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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Berger and The N&O

By Gary Pearce February 16, 2012

A TAPster who has watched a succession of politicians tangle with the N&O was struck by Senate Leader Phil Berger’s letter to the editor Tuesday, especially the end:   “Interestingly, the editorial opines that the state’s Legislative Building is a ‘hot-air factory where opponents of the Racial Justice Act seemingly will say anything …’ Clearly,…

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Play that Video

By Carter Wrenn February 15, 2012

I’m old-fashioned enough not to have much faith in these new ‘automated telephone polls’ that the Democrats at Public Policy Polling do, but you have to give them credit – those polls have turned their company into a P.R. juggernaut. They’re in the newspaper just about every day.   Their latest poll on the Democratic…

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Mitt as Pretzel

By Gary Pearce February 15, 2012

Mitt Romney has to be the most phony-baloney politician in American history. If there was an Olympics for Flip-Flop, he’d hold the Gold. If he did yoga, he’d be a pretzel. He is the Mickey Mantle of Political Switch-Hitting, the Oscar Robertson of Obfuscation, the unchallenged champion of the George Orwell Trophy for Double-Talk.  …

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The Dark Side

By Gary Pearce February 15, 2012

Economic numbers are brightening a bit, so President Obama’s ratings are a bit brighter. But the most striking thing about the election climate nine months out is the darkness on the Republican side.   Listen to them – and to what their words and their expressions say about their mood, their attitude and their vision…

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It’s Free!

By Carter Wrenn February 14, 2012

I wonder, sometimes, if Obama believes what he’s saying? He ordered the Catholic Church to provide contraceptives to its employees;― the Bishops said No, outrage followed, and Obama realized he’s bitten off more than he could chew.   So Obama announced he had a solution. The Church, he said, wasn’t going to have to provide…

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Politics 101

By Carter Wrenn February 14, 2012

A lot of times people ask me about political campaigns: How are they run? What matters? What doesn’t?   In fact, most political campaigns are simple. More often than not they boil down to one fact: Who voters know. Because when a voter walks into a voting booth if he knows one candidate and not…

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Media Blitz

By Gary Pearce February 14, 2012

Bill Faison got a rude welcome to statewide politics. The N&O story about his ex-wife’s divorce allegations – published the day Faison filed – was like blitzing a rookie quarterback on his first play of the season.   The divorce apparently dogged Faison’s race against David Parker for state party chair – and cost him…

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A Little Gunpowder

By Carter Wrenn February 13, 2012

One thing’s for sure: If Dan Blue runs for Governor it’s going to make the Democratic Governor’s Primary a lot more interesting.   Interesting, first, because of mathematics. Because over 40% of the Democratic voters are African-Americans and Senator Blue would be the only African-American candidate.   Interesting, second, because of history. Because Obama proved…

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Moore’s Choice

By Gary Pearce February 13, 2012

In some ways, no candidate is better positioned for the now wide-open Democratic governor’s race than Richard Moore. He’s a smart, charismatic candidate with enough personal resources to be an instant front-runner.   Moore has strong credentials. He was Governor Hunt’s Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety. He was state Treasurer for eight years.…

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How Democrats Win Again

By Gary Pearce March 10, 2025

The shouting, sign-waving and cane-wielding by congressional Democrats at the State of the Union isn’t a…

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Deborah Ross’ Rx

By Gary Pearce March 7, 2025

Curmudgeonly Cajun James Carville says Democrats just need to “roll over and play dead” and wait…

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Puzzling

By Carter Wrenn March 7, 2025

Trump raised tariffs. Said tariffs are beautiful. The next day, about facing, said automakers didn’t have…

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