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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Charging for the Exits

By Carter Wrenn February 10, 2012

The exodus of Democratic legislators stampeding out of Raleigh multiplied again Tuesday when three more Democrats (Linda Garrou, Jennifer Weiss and Edith Warren) announced they’re not running for reelection.   Granted, Democratic House and Senate candidates face plenty of tough challenges – new districts, empty campaign coffers, befuddled leaders. Plus, over the past year they’ve…

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Since 1953

By Carter Wrenn February 10, 2012

Congresswoman Sue Myrick generated a bit of excitement Monday in Charlotte, saying she’s not running for reelection; — excitement for Democrats as this time it’s a Republican (instead of Governor Perdue or Speaker Hackney and two Democratic Congressmen) who’s not running. Excitement for Republicans because now there’s an open seat in a district that has…

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Tweets We Want to See

By Gary Pearce February 10, 2012

On Twitter all politicians are relentlessly upbeat and never edgy. Like: “Great meeting with Meck Co Dems tonight!” “Looking forward to talking with kids at Morse Science High.” “We can fix this.”   Here are tweets I want to see from candidates:   “Up at 6 and not in until 1 am. #frazzled Am going…

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A Dickens Novel

By Carter Wrenn February 9, 2012

Last Monday Mitt Romney was on top of the world. Everything was coming up roses – then on Tuesday night Rick Santorum swept Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota.   This may be too simple an explanation of what happened but if you take Newt Gingrich’s votes in Minnesota and Colorado and give them to Santorum, Santorum…

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Twitter Patter

By Gary Pearce February 9, 2012

Just before the game last night, Bob Etheridge – or @Etheridge4Gov – tweeted: “Who are you all pulling for in the big game tonight? Both UNC and Duke are good teams, it will be a close one – that’s for sure.”   Someone shot back: “bob, gonna need you to take a stand on this…

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The Wright Brothers

By Carter Wrenn February 8, 2012

Most mornings I plod up the sidewalk to the driveway, pick up the News and Observer, then plod back to the kitchen and read the paper. But Wednesday morning my routine got discombobulated so I ended up reading the paper at my office on-line – and promptly landed on this diverting headline: Romney favored as…

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Susan G. Komen and the Anatomy of a Social Media Wildfire, including a guest appearance by @rachelsklar

By nationhahn February 8, 2012

Few would dispute that Susan G. Komen Foundation has dramatically helped advance the fight for a cure for breast cancer. The organization has helped make pink the national color for October, elevating the search for a cure to the top of the national dialogue for an entire month. Its work has resulted in NFL players…

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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…

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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.  …

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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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