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.

CarterWrenn200x271

Carter Wrenn

Gary Pearce 2024

Gary Pearce

Archives

Categories

Bob Etheridge and Reason

By Carter Wrenn February 8, 2012

Last week when former-Congressman and newly-announced-candidate-for-Governor Bob Etheridge was asked if he would support the Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage he said that decision was in the people’s hands and he was 100% for whatever the people decided because the people were always right.   Yesterday, Etheridge lost his faith in the people. He announced…

Read More

Unfit for Duty

By Gary Pearce February 8, 2012

A lot of facts and statistics were thrown around at the Emerging Issues Forum on Generation Z, but here’s one that stunned me – from Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus:   Three out of four Americans between 18 and 24 are not qualified to join a branch of the military.  That’s 75 percent.  …

Read More

Warp Speed

By Gary Pearce February 8, 2012

It’s always easy to forget how fast things can change in politics. Then they do.   Two weeks ago, the governor’s race had settled into a predictable story line: “Governor Perdue in a tough race for reelection against the same opponent she beat four years ago.”   Today that story has disappeared. All the buzz…

Read More

Bob Etheridge’s Vision

By Carter Wrenn February 7, 2012

Bob Etheridge stepped to the podium, grasped the microphone and intoned solemnly, ‘This is a defining moment in history’ – then the next words out of his mouth were he’s running for Governor.   Because, he added, as the son of a Harnett County tenant farmer he understands North Carolina’s ‘journey.’   Where on earth…

Read More

Talking About GenZers

By Gary Pearce February 7, 2012

I’m one of the GenGeezers attending this year’s Emerging Issues Forum about GenZers – those born 1990-on.   They’re facing a changing and challenging economy. Their jobs will last an average of four years. They have an average college debt of $20,000. One-third of them are obese or overweight. They send an average of 3,000-plus…

Read More

Tillis and the Media

By Gary Pearce February 7, 2012

This topic is left over from when I was gone, but it demands comment.   Thom Tillis threw another temper tantrum at the media.   This is astoundingly bad judgment. Tillis got great media coverage through most of last year – the session and his listening tour. Things went sour after the midnight override of…

Read More

Super Bowl Winner

By Gary Pearce February 6, 2012

I’m talking about the ads, of course. And the winner was…Chrysler and Clint Eastwood.   Fast Company makes the case here.   As soon as the ad ran, Twitter lit up with Democrats tweeting that Clint sounded like he was doing a Reelect Obama ad.   Maybe with a headline from four years ago: “Romney…

Read More

Art Pope Responds

By Gary Pearce February 6, 2012

Following is an email from Art Pope responding to my blog post yesterday. I reprint it here in full, and I appreciate Art responding – and reading:   Gary, I realize that in your blog you are simply reporting a story “going around,” and not vouching that it is true.   Please let me assure…

Read More

The Democratic ‘Old Guard’

By Carter Wrenn February 6, 2012

Governor Perdue didn’t call a press conference or step to a microphone, instead she pulled up the drawbridge to the Governor’s mansion then sent out a short message saying she wasn’t running for Governor – which Democrats, with quiet politeness, greeted with a sigh of relief because the most unpopular Governor in memory was no…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

A Show

By Carter Wrenn January 31, 2025

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

Read More