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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Watch Us on WRAL

By Gary Pearce April 6, 2012

Carter and I taped a segment for WRAL’s “On the Record” weekend talk show today. Go to the station’s website for airtime – or to watch it online.   Our topic was the May presidential primary. Obviously, they were hard up for guests before Easter.

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Obama v Roberts

By Gary Pearce April 6, 2012

Some people are shocked, shocked, I tell you, that President Obama would challenge the majesty of the Supreme Court.   Get real. Court-bashing is as American as apple pie.   Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Franklin D. Roosevelt all challenged the court. For years after Brown v Board of Education, “Impeach Earl Warren” signs lined…

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A Baffling Mystery

By Gary Pearce April 5, 2012

Somebody please explain this.   Every Republican running for any office – no matter how high or low – seems to be running against Obamacare.   They rail against the mandate that everyone have health insurance. They say it’s socialistic, un-American and an outrageous intrusion of our liberties. They vow to repeal it.   Yet,…

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Whatever Happened to the presidential Debates?

By Carter Wrenn April 5, 2012

Two months ago the Republican Presidential Primary was rolling along like a locomotive fueled by Presidential debates on CNN, Fox and MSNBC; those debates flattened Rick Perry, gave birth to Herman Cain, created the Gingrich boomlet then propelled Santorum past Gingrich as the alternative to Mitt Romney.   The debates gave Republican voters looking for…

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Skewering Newt and Mitt

By Gary Pearce April 5, 2012

Rick Santorum’s national campaign may be lagging, but he’s getting hard-hitting help in North Carolina.   Bob Harris, the legendary Congressional Club researcher (“Where do you stand, Jim?”) has done two TV ads for Santorum.   Harris said the ads began running in the Wilmington market this week. They’re sponsored by his super-PAC, Keep Conservatives…

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Failing Grade for the Legislature

By Gary Pearce April 4, 2012

Democrats now have their bumper-sticker message for 2012 – thanks to 25 North Carolina school superintendents.   Republican legislators deny they cut any teachers. But the superintendents told a different story at a statewide hearing:   “Superintendents said they had laid off teachers, teacher assistants, assistant principals and central office staff members during several years…

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Time Buying

By Carter Wrenn April 3, 2012

These days it seems I’m immersed in the world of TV ads and time buying but it’s that time of the year for campaigns, when a candidate with two shekels to rub together is trying to figure out whether to spend them on TV or radio or, heaven forbid, yard signs.   The words ‘time…

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Reformed to Death?

By Gary Pearce April 3, 2012

Several Democratic readers responded to yesterday’s blog, “School Choice.” One wrote: “Our message should be, ‘Reform and Invest’.” Another said: “Schools need BOTH reform & investment. Any politician who preaches reform w/out resources is just using reform as a fig leaf.”   A third said Pat McCrory’s education plan “is things Perdue/Easley/Hunt already did or…

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School Choice

By Gary Pearce April 2, 2012

For all the millions of dollars and words expended, elections always come down to simple choices that can be captured in a few words. In the governor’s race, it looks like the choice will come down to Pat McCrory’s “fix the problems” versus the Democrat’s “invest in education.”   That could be a disastrous framing…

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Going Too Far

By Carter Wrenn February 3, 2025

Cheeks round, pudgy fingers fumbling, Ellmer took a newspaper article out of his briefcase, pushed it…

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Dividing Line

By Gary Pearce February 3, 2025

Trump has done America a big favor: in just two weeks, he’s drawn a bright line…

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A Show

By Carter Wrenn January 31, 2025

Addison McDowell worked for Ted Budd, worked as a lobbyist, 31 years old ran for Congress,…

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