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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The Differences Between Republicans and Democrats

By Carter Wrenn June 18, 2012

Over in the State Senate the Republicans and Democrats are going at it hammer and tongs, fighting it out over their education platforms.   The Democrats say, Spend more money. Now.   And Republicans say, No – let’s require third graders to read.   The Democrats say, Failing third graders who can’t read is terrible…

Sticking to Their Guns

By Carter Wrenn June 18, 2012

Last year, the State Legislature passed a bill to charge people riding state ferries tolls but, then, after the legislature left town the Governor thumbed her nose at the legislators and said, Well, you can pass it but darned if I’ll collect it.   So the tolls were a dead issue. Until the legislature reconvened.…

Defending Sweepstakes

By Gary Pearce June 16, 2012

A few blogs back, I took a swipe at video sweepstakes as a “seamy enterprise.”   Brad Crone, who consults with the Internet Based Sweepstakes Organization, replies:   “What’s the difference between a mid-level manager playing a round of golf for $200 in Pinehurst versus a plumbers assistant spending $20 on video sweepstakes?  There isn’t…

Thanks, GOP!

By Gary Pearce June 15, 2012

Self-righteous Republican legislators seem determined to hasten the day when their days are numbered.   It’s the pitfall that comes with power: You think you’re invincible, so you act like it. You drew your districts to keep you in power, so you think you’ll never lose power.   So you act like the Senate Republicans…

Dueling Messages

By Gary Pearce June 14, 2012

The contrast between Walter Dalton’s and Pat McCrory’s messages to the NFIB this week alarmed one Democratic political veteran.   Rob Christensen wrote in the N&O that the two “painted sharply different portraits of North Carolina on Tuesday, with the Democrat saying the state was emerging from difficult times and the Republican saying the state…

Bushed

By Gary Pearce June 13, 2012

If I were a Republican (I’m struggling here now), I’d wonder why this election is even close. With the economy in the tank and Americans in a funk, why doesn’t Mitt Romney have a huge lead over President Obama?   Jeb Bush has it figured out. He told reporters that his father and Ronald Reagan…

Harsh Words Breed Malice

By Carter Wrenn June 12, 2012

Danny Hembree, who killed a 17-year-old girl, proved that in addition to being a murderer he’s a fool, writing his local newspaper, describing himself sitting on death row as ‘a gentleman of leisure, watching color TV, and eating three well-balanced meals a day,’ and then, boasting how he’ll file decades of appeals before he gets…

The Speaker’s Entourage

By Gary Pearce June 12, 2012

Thom Tillis may be a fiscal conservative on education, but he’s happy to spend taxpayers’ money on himself.   First, as I recall, were the big-screen TVs outside the House chamber – featuring none other than Speaker Tillis.   Last week, he told WPTF radio host Bill LuMaye he approved extra pay to staffers fired…

Not a Starr

By Gary Pearce June 12, 2012

A friend of George Holding (and a Democrat) took issue with yesterday’s blog. He wrote:   “Here is the reason I don’t think George will be the next Starr:   “Bill Clinton was a flawed man but was fundamentally a good president with lots of allies and a good overall record.   “John Edwards is…

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…