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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Move On

By Gary Pearce July 5, 2012

Will Republicans now make the same mistake on health care reform that President Obama made?   Apart from never adequately explaining his reform, the President hurt himself by focusing on health care when Americans were focused on the bad economy.   Now a poll shows that, however they feel about the law, Americans want to…

Hands Off

By Gary Pearce July 4, 2012

To celebrate Independence Day, Congress should oblige those patriots who attended the “Hands off My Healthcare” rally in Raleigh this weekend: Pass a law making them ineligible – now and in the future – for Medicare.  And give them medals for their sacrifice.   Oh, that’s not what they meant?   No, they want government…

36 Years Too Late

By Carter Wrenn July 3, 2012

Venerated Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, who is seventy-eight years old, just faced his first primary in three decades – a Tea Party opponent ran against him who said Washington could do with one less politician who’d spent years voting for more debt and more spending.   Senator Hatch weathered the storm but, then, after the…

3 Strikes,You’re Out

By Gary Pearce July 3, 2012

Like Charlie Brown, Governor Perdue and Democratic legislators took three mighty swings at the Republicans’ best pitches. And whiffed on every one.   It was an inglorious end to the party’s first legislative session out of power. And maybe a taste of how things will be for a while.   Some Democrats thought Governor Perdue…

Whose Economy?

By Gary Pearce July 2, 2012

Speaker Thom Tillis says Republicans “own the economy” and is optimistic: “I think we are seeing some green shoots.”   But Pat McCrory says Governor Perdue owns the economy and it’s “broken.”   Nationally, of course, Republicans say President Obama owns the economy and it sucks.   Obama avoids sounding too optimistic. Democrats say it’s…

Winning One for the Geezers

By Gary Pearce June 29, 2012

As an aspiring geezer, I’m inspired when white-hairs beat the young guns at their own new-media game.   So today we celebrate Lyle Denniston, the 81-year-old, twice-retired blogger at SCOTUSBlog. He got the Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act right and he got it first.   Actually, the trigger-happy hot heads at CNN…

Simple Politics

By Carter Wrenn June 28, 2012

When you boil out all the hollering and gnashing of teeth the Presidential campaign’s pretty simple. Romney says, Obama’s sunk the economy. He doesn’t deserve re-election. Then Obama says, Look at Romney’s record as Governor of Massachusetts. No matter how bad I’ve done – he’d do worse. Then Obama adds, And look at what Romney…

Picking Winners and Losers?

By Carter Wrenn June 28, 2012

One of the problems no one’s ever been able to solve as far as politics goes is how to stop one group of folks from using the government to get their hands on another group of folks’ money.   For instance, back when President Obama gave green-energy-company-gone-bankrupt-Solyndra government subsidies, Republicans cried foul and said what…

A Win Is a Win

By Gary Pearce June 28, 2012

President Obama finally got a Republican vote for his health care bill: Chief Justice Roberts’.   Of course, Republicans are trying now to turn it into a “tax,” with Roberts’ help.   But it’s a huge win for Obama. And what’s the best thing about winning? Not losing.   If he had lost in the…

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…