It won’t last long, judging from the Goldman-Malone mess.   It turns out that Republican Party leaders knew the whole tawdry and titillating tale, but still cleared the field for the School Board Soap Opera stars to run for higher office.   What…

Third Graders

By Carter Wrenn October 23, 2012

It made all the newspapers: Last week Mitt Romney announced he’s pulling staffers out of North Carolina, where he now has a lead, to send them to Ohio where the race is closer. It was perfectly rational. Romney has a little breathing room in North Carolina so he’s moving few people to another state he…

An Example of the Unexpected

By Carter Wrenn October 23, 2012

The other day Gary and I spoke at a luncheon and when Gary finished speaking he opened the floor for questions and, right off, a fellow stood up and asked, ‘So who’s going to win the election?’   It’s the question everyone’s asking and Gary gave him a great answer. He explained how in politics…

McCrory’s Scandal Response

By Gary Pearce October 23, 2012

If Pat McCrory is elected governor, he better get better at handling scandals. And he better hope that Debra Goldman and Chris Malone don’t get elected.   McCrory’s statement yesterday started right. His spokesman said he would reserve judgment on the “convoluted situation.” He should have stopped there.   But the spokesman went a bridge…

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…